Behind a small shopping center in Addison stands the Inwood Soccer Center, hidden from the road. The sound of soccer balls ricocheting off the boards fill the arena as the Dallas Sidekicks practice on a cold December day.

The Sidekicks have operated in the shadows of the Cowboys, Mavericks and the Rangers off and on since 1984. In the past 35 years, the Sidekicks have belonged to six variations of an arena soccer league before this iteration of the MASL. This is their second season back after a year-long hiatus.

The success of Major League Soccer and FC Dallas, which will celebrate its 25th season in 2020, has been a blessing and a curse for the MASL in North Texas.

The popularity of outdoor soccer has only created a desire for more soccer-related activities in the area -- which benefits the MASL -- but on the other hand it has also cost the MASL players and fans.

Despite those challenges, MASL is backing the Metroplex and its soccer market by adding a second team to the area.

The Mesquite Outlaws joined the MASL this season, giving players another avenue to compete in a pro setting instead of amateur leagues.

For a long time the Sidekicks were the only MASL team, now they will have to face their new competition four times a season. Dallas won its first match of the year on Sunday against Kansas City and will host Mesquite for the first time on Boxing Day.

But instead of worrying about competing financially, the Sidekicks are embracing their new neighbors.

“It opens up the door for [players] to have another venue to play,” Tatu, Outlaws head coach and former Sidekicks player-coach, said. “They want to pursue a professional soccer career -- indoor or outdoor -- It’s great to have some options.”

Playing for the MASL

Victor Alemdariz’s day begins at 6 a.m., when his 4-year-old wakes him up. He helps around the house then heads to work. Depending on the day, the 30-year-old Sidekicks forward either has to block out time for midday practice or rush to the late-night sessions after helping his wife with their children.

Almendariz has played in Ecuador with Barcelona Sporting Club of the Liga Pro -- the top tier in outdoor Ecuadorian soccer. He has also played collegiately for Richland College and UT-Tyler.

Like many of his Sidekicks teammates or Outlaws counterparts, he must work multiple jobs. An MASL player salary is not something most can live on alone. They play for passion instead of pay.

“I blessed enough with my job. I don’t really need this extra job,” said Almendariz, who is a branch manager at Town Square Mortgage. “It’s more of a passion that I have and love for the sport.”

Player contract details are not disclosed to the public -- unlike the MLS -- but Outlaws forward/midfielder Jamie Lovegrove said player pay can average anywhere between $1,000 to $2,500 month.

Lovegrove, 29, also has a job outside the MASL. Lovegrove coaches youth soccer teams with FC Dallas and with the Kenny Cooper soccer academy in Frisco. Lovegrove continues to play soccer to keep in shape.

“I stay involved in soccer Monday through Sunday,” said Lovegrove, originally from Crawley, England. “I really enjoy it.”

Because players are working jobs outside of the sport, practice varies every week. Sometimes it’s at noon, and others in the evening. Players can’t always make every practice. MASL allows 26 players per roster, but 16 can dress for the six-man squads.

Most of the players on the Sidekicks and Outlaws have ties to The Metroplex, motivating them to not only find success on the field, but off it too by generating exposure to the sport.

Now with another team in the area, players -- regardless of team are hoping that the league is stable enough to keep operating.

Why two MASL teams?

This is the first time there have been two MASL teams in The Metroplex.

Even though the Sidekicks have had financial instability in their past -- including a year-long hiatus in 2017 -- MASL is confident both Metroplex clubs will succeed.

MASL commissioner Joshua Schaub says there are three major factors into bringing another team into the league: ownership, the market and the arena -- and Mesquite had all of those.

Dallas Sidekicks forward Victor Almendariz takes a shot during practice at Inwood Soccer Center on Monday, Dec. 16, 2019, in Addison. (Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)

Schaub says his job is to make sure “the league is healthy” and wouldn’t have allowed another team to come into the league if there wasn’t any interest in the area.

Dallas is vying to be a host site for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after the U.S., Mexico and Canada won the bid to host. FC Dallas has been in the Metroplex for the last quarter decade, and its imprint only continues to grow in the community with its developmental leagues. The Mexican National Team plays annually at AT&T Stadium and will do so through 2022.

MASL officials hope that having a second team in the area will bring exposure to the league, while also creating an intercity rivalry.

“We do feel based on the market studies, that a lot of fans from Mesquite weren’t traveling to Dallas for games, but now they will,” Shaub said. “We felt there was room in the market for two teams.”

There are 17 teams in the league. The Sidekicks and Outlaws are the two teams closest to each other. Allen Event Center (the Sidekicks’ home venue) and Mesquite Arena (Outlaws) are 32 miles apart.

Both rosters are made up of a mix of international and local players. Like Almendariz, many international players came to the Metroplex to play outdoor soccer collegiately before joining the MASL.

Tatu -- who is a legendary player for the Sidekicks who had his number retired by the team in 2012 -- believes that while the two teams are considered to be ‘close’, they are serving two markets.

However, he said he sees the allure of having more than one franchise in the area and the benefits there are for everyone involved.

“It makes sense, there’s no travel expenses, basically just get in your car and go to the arena,” Tatu said.

Enough room for two teams

The teams met for the first time in the season opener at Mesquite Arena in Mesquite with 3,359 in attendance on November 3. In the Outlaws’ other home game this season, they welcomed in another 4,536 fans against the Monterrey Flash, according to the MASL website .

The biggest thing that Schaub said helps him and his staff gauge the success of a team is not their attendance but their ticket revenue. Schaub is pleased with the Outlaws’ revenue so far.

The next time the two teams face one another will be in Allen for the Sidekicks’ second home game of the year. Dallas had 2,029 in attendance for their 10-6 loss to Monterrey. Last season the Sidekicks reported to league offices that they averaged 2,615 fans over a 12 home game period.

Last year was the return of the Sidekicks after a brief hiatus. It was the second time they paused play in the last 15 years (they also were inactive from 2004-2012), citing ‘reorganization’ in a press release sent on September 21, 2017.

Both times the Sidekicks returned with new ownership.

Despite the challenges the MASL has faced in the past, league officials are looking to potentially add a third MASL team to the area in the future.

Schuab was unable to discuss when and where the new team would be coming to the Metroplex, because they are still talking with potential hosts within the area.

Given the reception of the Outlaws this season, Schaub expects that when the time to launch a third MASL team in the Metroplex comes, there will be more than enough attention for all three organizations.

Sidekicks vs. Outlaws

Arena: Allen Events Center, Mesquite Arena

Records: 1-4, 1-3

Head coach: Simon Bozas, Tatu

Game info: Thursday, December 26, 7:35 p.m., Allen Event Center