Comments on: The Curious Netherworld of American Indoor Soccer http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2007/12/27/the-curious-netherworld-of-american-indoor-soccer/ Exploring football culture around the world. Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:51:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: ChevBlue http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2007/12/27/the-curious-netherworld-of-american-indoor-soccer/#comment-2001 ChevBlue Tue, 01 Jan 2008 02:00:04 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2007/12/27/the-curious-netherworld-of-american-indoor-soccer/#comment-2001 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. 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.

]]> By: Sven http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2007/12/27/the-curious-netherworld-of-american-indoor-soccer/#comment-1959 Sven Fri, 28 Dec 2007 20:51:09 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2007/12/27/the-curious-netherworld-of-american-indoor-soccer/#comment-1959 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 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..

]]> By: Dubya http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2007/12/27/the-curious-netherworld-of-american-indoor-soccer/#comment-1942 Dubya Thu, 27 Dec 2007 15:21:33 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2007/12/27/the-curious-netherworld-of-american-indoor-soccer/#comment-1942 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’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.

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