The Scorpions’ “Rock You Like a Hurricane” blared from a speaker, the Coors Light flowed from cans to mouths and a group of two dozen frat boys declared themselves the “Express Mafia” to anyone who passed by.

This was one scene outside Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium about two hours before pro football officially returned to Memphis Saturday night, when the enthusiasm of those who braved the sub-40 degree weather seemed more meaningful than the fact that so few decided to show up.

“We could lose all 10 games and I’ll be back next year,” said Memphis native and Ole Miss student Duncan Fletcher. “We got pro football in Memphis. How long have we waited for this?”

Seventeen years, 10 months and 15 days, to be exact. They’ll just have to wait a little longer for a win.

Because what’s becoming clear, once again, is that many Memphians want to support pro football here. But so far, the Memphis Express aren’t making it easy.

Not after they turned their first home game into their first blown lead during a 20-18 loss to the Arizona Hotshots. Not after they failed to eclipse 300 yards of offense and quarterback Christian Hackenberg couldn’t complete a pass of longer than 20 yards.

AAF: Memphis Express sees double-digit fourth-quarter lead evaporate in 2nd straight loss

Not after the announced crowd of 11,980 was about half that in the first half and considerably less by the time the game ended, once the Express squandered an 18-6 fourth-quarter lead.

“Hopefully, we showed something tonight that’s worth coming to watch,” Express coach Mike Singletary said afterwards.

And perhaps all Memphians need is an excuse to watch football and drink some beer, regardless of how good the football or the beer happen to be. That, at least, was the vibe from those in attendance Saturday.

This isn’t to say the Alliance of American Football, or the folks running the Memphis Express, did anything wrong in this home opener. Other than fail to sign a decent quarterback.

In fact, they did a lot right.

The Liberty Bowl was decked out in Memphis Express logos, and the smoke-filled player introductions felt like something straight out of pro wrestling.

The party decks installed in the north end zone of the Liberty Bowl were a big hit, and the University of Memphis is expected to feature a similar amenity for its 2019 football season.

Some fans even embraced the silent disco, dancing in the stands with headphones to the club beats of three different DJs while watching the game unfold. Raiford’s this was not, but there was palpable excitement as this latest era of Memphis pro football got underway.

You could see it in John Kane’s eyes as he grilled hot dogs in a Memphis Express jersey in the Liberty Bowl parking lot, reminisced about going to Memphis Showboats games as a kid, and explained why he and Ethan Minderman went to Birmingham for the team’s season opener last week, and why they’re going to Orlando for next week’s game.

“It’s something we can share,” Minderman said. “My kid can say, ‘Dad, we started this thing.’”

You could feel it when placekicker and Memphis native Josh Jasper scored the first points in Memphis Express history with a field goal, and Tyler Kenney and his friends raised their Bud Light cans into the air for a celebratory cheers.

Or when tailback Zac Stacy scored the first touchdown in franchise history, and defensive lineman Anthony Johnson followed it up by sacking Hotshots quarterback John Wolford, and reacted by doing a little shimmy on the field. Jay Dougherty turned to his friend at that moment and remarked, “I’m loving this. I’m here for this.”

“They were rowdy,” Wolford said of the Memphis fans. “Shout out to those guys sitting behind the bench. They were determined.”

You could hear it in the voice of Kim Jasper, when she admitted her son thought his football career was over. He hadn’t kicked competitively in nine years. He was coaching football at Lausanne and working a construction job.

But then the AAF started, and so here he was, kicking field goals at the Liberty Bowl. And it seemed like his entire East Memphis neighborhood and the whole Lausanne coaching staff were there to witness it.

“It’s such a great second chance for these guys,” Kim Jasper said. “Memphis is a big sports town and all we need is an event to have a party.”

Maybe that’s enough for the Express to succeed here. Maybe, once the weather gets better, the allure of simply watching pro football is all Memphis needs. Maybe Memphians are willing to give the on-field product a pass for now.

But it’d be a little easier for everyone if the new team could complete one.

You can reach Commercial Appeal columnist Mark Giannotto via email at mgiannotto@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter: @mgiannotto