The obligatory pre-season puff piece from your field reporter and front-office shill, Ty Smith. [Ed. note: Ty wrote that himself, not me. TPS]
Last year at about this time, for me, the season began with a Call To Arms. It was really a make-it or break-it year for us in all respects. Somehow, someway the stars aligned and our collective energy made it all happen. A Championship and a Stadium Deal!!
When I look back at the things that we had to get right in order to move this club and this team to the next level, it’s clear we reached many goals in 2017. From the tailgates and pre-game, the SG culture, the on-field play, our awesome players and coaches, and the in-game support, to the front office, the tifos, Mayor Fischer and the Metro Council, the Groove Machine, the podcasts, and SoccerCity Radio – it truly was an amazing year. Historic even.
But we need to forget all that. Celebration ends now. (And, yes, it was a fabulous, months-long celebration!!!)
This year, for me, it’s not about a Call To Arms but a slight variation: Stay Hungry. Grow or Die.
We cannot rest on our laurels. We are truly only as good as our last game. That goes for all of us: the fans, the front office, the players, the coaches, and the community as a whole. We must continue to grow in our work and belief that professional soccer is a game-changer for Louisville. And of course we must continue to provide the support our great team needs and thrives upon to win games.
And by game-changer I mean taking our City to the next level. We just saw how Amazon knocked us out for HQ2 first round! A big distinction between us and the competitors (as the C-J also pointed out) is pro sports. It because pro sports, and sports in general, bring such a level of community engagement, civic pride, teamwork, and a promotion of good old-fashioned exercise, that this becomes such a big deal. There’s a reason why it has brought together peoples over millennia, and continues to add to the growth and prosperity of communities worldwide. We need the theatre, the ballet, the history museums, the music, the restaurants, the great schools, AND the sports. We as the City fans are in such a great position to make sure sports have a positive influence in Louisville, and the future of Louisville.
So City fandom, let’s take it to the next level. Stay hungry. Harass the friends, family, and co-workers. Come to the Tailgate. Engage your school and the youth teams. Be an ambassador at an away game. Be a season or half-season ticket holder.
The stadium is not a done deal. It will never be done until game day 2020. And then we have to make sure we fill it up, every time. If our atmosphere drops, it sends a message.
Let’s send the right message, loud and clear – and it’s even more important right now than ever — that we will be in Butchertown 2020, and permanently thereafter. The best way to do it is to show out. Our energy can’t drop this year. No way.
Regardless of what happens on the field, in the front office, on social media, etc., we as fans can always control our attitude and effort to grow the positive impact our great soccer club brings to our great city.
Now I’m screaming. Let’s do this City! The season is here! COME ON, CITY!
#CityDads
