[ditty]

I'm really interested to see how this team is received by both the soccer community as well as the general public.

I've been a Cavs season ticket holder in 109 since the beginning and have brought quite a few general sports fans to games. Those who returned all cited the atmosphere as the biggest reason. The Foot Soldiers have created something that is so unique to other sports events in the city and I feel that's become the major draw for your average sports fan who catches the odd Cavalry game. Little kids who don't care about the soccer love jumping up and down, kicking the metal floor and banging the drums. I honestly think the fan atmosphere has been possibly the key component to whatever success the Cavs have had in drawing your average sports fan or family to Spruce Meadows. When I've watched the odd game on the other end of the main stand (section 102 or 103), the experience is vastly different. It feels like any other sporting event. When I'm in 109, I know I'm somewhere very unique in the sports landscape in Canada.

I have heard a few people share with me that they think Cavs tickets are overpriced and I tend to agree. I think my season tickets are priced quite fairly (though they're the lowest in the main stand) but the price I pay jumps around $10 to $40 if you buy my seat for a single match. $40 to sit basically in line with the six yard box is overpriced, in my opinion. But, Surge basketball tickets seem even pricier and I think the Surge is a good comparable when it comes to the level of the leagues. So, maybe I'm kind of stuck in the 90s when it comes to what I think is fair value for entertainment.

I do think the Wild have an opportunity to develop a niche market, naturally including families with girls who play soccer but also families just generally looking to attend a sports game. But I'm in agreement with others who say that playing out of McMahon will seriously hamper the game day experience. Will the advantage of being in a much more central location than Spruce Meadows help balance that out? I'm really not sure. If your natural target market is families and you play on the weekend, is LRT access that much of a carrot? If Wild tickets are, say, 20% cheaper than Cavs tickets, does that tip the scales for some people? I really don't know.

Anyway, I will definitely attend Wild games and I look forward to seeing what kind of fan experience and on field product the club creates. The league and the club seem pretty solidly financed, so that's encouraging. The salary cap level indicates to me that they will be able to attract some good talent, both in North America and beyond.

As someone who attended Calgary Boomers games in 1981 and supported every pro soccer team in the city since, I never thought I'd see the day where Calgary would support pro soccer, long term. Now we've got the opportunity to support two teams in this city. It's a great time to be alive as a Calgary soccer fan.