Eleven Should Be More

 

Brave is the man who would even begin to suggest that 2014 was anything but a successful campaign for Indy Eleven. Yes, the team finished near the foot of the overall table once the dust had settled on the regular season, but the on-field expectations were always going to be rather muted in the team's inaugural campaign. Off the field, however, Indy Eleven were box office darlings, playing before capacity crowds for every home game and boasting one of the most passionate fanbases in the league.

Following a promising run of results to end the season and the obvious financial windfall generated through the aforementioned ticket revenue, expectations for Indy Eleven amongst fans were considerably higher for 2015. Unfortunately, such hopes for cracking the league's top four do not appear to be on track at this juncture.

A Homecoming Of Sorts

I remember my first trip to Silverbacks Park well. It was in the early stages of the 2013 season (yes, not that long ago) when I made my way up I-85 to see the Silverbacks take on Carolina, they won 2-0 in comprehensive fashion, and I was instantly hooked. Along the way of that 2013 season, I had the pleasure of finally having an American club to pull for, meeting lots of great people while tailgating before and after games, seeing the team win the first trophy in its history, interviewing players for my radio show, and gaining a greater appreciation for soccer in this country outside of MLS.

2014, despite the team's on-field struggles and shaky outlook for the future, was, in many ways, a dream for me. I was fortunate enough to become the team's play-by-play commentator for the season, and it was an honor that I embraced with open arms. Even as the losses mounted, it meant a lot for me to be able to, quite literally, be a voice for my team and further connect with Atlanta fans, other NASL fans, and even fellow commentators from around the league.

A More Secure 2015

With Bill Edwards hitting the ground running last year as Tampa Bay's new owner, the Rowdies' fanbase had every reason to believe that Ricky Hill would be in a position to bring more silverware to the Gulf Coast of Florida. Ultimately, that couldn't have been any farther from the truth.

Yes, Tampa Bay made some splashes in 2014's market by way of signing Brian Shriver, 2013's NASL Golden Boot winner, the versatile Anthony Wallace and Blake Wagner, and MLS veteran goalkeeper Matt Pickens. Despite such encouraging signings, many were concerned that more wasn't done to bolster the heart of the defense, and as the dust settled, with the Rowdies well outside of the top four, these concerns were justified. Tampa Bay was leaky throughout the season, and Ricky Hill was dismissed.

Carolina: Where Traffic Is Good

The phenomenon of Traffic Sports is one that has been quite well known in and inherent to the NASL landscape over the last few years. Indeed, Traffic has played a significant role in financing the league, and as of 18 months ago, still owned the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers, Carolina Railhawks, and a stake in the Atlanta Silverbacks.

Having divested themselves of their share of the Silverbacks and the Strikers, Traffic's financial obligation in the NASL has been greatly reduced, with now only Carolina remaining in their portfolio. Such a reduction of financial outlay hardly means that Traffic's influence in the league won't be felt in 2015, however. If recent off-season moves are any indication, it appears that the Railhawks and their fans will be happy beneficiaries of Traffic's streamlined NASL operations.