Terry Foster: Hardcore Soccer Fans Won't Support MLS Team In Detroit

By Terry Foster
@TerryFoster971

Rochester Hills – They call Alex Sparr of Detroit "Family Friendly" because he is not actually family friendly when he attends Detroit City Football Club games.

Earlier this week he stood on a grassy knoll at Oakland University's soccer stadium talking to his wife Katie (aka Pitch Bride). Out of nowhere he'd spew profanity at the referees who he believed were short changing his team against the Michigan Bucks in an U.S. Cup first-round game.

DCFC won the game 1-0 in a shootout, which put a big smile on friendly's face.

Family Friendly is not friendly about another big local soccer story that has the community buzzing. He will refuse to attend Major League Soccer games if it comes to downtown Detroit. Many assume soccer fans will flock to the joint venture proposed by billionaire sports owners Dan Gilbert and Tom Gores.

Some will not.

Sparr holds his hands out in front of him toward the DCFC club that battled on the plush fields at Oakland.

"This is my team," he said. "This is the team that I support."

There is a soccer divide in our community. There is the corporate more family friendly crowd that is more likely to support MLS or a smaller professional team that is still being considered. And there are the more rabid soccer fans that support the City Team that outgrew Detroit Cass Tech and will play at 7,000-seat Keyworth Stadium in Hamtramck.

"This is my club," said Sparr who was married during a DCFC game two years ago against Buffalo. "In terms of MLS I would not (support that). I will support what is here not a couple of millionaires that say I want another team. You've already got the Pistons. You've already got the Cavs. We are going to go for soccer now. No."
The man they call Serge leads the chants on the field with military precision. A procession of fans followed him into the game carrying drums and flags. He and his followers have no interest in MLS also.

"I follow this club," Serge said. "Where ever this club goes that is where I am going to go, so if owners decide it's the right thing to do and everything works out then so be it. I follow this club no matter what it is going to be in."

The passion comes from a grass roots club that recruited recreation players and soccer fans around metro Detroit. It comes from players that care about the fans and interact with them. And it comes from an ownership that listens to their needs, even though they don't always do what their supporters want.
But they at least listen.

"I am against the watering down of the product," Serge said. "Like I said it's not in my hands. I am not going to worry about it. I am just worrying about this club and this match tonight and following the club where it goes."

Family Friendly once met Gores and thought he was a wonderful guy. But he won't be on board with his newest venture.

"This soccer club was built from the ground up," he said. "You say it too often but this is family. It isn't something you sink $100 million into. You can have MLS in Detroit. I won't be supporting that. I am a city guy."

(Foster can be reached at Terry.Foster@cbsradio.com)