Chattanooga Drawing Big Time Soccer Teams and Sizeable Crowds

Chattanooga-(WDEF) The Scenic City may soon turn into Soccer Town USA.
Thanks to the crowds the local CFC soccer club draws, Chattanooga has been able to bring in both the men’s and women’s U.S. soccer teams,
all within a two year period.
And now on Saturday, Chattanooga will host a team from the nation’s premiere professional soccer league.
Chattanooga opened some eyes around the world in August of 2015, when they drew over 18-thousand to the CFC’s national title match. A record crowd for an amateur soccer match.
Said CFC general manager Sean McDaniel:”It was still quite an unprecedented event to show that 18,000 plus came to an amateur soccer match. Again it was somewhat of a novelty at the time it happened.”
Said Finley Stadium director Paul Smith:”It sent shock waves through the soccer community that we are still feeling.”
A week or so after the CFC title match, Finley Stadium was sold-out. Over 20-thousand to see the U-S women’s soccer team.
Said McDaniel:”So when they made the decision to have the women’s national team here, it sold-out faster than any other women’s national team game did.”
Then last week in 30-degree weather, close to 18-thousand showed up at Fort Finley to see the U-S men’s soccer team.
Said Smith:”Some of the players even commented that the fans didn’t sit down. They just loved being close to the fans and hearing them cheer. It’s such a unique experience for both the fans and the players that it just works.”
A nice crowd is also expected this Saturday when Atlanta’s new MLS team plays their first ever match in a friendly against the CFC.
Said McDaniel:”And it really shows the testimony towards how valuable other larger soccer markets see Chattanooga.”
Said Smith:”Everybody knows if they come to Chattanooga with quality soccer, they can sell a ticket.”