The End...

Well, if any have not heard yet, The Atlanta Silverbacks are no more.
Reasons given:
* World financial situation
* Prospect of a MLS franchise coming to the city. ====================================================

In reality there are a lot more reasons contributing to the team going under:

1. Expectations by the management that last years success would translate into sell-outs and windfall friendlies. Neither which materialized.

2. Incompetence in marketing. Most laymen I spoke to were surprised that we actually had a pro team.

3. Over-expectant and overly-critical fan base. There are fans that refused to come to the park for reasons that ranged from, gas prices, distance to the park, didn't like the ownership or that they were not getting enough hand-outs from management.

====================================================

I don't feel, like some, that the master plan was to MAKE the team fail. There was an investment in the beginning of the season with new promotions and great friendlies that showed belief in continued prosperity. There were even plans for a 10th season anniversary push after this past season before the bottom fell out. But that is my point. The expectations of both management and the fans were unrealistic.

Management:
Popularity for this sport does not materialize out of thin air in this country. This is not Europe or South America where the sport is part of the culture and I dare say a religion.
After last season, MORE work would need to be done to reach out to the potential fan base (not less). But the belief of the ownership SEEMED to be that we just simply need to throw the team out there and all will be fine! But the route taken was to use giveaways and set up friendlies that were not widely advertised. Also, the target audience continues to be the "soccer mom" and youth soccer player which on the outside seems nice, but will do nothing to give you atmosphere.
Now I'm not saying that they could have been more successful with another approach, but I think the main problem was the EXPECTATION. Financial gambles were made where there need not be them. But what is done is done.

Fanbase:
Although the expectant fan base did not materialize, the regular fan base was still here in the form of a couple of supporters groups and non-committal regulars. But there in again was a problem of expectation. Most fans seem to think that the supply of money is a bottomless pit and that the ownership is the evil entity in all of this.

The reality of the matter is that without the ownership, there is no team. A fact painfully illustrated today. If you would have asked the average supporter from any of these supporters groups about the ownership, they would have had nothing positive to say about them. They would have said this sitting in a $20 million dollar stadium bought and provided by the ownership (a long way from playing on a high school field).

Low crowds mean unimpressed sponsorship and thusly loss of said sponsorship. WE had opportunities to band together to help fill the stands but we were our own worst enemy. To illustrate, I always wondered why the "Iron Legion" supporters were alienated enough to start their own group on the far side of the park instead of joining forces with 109 and really creating a "terrace-like' atmosphere in the same section.

When I spoke to one of the members of that group, he shared that they were told that they were not welcome in 109 and had even been insulted by a few of the group there.

I do remember one incident where a member of Iron Legion came over with a flag to join in celebration of a goal with us but he was booed by a number of members of the 109 group. I did not read anything into as I thought there was a inside joke with that, but that was one of the incidents that helped to sever ties between the 2 groups. We have less that 2000 at a game and we arguing with each other about who should join us or not. That is a little stupid.

Another thing that really disappointed me about our support was the disinterest in the actual game at time. I can remember seeing us in attack or desperately trying to defend and then being distracted by discussions about getting free beer or what some would be doing after the game or what they thought of certain TV shows. Really pitiful.

Maybe this all shows that Atlanta simply is not a good soccer town despite the thousands that play youth ball here. It is simply a pastime or recreation outlet for others while they wait for college football or the other various sports seasons to crank up.

Epilogue:Some will wait for a MLS team to come. Others will hope for another USL team. But I may be done with pro soccer in the USA. I had tried to follow the MLS on 3 different occasions since it began in 1996, but that league simply is not compelling enough for me to watch. Remember, I said compelling, not a criticism of the skill or competition level. The big turn off to me is that the MLS wants to be the NFL where they are enclosed competitions with no competition from teams from the outside.

Some will wait for another USL team, but that would be a new team and starting all over again. NOt really likely.

I personally will get my fill with the local amateur league, ADASL.http://www.adasl.com/ . But my passion will fall back to the team I have supported since the late 80s, Manchester United. There is history, culture and passion associated with this club all around the world. I am not a bandwagon fan as my support for them predates their first "Premiership" title in the 92-93 season.

I don't think I will invest much in leagues in the USA simply because it is not a serious endeavor here. Yes, I will support the amateur leagues, but there you have players and coaches competing for the love of the game. Not trying to make a fast buck from soccer moms. As far as passion and following a league that is compelling, Europe and South America seems to be the hot beds of serious football. (but, this is just my 2 cents anyway) :)

cheers all > drefooty