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Louisville’s Fans Cap Club’s Big Week

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 04/16/17, 1:31PM EDT

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After unveiling of stadium plan, crowd of 9,074 packed Slugger Field


Photo courtesy Em-Dash Photography / Louisville City FC

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – After Louisville City FC’s announcement on Wednesday that unveiled its plans for a 10,000-seat soccer-specific stadium not far from the club’s current home at Slugger Field in the Butchertown Neighborhood, Louisville’s fans made a statement of their own on Saturday.

A crowd of 9,074 on hand roared the hosts to a 2-1 victory against the previously perfect Tampa Bay Rowdies, as goals by George Davis IV and Cameron Lancaster sent City to the top of the Eastern Conference standings.

“I thought the supporters were incredible, to see so many people come out and support us tonight was fantastic,” said Louisville Head Coach James O’Connor. “It tops off a great week for us with the stadium announcement.”

The attendance was the second-highest for a regular-season contest in Louisville’s history, and continued to illustrate the need for the club to have a home of its own in the city. Louisville averaged 7,218 fans a season ago, and has started off the new campaign in a similar fashion as attendances around the USL have continued to rise, with almost 70,000 fans attending games during Week 4’s schedule.

The play on the field matched the atmosphere in the stands, too, as Davis scored in a third consecutive game in the first half before Lancaster added a second three minutes before the end. Lancaster’s goal proved necessary as Martin Paterson scored his first goal for the Rowdies two minutes later to set up a grandstand finish, when Louisville’s fans came to the fore again.

“I thought right at the end they were really involved and it really helped us,” said O’Connor. “That gives the players a little boost, gives you some more energy, especially at the end when it’s 2-1 and there’s tons of extra time. So credit to the supporters, they were fantastic tonight.”


Photo courtesy Em-Dash Photography / Louisville City FC

Top of the Eastern Conference, and with a new home potentially on the way, the week could hardly have been any better for City and its supporters as it prepares for its first game of the season against River Cities Cup rival FC Cincinnati next Saturday at Nippert Stadium.

“With the hype around the stadium site announcement and some flashy third kits, it’s obvious we turned some heads this week in our community toward Louisville City FC,” said Louisville chairman John Neace. “It all culminated into a special night — and a big win — in front of more than 9,000 fans. Now, we’ll enjoy the holiday, and then it’s back to work on Monday. We look forward to seeing our supporters in Cincinnati.”

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