'IT BLEW ME AWAY'

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A crowd of 4,736 turned out for the Flint City Bucks inaugural game at Atwood Stadium. (Jake May | MLive.com)

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FLINT, MI -- It was only one game and it was exhibition at that.

But if the Flint City Bucks' debut Saturday night at Atwood Stadium is any indication, the Genesee County sports scene has a new hit on its hands.

The Bucks announced a crowd of 4,736 for their 1-0 victory over Detroit City, a turnout exceeded expectations for co-owner and team chairman Dan Duggan.

Not bad for a game the Bucks considered not playing because they still have 25 potential players who have yet to report to the team because of college final exams.

"It blew me away," Duggan said. "I told Costa (Papista, the team president) 'You might get 2,000 people and if you do then it would be worth doing.' Because we're playing with a lot of guys who are brand new. A lot of guys just got here.

"It is a great start. I wouldn't say because there was 4,700 tonight the next Saturday there should be 5,200. It doesn't work like that. Detroit City is a great draw. It's a great rivalry. It's the first game. There's a lot of things.

"But our expectations were if we could start with 1,000 people -- Flint natives who really get into it -- then we'll grow from there. It was an overwhelming success from what I ever imagined six months ago when we made the trek up here."

Related: Jake May's Flint City Bucks-Detroit City FC photo gallery

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ABOUT THE TEAMS

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Bucks goalkeeper Jacob Nunner (right) and midfielder Umar Osman both play for the University of Michigan. (Jake May | MLive.com)

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The Bucks moved to Flint after previously calling Pontiac, Metro Detroit and Saginaw home. An amateur team comprised of college-aged players, they've been one of the most successful minor-league clubs in the country since their formation in 1995, winning three national championships.

They play in the USL League Two.

Detroit City Football Club, which plays in the National Premier Soccer League, was playing its third game.

DCFC opened the season April 6 and lost 1-0 to the Chattanooga Football Club and 2-1 to Michigan State. DCFC is based in Hamtramck.

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THE GAME

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Ghana native Umar Osman, a University of Michigan sophomore, scored the game's only goal. (Jake May | MLive.com)

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Flint scored the game's only goal in the 35th minute of the first half, when midfielder Umar Osman deposited a free kick just inside the left goal post. The native of Ghana is a sophomore at Michigan, where he's a two-time All-Big Ten player.

Osman just missed a second goal when he hit the outside of the post with the net wide open from a sharp angle in the 68th minute.

The Bucks through they had made it 2-0 in the 75th minute on a header from in front of the net by Ayuk Tembe, a forward from Minnesota who plays for Tusculum University in Tennessee. But Tembe was called offside, nullifying the goal.

Goalkeeper Jacob Nunner made a nifty diving save in the 78th minute to stop what would have been a sure DCFC goal. Nunner is from Shelby Township and plays at Michigan.

Andrew Pannenberg started in goal for the Bucks and made two saves. He plays for Wake Forest.

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THE PLAYERS

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The Flint City Bucks have players representing eight countries, including eight who are from Michigan. (Jake May | MLive.com)

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The Bucks' lineup featured players from all over the world.

The 19 players listed on the Bucks' lineup sheet featured eight from Michigan. That group included midfielder Spencer Nolff of Grand Blanc. Ten of the Bucks play college soccer in Michigan -- including Nolff, who plays at Oakland University.

Nolff, who played in high school at Grand Blanc, was in the starting lineup.

The Bucks' lineup also featured players from England, Italy, Portugal, Brazil, France, Ghana and Canada.

The players who took the field for the Bucks against Detroit City won't necessarily all be on the team when the season begins May 18. Several players who are expected to be on the team are taking their final college exams.

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THE ATMOSPHERE

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The fans seemed to genuinely enjoy themselves, chanting and cheering throughout the game.

Detroit City's steel drum band played throughout the game behind the west end zone. That was also where the Northern Guard -- Detroit's supporters -- were sitting. They were clad in DCFC gear and cheered virtually the entire game.

Flint expects to have a steel drum band of its own but Papista pointed out it is still early in franchise history. But the club's supporters -- the River Rats -- gathered in the northwest corner of the stadium and kept things lively in that part of Atwood.

At halftime, the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Flint's steel drum band put on an entertaining show while local youth players had a mini-game on the field.

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ARE YOU HUNGRY?

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Fans in the main parking lot held a tailgate party before the game. (Brendan Savage | MLive.com)

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There was plenty to choose from for anybody who was hungry.

The concession stand featured the usual sports menu. It included nachos, hot dogs, popcorn and pretzels,. Two establishments, Luigi's and Little Caesars, were also selling pizza.

On top of that, HaloBurger and Beirut Express had food trucks located on the southwest corner of the property.

HaloBurger's offerings included a Bucks Burger -- it featured cheddar cheese, bacon, peppercorn sauce and an onion ring -- while Beirut Express' choices included chicken shawarma, gyros and hummus with chips.

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BEVERAGE CHOICES

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Beer, cocktails and soft drinks were among the beverages available for purchase. (Jake May | MLive.com)

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Beer and mixed drinks were also available.

Draft beer went for either $7 or $8 depending on the brand while mixed drinks were $8 for domestic liquor and $10 for premium brands.

The concession stand was also selling soft drinks, bottled water, coffee, hot chocolate and athletic drinks.

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MERCHANDISE CHOICES

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Becca Look of Flint blowns one of the horns that were for sale in the merchandise tent. (Jake May | MLive.com)

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The merchandise tent near the southwest corner of the property featured a wide variety of souvenirs.

In addition to the usual T-shirts, hoodies and caps, there were Bucks jerseys for sale as well as knit scarves, tank tops, large horns and foam "No. 1" fingers.

There was also a special T-shirt commemorating the inaugural game with the date on it.

The 50-50 drawing paid the winner $443 to help pay for some swag if he or she was so inclined.

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PREGAME FUN

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Fans in the Bucks' "River Rats" section set off some smoke signals after Flint's lone goal. (Jake May | MLive.com)

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Fans utilized both parking lots to have a little pregame fun.

Some were playing cornhole in the VIP lot behind the stadium near the Flint River while there was a private tailgate party being thrown by a local youth soccer club in the main lot between University Drive and Hurley Medical Center.

There was also a bounce house on the lawn in the southeast corner of the property and youngsters were kicking around soccer balls in the main parking lot.

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SECURITY

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Bucks co-owner and team chairman Dan Dugan called the team's debut in Flint an "overwhelming success." (Jake May | MLive.com)

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For anyone concerned about being safe in downtown Flint, there was lots of security inside and outside Atwood.

Security officers were visible all over the property.

Kettering University, which owns Atwood, had several Campus Safety officers on hand, the Bucks hired their own security guards and Flint police officers on hand.

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Flint goalkeeper Jacob Nunner made a big save in the second half to preserve the shutout. (Jake May | MLive.com)