The Curious Netherworld of American Indoor Soccer
By Tom Dunmore • Dec 27th, 2007 • Category: American soccer • 3 responses
Recently, thanks to Chicago’s Windy City Wanderers F.C., I went to my first ever indoor soccer match. In America, indoor soccer has at times been big business, using aggression and scoring and showbiz to attract considerable crowds. It’s got a rich and long history, at times the only way to see some of the best soccer players in the country.
The current Major Indoor Soccer League is a national professional venture, and one of the nine teams is the Chicago Storm, who play in the suburbs. Over at Chicago Sports Weekly, I look at the experience of the game, consider the impressive surroundings, and wonder if they couldn’t do away with the dry ice and let the game’s beauty shine instead.
All in all, it was a fun experience, but I’d rather see more focus on the style of the soccer than of the cheerleaders, bless ‘em. I’d be interested in any thoughts on the column and on what indoor soccer is like, wherever you are.
Photo credit: soumit on Flickr
Tom Dunmore is the editor of Pitch Invasion.
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I’ve gone to two NJ Ironmen games so far in this, their first season. They play in the new Prudential Center (home of the Devils). The first game had about 13,000 people. I’d chalk a lot of them up to it being the first game, the arena being new, the $8 seats behind the goals, and Pele being the guest of honor.
The next game I went to, the third home game for the Ironmen, had about 300 people in the crowd. The arena has built-in curtains to cover the upper levels (they’re usually used for the college basketball played there) and they covered the empty seats up top, but couldn’t cover the empty seats on the lower level. In fact, I heard a Pru Center manager pass an usher and say “man, this is pathetic!” It was a Friday and the weather wasn’t very good, but it still was an upsetting sight to see.
As to the game, I like it. It provides me (and the Empire Supporters Club, who support the MetroStars/Red Bulls, who have had a presence at each Ironmen home game) something to do during the MLS offseason.
And for the Ironmen, they have the cheerleaders, which I usually see as a minor diversion. Also, behind one goal (the $8 seat section), they have the “Samba Section”, where they sit the ESC (because they make the most noise) and, well, a Samba band. It creates an interesting sound for the game…mostly quiet throughout the arena except for the band and the small ESC contingent.
Basically, I think the “entertainment” part of it is similar to your regular NBA game. But I agree that the game and the technical ability should be the highlight, because the loudest crowd reactions I’ve heard, past the obvious goals, haven’t been when the cheerleaders were out there, or when the PA guy makes an attempt at humor, but when a player pulls off a beautiful move on field.
I think its fun to play indoor. For a while now the name has changed to ” futsal ” I believe, but I don’t know if it’s the same in the states. Were I’m from (Holland) it’s not that popular, but in Spain for example it’s a huge sport, with big crowds going mad and everything.. The spain national team is deadly, Italy is dangerous too. Not even going to talk about the futsal culture in Brazil….which is large. The funny thing about it is that you can get you’re ass kicked by a couple of old guys who pass the ball around just quickly enough for you not to reach it..
I was a Chicago Sting regular from 1981-86 at a time when the ‘81 and ‘84 NASL Champions played both outdoor and indoor soccer. My first Sting indoor game in 1981 saw the Windy City side set a North American Indoor Soccer attendance record of over 16,000 which, in the old Chicago Stadium, was pretty damn noisy to say the least. Sadly at the indoor game they never quite reached the dizzy heights that they did on a full size pitch but they still put on some pretty memorable performances none the less! Not for the purist that’s for sure but I thoroughly enjoyed the many games that I watched.