Real fans, real noise

MINDING MY BUSINESS, CA -- So I get a notification on my Moto X4 Android One Edition, which still allows me to tether real (not throttled) unlimited Verizon data (safer-at-home with WiFi has knocked my data usage to just 13GB last month from 40-80GB typically), that the USL Championship match-up between Louisville City FC and Pittsburgh Riverhounds were going to play in front of real, not piped in, fans.  Say what?  So I tuned to ESPN2 and sure enough, LOU was hosting their first match in their brand new spankin' Lynn Family Stadium in front of a limited 5,000 fans (capacity 15,304) with lots of social distancing and drums and cheering.  Compared to MLS telecasts, the ESPN2 telecast was professional with cool graphics with no gaudy Adidas logo at midfield.  What a difference playing in sunlight with a home crowd behind you.  The play felt faster and the LOU scored the first goal on a great strike.

But LOU wasn't the first USA pro sports team to play in front a crowd as the USL Championship opened its abbreviated season yesterday with six matches, all at home stadiums.  However, just 3 were in front of fans with Indy Eleven the first pro sports team to play in front of real, bonafide fans with a limited crowd of 4,761 in attendance (boy, that Indianapolis Colts football markings are awful).  If MLS goes back to home crowds, Indy posted their safety plan for employees and fans to get a taste of how it would work.  Later, the Tampa Bay Rowdies hosted around 100 fans (invited fan groups and family only) in St. Pete and the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC drew 1,000 to Weidner Field.  

Also, Paris Saint-Germain became the first top flight European club to play in front of fans with 5,000 (out of a capacity of 25,000) at Stade Oceane in Le Havre, France for an exhibition match against French League 2 club Le Havre.  So, maybe we'll get to see MLS soccer soon in our home cities.  Crossing fingers.