Chattanooga Soccer Team Filling Void at Finley

For years there's been a black hole on the southside of Downtown Chattanooga.  Finley Stadium hosts the UTC Mocs' home games and the Football Subdivision Championship but still has a hard time turning a profit.  But a new team in town is hoping to help kick that bad record.

Not even an 85-degree day can spoil the excitement for members of the newly-formed Chattanooga Football Club... that's soccer to you and me.   "Chattanooga has actually become quite a soccer hub over the last 5 to 10 years," says player Sheldon Grizzle.  So much so this semi-pro team now competes against clubs from Atlanta and Huntsville.  But their home turf is Finley Stadium.  "It gives us that professional look and feel rather than playing at a high school or a local soccer complex," says Grizzle.

Still it won't be easy filling the 20,000 seats here which is a problem no matter who you are.  Even the Chattanooga Mocs football team averages just 5,700 fans in the stands.  But after pulling in 1,600 for their first rain-delayed home game, this football team has hope.  Assistant coach Jimmy Weekley is "excited about what it can do for not just the soccer community but Chattanooga.  The first time we had 1,600 fans and it was awesome turn-out and it's a great facility for us to play in."

Finley Stadium executive director Merril Eckstein says while this season won't generate any revenue, these are exactly the types of activities that could build into something bigger because they pull in people who might not otherwise come.  The team's already seeing new faces in the stands.  "You know I think part of it may have been just interest in something new," Weekley says.  "Let's go take a look, let's see what it's all about, let's see if it's fun."

And that seems to be the goal for everyone.  Have fun and the fans will follow.  "They rooted us on even when we were down," Grizzle adds.  "It was really encouraging."

The Chattanooga Football Club has three home games remaining this season, the next being Sunday, June 7th at 7p.m.  Next year they hope to add a few more to the schedule.

We're also told by the executive director at Finley that the team is covering the expenses to play there.  And while there is nothing set in stone, this summer look for more activities at Finley, anything from football games to concerts.