"Chattanooga can't support two soccer teams."

If I've heard it once, I've heard it a dozen times. It's become conventional wisdom about the budding Chattanooga FC vs. Chattanooga Red Wolves business rivalry.

Maybe it's true, but as part of a soccer-loving Chattanooga family, we feel caught in the middle.

For those who don't follow soccer, some background: CFC is Chattanooga's decade-old home-grown team that has gotten deserved national acclaim for turning high-level amateur soccer into a true phenomenon here.

CFC plays at expansive Finley Stadium on the Southside. During one stretch of six years, 2010-15, the team was in the national finals of the 81-team National Premiere Soccer League four out of six years. They have a loyal supporters group known as the Chattahooligans and a successful youth academy.

My family has spent many exciting nights at "Fort Finley" watching CFC games. We stand for CFC — past and future.

The Red Wolves, meanwhile, are a new-to-town professional team playing in the brand new USL League One. They will host matches this year at Chattanooga Christian School, awaiting the construction of a 5,000-seat soccer-specific stadium next year. They promise an exciting future with games from March to October, and rivals from as far away as Toronto and Tuscon.

My 12-year-old son and I attended a preseason Red Wolves game in the rain last Saturday (I got season tickets for Christmas) and had a fun time. The level of play was eye-opening — maybe a rung above CFC.

But back to the "rivalry" thing.

Even if this turns out to be an existential fight between two mid-tier soccer clubs, it will play out in years, not days, weeks or months. Meanwhile, this feast of soccer games is a gift to Chattanooga soccer fans. Buckle up.

I have a novel idea: What if both teams could find space to survive and thrive here? Then Chattanooga could really set the soccer world on fire. Maybe we could be a mini-Manchester, England (United vs. City).

Some say the numbers don't add up for a market this size, but here are some reasons for optimism.

* While some have characterized the Red Wolves — and their out-of-town owner Robert Martino of Park City, Utah — as "fan poachers," the truth is that the new competition has energized a CFC club that had hit a lull.

CFC recently announced that it would join 10 other teams in the NPSL's new professional Founders Cup series that will run from August to November. This is a prelude to an expanded NPSL season next year using professional players and coaches. Too, the CFC club recently raised more than $600,000 by crowd-funding equity shares. That's called putting your money where your mouth is.

These are moves that strengthen CFC after two years of failure to advance deep into the NPSL playoffs. It puts the club on firmer financial footing and portends well for its future.

* If you compare the spring-summer schedules of CFC and the Red Wolves published so far, there are only three dates when the teams' home schedules overlap. This is hardly a fight-to-the-death scenario. (CFC's extended NPSL Founders Cup fall professional season schedule has not been released yet, so these conflicts could multiply.)

* Attendance at Red Wolves games may be modest in year No. 1. After all, they are playing in a high school stadium. But the opening of a new soccer-friendly facility next year could be a game-changer. Meanwhile, more than a half dozen of the Red Wolves players have championship experience in the professional ranks, and the coaches have international and MLS credibility. The roster includes players from Europe, Africa, North America and South America.

* CFC has averaged about 3,600 fans at its games at Finley Stadium over the years. It has a solid foundation of fans built on the Chattahooligans and families associated with its youth academy club teams. Plus, it has had years to cultivate its game-day experience. It's unlikely that this core would just evaporate. In fact, there is every reason to believe the club will improve, given the competition for market share.

* The Red Wolves club recently announced it is starting a developmental team in Dalton, a hotbed of soccer talent and potential pipeline for new fans. The team is also smartly forming alliances with youth soccer organizations outside the CFC academy system. Too, there is an emerging young, urban, professional class in Chattanooga that could be attracted to the ground floor of the new professional soccer team.

* On April 6, both CFC and the Red Wolves have home games scheduled. Some people will count the attendance and see this as a referendum on the teams. Resist that urge. Both clubs are in it for the "long game." The CFC website says the club hopes to be here in 100 years. And, when it comes to business, don't bet against the Red Wolves' deep pockets.

All this points to a near future rich in soccer opportunities. Instead of casting this as a "war" in which one side will quickly perish, what if we thought of this as a golden era of Chattanooga soccer.

Rivalry game, anyone?

Contact Mark Kennedy at mkennedy@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6645.