Mrinal Gokhale

Hundreds March for Professional Soccer in Milwaukee

Milwaukee Soccer Development Group draws a large crowd as they attempt to bring an outdoor soccer team to Milwaukee.

By - Sep 22nd, 2014 02:29 pm
Milwaukee Cup March. Photo by James Moran.

Milwaukee Cup March. Photo by James Moran.

The Milwaukee Cup March attracted about 300 attendees who want professional soccer in Milwaukee. The march was a fundraiser hosted by the Milwaukee Soccer Development Group (MSDG) on September 17th. The group marched from Twisted Fisherman Crab Shack (1200 W. Canal St.) to the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee vs Marquette University men’s soccer game at Valley Fields (1818 W. Canal St.).

“Today’s purpose is to unite the community to prove that we deserve an outdoor team. Our two speakers are Dan Adams, who is a huge soccer fan and Hector Navarro, who came to the U.S. from Mexico and got a scholarship to play soccer at Marquette,” said James Moran, director of MSDG. Moran also said that he intends to raise money to create soccer fields in abandoned tennis courts in the city. He believes that the event was a huge success.

At Twisted Fisherman Crab Shack, attendees enjoyed a cookout, and children played soccer as De La Buena played music. At about 6 p.m., the speakers spoke about their passion for soccer and let the audience participate. Adams is a personal friend of Moran and helps with MSDG events. He grew up playing soccer, and enjoyed watching an outdoor soccer team back in the 1990’s in Milwaukee. Adams is a neighborhood planning coordinator works for Layton Boulevard West Neighbors (LBWN) and said that soccer is the most popular sport in Milwaukee’s south side. In 2011, Adams helped conduct an LBWN neighborhood planning process on how residents see the neighborhood and changes they want made. He believes that implementing soccer fields in the city eliminates the need to drive out to the suburbs or county parks.

“The south side is one of the densest in Milwaukee. We discovered there’s a huge lack of space for sports and recreation. They voted for soccer as the number one sport we need more space for” explains Adams.

Adams believes the event was a success in getting people in the community together.

“We had a professional team in the past and I think today is about deciding how we’re going to get one again. Milwaukee Wave are one of the longest running indoor teams in the country, so think about how popular outdoor soccer will be here,” Adams said.

Attendees ranged from various ethnic backgrounds and age groups. Many were college students or parents of children in Milwaukee who play soccer. Karen Lopez, an MATC student played soccer in high school and attended with her boyfriend, friends, and brother.

“My boyfriend and brother are in soccer clubs and I’m a major soccer fan myself; we’re Mexican, so it’s in our blood,” she laughs. “Although I enjoy playing soccer indoors, I prefer to watch outdoor soccer. I know so many people that would love to have an outdoor team and I would join myself.”

Milwaukee Soccer Development Group is a non-profit organization which helps raise funds for soccer scholarships, equipment, and events for youth in the Greater Milwaukee area. Visit to www.milsoccerdg.org for more information about the organization and their goals.

Photos from the March

Categories: Real Estate

4 thoughts on “Hundreds March for Professional Soccer in Milwaukee”

  1. Dan Adams says:

    Just to clarify – the Milwaukee Wave are the oldest continuously running professional soccer team, indoor or outdoor, in the United States (unless I got my info wrong, which has been known to happen).

  2. Jeff Jordan says:

    I’ve been informed that the MLS owns a franchise, Chvas. They took it over when the owner failed to pay the team and other financial operations. Available for immediate ownership to a qualified buyer.

  3. Dan Adams says:

    @Jeff Jordan – actually the league owns all the teams – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_League_Soccer#Ownership . You also highlight one of the big missing pieces, a serious financial backer to make a team a reality. Any soccer fans with deep pockets out there reading this? We need you.

    Also, I think most people think MLS when we say we want a professional soccer team. However, that is a bit ambitious of a goal. Our conversation at the Milwaukee Cup March was more about bringing back a team on the level of the former Milwaukee Rampage when it was in the A-League. I believe the equivalent now would be the North American Soccer League or the USL Pro (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_soccer_league_system).

  4. Casey says:

    How Milwaukee of an attitude is that? A MLS team is too good for us….we’d just be content with a minor league team…. No wonder why we keep getting passed up in other aspects when compared to other metros.
    I’m not even much of a soccer fan but if KC can do it Milwaukee I’d think could make a strong showing.

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