A few hours before San Antonio FC played its first home game, forward Jason Johnson said he knew the city was MLS ready. He pulled into Toyota Field a few hours early, and dozens of tailgaters had already beaten him to the parking lot.
By game time, almost 1,000 fans had come through the tailgate, working on their fan fitness with burgers and chant practice.
“The fans have shown with the turnout alone that this is a soccer city,” Johnson said. “I’ve been around other fans in MLS cities and I can say that here in San Antonio, our support is next-level.”
Next level is where SAFC hopes to be, and the team will get its first taste of the MLS on Wednesday. SAFC will travel to face the MLS’ Houston Dynamo in the fourth round of the U.S. Open Cup.
Johnson, a former Dynamo forward, said San Antonio could be on the same level as MLS franchises in Houston and Dallas sooner than later.
“Everything’s there,” he said. “There’s a great organization in (Spurs Sports & Entertainment), a city that’s ready for soccer, and the fans have been incredible. I like Section 118 so much; I’d love to give them a huge shoutout. Theirs and all of our fans’ support for all 90 minutes has been excellent.”
More than 33,000 fans have attended SAFC matches this season, putting the team third in USL attendance and helping the league set early attendance records for this season. The home opener was sold out with an attendance of 8,466, and the second match against Tulsa nearly sold out with 7,837, just short of the official capacity of 8,000 even though the Spurs were in a playoff game at the same time. SAFC’s average home attendance of 6,601 is behind FC Cincinnati and Sacramento Republic FC, but both teams also have larger capacity stadiums.
Aaron Marvel has seen the rise of San Antonio’s soccer support on social media as the man behind the Twitter account @MLSinSA. The account currently has 2,500 followers, gaining about 1,500 of them since it was announced that SAFC would be a USL expansion team in December 2015.
“We’re in the upper echelon in USL attendance, and San Antonio has drawn huge crowds for big-time international matches, too,” Marvel said. “We have a great stadium, great ownership and whenever you see what MLS is looking for, San Antonio checks every box every time.”
Marvel pointed to the popularity and success of MLS teams Orlando City SC, Portland Timbers and Real Salt Lake, all cities that previously had NBA teams as their only major league sports before the MLS came to town.
“Mayor Ivy Taylor’s account has tweeted at us, and so have a lot of councilmen,” Marvel said. “Interest is going to be as strong as we can make it when the MLS gets to San Antonio.”
SAFC has another chance to grow interest in the club on Wednesday with a strong showing against an MLS side. Coach Darren Powell said a good result could “put us on the map in year one.”
Another stride forward has been the launch of SAFC Pro Academy, a youth development program headed by San Antonio FC assistant coach Nick Evans.
“Understand we’re a new club that’s setting a new culture, one that we want to make San Antonio very proud of,” Powell said. “We have a growth mindset. Not everything’s going to be perfect in year one, and we always have to keep a long-term vision in mind, but it’s a process that we have to do step-by-step.”
The long-term vision is one that attracted players to San Antonio and to the staff in place when Powell and managing director Tim Holt assembled the SAFC roster in January.
“This city has everything,” said Carlos Alvarez, the first player signed to SAFC. “Fans are hungry for another major league team, and that was part of the draw to come to San Antonio. We’re on the right path, the right direction and we have the city behind our backs. You can see how big San Antonio could be for the MLS.”
Another step in that direction could take place on Wednesday.
A few hours before San Antonio FC played its first home game, forward Jason Johnson said he knew the city was MLS ready. He pulled into Toyota Field a few hours early, and dozens of tailgaters had already beaten him to the parking lot.
By game time, almost 1,000 fans had come through the tailgate, working on their fan fitness with burgers and chant practice.
“The fans have shown with the turnout alone that this is a soccer city,” Johnson said. “I’ve been around other fans in MLS cities and I can say that here in San Antonio, our support is next-level.”
Next level is where SAFC hopes to be, and the team will get its first taste of the MLS on Wednesday. SAFC will travel to face the MLS’ Houston Dynamo in the fourth round of the U.S. Open Cup.
Johnson, a former Dynamo forward, said San Antonio could be on the same level as MLS franchises in Houston and Dallas sooner than later.
“Everything’s there,” he said. “There’s a great organization in (Spurs Sports & Entertainment), a city that’s ready for soccer, and the fans have been incredible. I like Section 118 so much; I’d love to give them a huge shoutout. Theirs and all of our fans’ support for all 90 minutes has been excellent.”
More than 33,000 fans have attended SAFC matches this season, putting the team third in USL attendance and helping the league set early attendance records for this season. The home opener was sold out with an attendance of 8,466, and the second match against Tulsa nearly sold out with 7,837, just short of the official capacity of 8,000 even though the Spurs were in a playoff game at the same time. SAFC’s average home attendance of 6,601 is behind FC Cincinnati and Sacramento Republic FC, but both teams also have larger capacity stadiums.
Aaron Marvel has seen the rise of San Antonio’s soccer support on social media as the man behind the Twitter account @MLSinSA. The account currently has 2,500 followers, gaining about 1,500 of them since it was announced that SAFC would be a USL expansion team in December 2015.
“We’re in the upper echelon in USL attendance, and San Antonio has drawn huge crowds for big-time international matches, too,” Marvel said. “We have a great stadium, great ownership and whenever you see what MLS is looking for, San Antonio checks every box every time.”
Marvel pointed to the popularity and success of MLS teams Orlando City SC, Portland Timbers and Real Salt Lake, all cities that previously had NBA teams as their only major league sports before the MLS came to town.
“Mayor Ivy Taylor’s account has tweeted at us, and so have a lot of councilmen,” Marvel said. “Interest is going to be as strong as we can make it when the MLS gets to San Antonio.”
SAFC has another chance to grow interest in the club on Wednesday with a strong showing against an MLS side. Coach Darren Powell said a good result could “put us on the map in year one.”
Another stride forward has been the launch of SAFC Pro Academy, a youth development program headed by San Antonio FC assistant coach Nick Evans.
“Understand we’re a new club that’s setting a new culture, one that we want to make San Antonio very proud of,” Powell said. “We have a growth mindset. Not everything’s going to be perfect in year one, and we always have to keep a long-term vision in mind, but it’s a process that we have to do step-by-step.”
The long-term vision is one that attracted players to San Antonio and to the staff in place when Powell and managing director Tim Holt assembled the SAFC roster in January.
“This city has everything,” said Carlos Alvarez, the first player signed to SAFC. “Fans are hungry for another major league team, and that was part of the draw to come to San Antonio. We’re on the right path, the right direction and we have the city behind our backs. You can see how big San Antonio could be for the MLS.”
Another step in that direction could take place on Wednesday.
