St. Louis now has a professional soccer team. Well, they are not quite professional. A.C. St. Louis, short for Athletic Club of St. Louis of the North American Soccer League, played the Austin Aztex in a regular season matchup Saturday night. Final score: A.C. St. Louis 1- Austin Aztex-2. If there is one important thing to get from the loss, it is that A.C. St. Louis is a far cry from a top-notch European team, let alone a major league soccer team, such as the Kansas City Wizards or the Los Angeles Galaxy.
Soccer is an important part of life in the St. Louis region. Legendary United States national team names ,like Harry Kiel and Pat McBride, helped establish the game in both St. Louis and the rest of the country. Both Kiel and McBride were in attendance Saturday night. They agreed that the quality of play from the second division, semi-professional league is nowhere close to the top-tier teams in America.
Saturday night had a capacity crowd of over 6,000 fans. A.C. St. Louis also showed that the A-B Soccer Park, although a great venue for the Missouri state high school championship tournament, may not be the best place for a professional team. Steve Ralston, assistant coach and injured player for the squad, said in a telephone interview that if St. Louis wants a top-level major league soccer team, the city will have to invest in a 20,000-seat facility much like the ones in New York, Chicago or Los Angeles. As this city has seen with the St. Louis Cardinals ballpark village, funding—or lack thereof—for such a stadium will be hard to develop.
Despite not being a large soccer-specific facility, the A-B Soccer Park did set up for an entertaining atmosphere throughout the total of 94 minutes it took to play the match. A corner of spirited supporters, calling themselves the Black Brigade, donned black and gold t-shirts and chanted several unified choruses during the match. Their enthusiasm, though, escalated to green and blue smoke bombs with fire crackers during important moments in the game.
This behavior is often tolerated at soccer games in South American and Europe. Although this is sometimes part of the fan experience in Los Angeles and Chicago, it raises the question of spectator safety at these fixtures.
If St. Louis is willing to fork over the millions upon millions of tax or private dollars to fund a soccer-specific professional facility, the metropolitan area needs to realize that soccer is more than merely a pleasant game that moms cart their children to and from on weekends. It is tough, physical and intense.
A.C. St. Louis also showed that ticket prices are too expensive. While there is not a bad seat at A-B Center, $15 is the lowest priced ticket and $25 is the most expensive. Two tickets would be an obvious price of over $30. Compared to the elite soccer teams in North America, the price is relatively cheap, but it is also $10 for facility’s limited parking. However, the price of a beer is half than at Busch Stadium at just $4.
It is, all and all, a good experience, but a bit pricey for both college students and families. In September, the team will host a college night. They have yet to release any information on discounted tickets or other incentivizes. For UM-St. Louis students, where most work and go to school, a trek out to Fenton for mediocre play but a good time may be worth the price of admission. One suggestion would be to park near the stadium on a side street to avoid paying the additional $10.
In short, A.C. St. Louis is a good soccer, but it is a baby step in the right direction to get an MLS team in St. Louis.
Micheal Frederick is Staff writer for The Current.
