Athletica moving to Soccer Park (?)
Loyal poster KC, confirming what another poster had said earlier in the week, notes on a previous thread that season ticket holders have received an e-mail saying that Athletica’s future games would be played at the Soccer Park in Fenton rather than at SIUE.
The team, curiously, is not confirming this, at least to me. Has anyone else gotten that e-mail? If so, can you share it?
As I’ve said before, Athletica’s lease with SIUE was game to game, and the team can move without owing SIUE anything. And the move certainly saves Athletica money, since they don’t have to pay rent at the Soccer Park. Though I think parking will be a pain if there are any kinds of crowds. And as I said before, this is where the real test on the crowds will come. The team has played a few games, has been on the road for a while (and off for a while).
I heard that almost a month ago from an informed source too, but have not been able to receive confirmation. I am a Season Ticketholder, but did not get an email to that effect.
Speaking only for myself (and ignoring the multitudes of Illinois fans) I would much prefer the move to Soccer Park. They may have to pave that big open field to the west, to handle the crowds. And, I think it would be much closer to the central mass of the soccer community, than extreme north east St. Louis County.
Athletica should be inquiring about the large parcel of soon to be abandoned land to the immediate west of the Soccer Park now occupied by the soon to be abandoned Chrysler plant.
My personal bias aside (I’m an east-sider), I have two concerns about Soccer Park. The first one is the obvious, the flooding problem. I know it probably won’t happen, but Athletica’s last 6 home games are grouped together in a very short period, 2 games in 5 days in late June and 4 games in 15 days in late July/early August. If the field floods then, it will be a big problem. I hope the team still has SIU as backup.
The 2nd problem is that they have 3 Wednesday night games. Unlike weekend games, when people are able to get there early, everybody will be arriving at the same time for the night gamees, between 6:30 and 7:00. From what I’ve heard about access to Soccer Park and what I know about traffic in that area, it sounds like a problem.
Yes, I got the same email message about the move to Soccer Park from the director of ticket operations.
Who cares where they play? Just to see two sides of 11 chicks kicking soccer balls is cool enough. Play the matches anywhere, mate.