Outlaws
In the second half of the night's first game, members of the Tucson chapter of the Outlaws had heard enough. Organ music was playing, baseball style.
"It's not baseball!" one screamed, to no one in particular.
"They need to not convert this back to a baseball field," said Tommy Amparano, the chapter president, who sat behind the goal on what used to be the first base line. "It's ridiculous. By tomorrow, they will make more money than they would have in spring training anyway."
That's debatable, for sure, but the Outlaws' enthusiasm was noted. Four friends from the U.S. national team cheering section stood almost the entire time, decked in red, white and blue.
"It's not like any other sport that we have in the U.S.," said David Waugh-Breiger. "When all the Outlaws are together, it's crazy.
"This is just a small portion of us. Come back tomorrow."
Member Keaton Koch even snuck into Hi Corbett Field on Thursday to scout the field, and to look for good seating.
"One of the gates was unlocked," he said, smiling.
The group had one complaint - no running clock on the scoreboard.
"That's a really key point for even the players," Waugh-Breiger said.
See you soon?
Sporting Kansas City team administrator Rick Dressel said the club would consider spending "weeks at a time" in Tucson, maybe even next year, for training camp.
"One of the biggest topics no matter where we go - what city, what state, what country - it's fields," he said. "If there are fields and there are good-quality fields, then that's the key.
"You can make everything else work, but you've got to have good, quality fields. If we can look around town and see that there's enough good, quality fields, then there's no doubt in my mind that we can come back."
Quotable
"Night games are always fun."
Sporting Kansas City midfielder Graham Zusi, who scored in the 83rd minute of a 6-1 win against the Arizona Sahuaros
What's next?
Demitri Downing, one of FC Tucson's three owners, said the club will travel to Casa Grande on March 18 to play an exhibition against FC Edmonton, which is training there.
"But we can also play exhibitions against anyone," he said, "and that's the magic of soccer."
He said teams from Hermosillo or Monterrey could bring a crowd "5,000 strong" to Tucson, but that might mean FC Tucson "wouldn't be the home team."
FC Tucson is considering an independent league, but Downing said he spoke with the United Soccer Leagues about a team.
"If we get a franchise fee, we're in," he said. "They want Western expansion. They don't understand why these markets half-filled with the Hispanic communities aren't soccer meccas."
Downing said the team could play at Murphey Field on the UA campus, which costs $350 a game to rent, but "we've got to think bigger than that."
What nerves?
An hour before FC Tucson's first-ever match, Salpointe Catholic and Pima College grad Fernando Gauna walked into the visitors baseball locker room and sat down.
"I never imagined it," the 22-year-old said. "Usually good talent from Tucson has to leave the state in order to get a chance to play at a different level."
Gauna, a Fort Lowell Soccer Club coach, said he wouldn't be playing in games otherwise. He didn't start, but entered in the 18th minute.
"This opportunity came up, and it's awesome," he said. "It's a great experience and a great event."
The big number
2,560
Estimated attendance Friday
Patrick Finley
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