Professional indoor/arena soccer enters its fifth decade of existence this season and the 17 teams of Major Arena Soccer League hope that there will be plenty more years of indoor success with the beautiful sport. The game might have fallen off the sports radar in recent years, but many of us may not be too far away from a game in one of the markets that range from coast-to-coast in North America.

The league will feature three new franchises in Utica, New York; Mississauga, Ontario; and Orlando, Florida and welcome the return of the Dallas Sidekicks after a one-year hiatus. The league has also expanded the MASL2 offering 15 more teams that operate in smaller cities and venues in order to provide an outlet for teams to either reorganize or re-emerge in the MASL.

This is not a list of the best arenas, but an alphabetical account by each division of the homes of the MASL. Stadium Journey has been out to only a few games in the league the past few seasons but hopes to get out to more this season to expand our coverage of arena soccer.

The Baltimore Blast left its ancestral home of the Royal Farms Arena that was home to indoor soccer since 1980 for the SECU Arena on the campus of Towson University last season. The arena was built for basketball, but the Blast was able to squeeze in a field inside the facility. The turf is the shortest in the league but above average in width and did not stop the Blast from its winning ways. There are a few curiosities that include two sides of the field with raised bleachers with championship banners, but also many modern touches from open concourses, suites, and better acoustics. The acoustics give the club a huge home-field advantage since most games are close to capacity. The Blast has won the last three championships and should be up for the task to win it all again this year.

The arena that is known to many as the Farm Show Arena was the home to the first incarnation of the Heat from 1991 to 2003. The arena offers wide-open views of the field from almost every seat in the building. The main concourse wraps around the entire seating section and offers concession options, team merchandise, nightly promotions, and beer garden with quite an array of local craft beer options. There are still a few faithful who have been there since the original club who can be found near the boards cheering and shouting after every goal or great play. They remember the days when the arena was packed with fans and with recent changes with the team, should be contending for a playoff position in its division.

Paramount Fine Foods Centre, Mississauga MetroStars

The arena formerly known as the Hershey Centre in the Greater Toronto Area will host its first season of soccer with the expansion side MetroStars. The facility has been home to junior hockey since its opening in 1998 but was home to indoor soccer to the Toronto ThunderHawks for the 2000-01 season. Stadium Journey is not a stranger to the building as recently indicated in a review of its hockey team: “Approaching the facility from the exterior, the roofline is attractive and screams ‘hockey rink’ as it curves above the modern facade. The front doors are set atop a welcoming promenade from the bus stop, with flags and landscaping.” The Stars will have a load of local futsal talent that should be compelling to watch as they look to make a statement in its division.

Adirondack Bank Center, Utica City FC

Utica City begins its first season after relocating from Syracuse during the offseason and hopes to have the same success as its co-tenants the Utica Comets who have sold out 117 straight games. That might be a lot to ask for the indoor club, but don’t be surprised if the club attracts large numbers to “The Aud”. The team has marketing itself rather aggressively, reportingly selling around 1,000 season tickets in its desire to #fillthebank. The 3,680 seat arena is known for its innovative roof design–the world’s first prestressed dual cable roof system–and an all blue field turf to match team colors. Fans will have the option to watch the game from the Corona Premier Biergarten, a field level seating area that features All-You-Can-Eat authentic German food, access to the Kilfoil’s Irish Pub, and a souvenir team branded stein for $25 a game.

RP Funding Center, Florida Tropics SC

The stadium formerly known as the Lakeland Center underwent a $14 million renovation recently that resulted in new video replay boards that are twice the size (and much clearer) than the previous ones. Phase 2 of the project will include additional disabled seating in a new third level as well as revamped concourse and lobby spaces. The 8,000-seat features field-level seating without any plexiglass between the fans and players. The arena is was the home for the Tampa Bay Rowdies for three games during the 1983-84 NASL Indoor season. The changes to the exterior and interior have transformed it into almost a new building.

Silverstein Eye Centers Arena, Kansas City Comets

The home of the Comets is a few miles outside of Kansas City in Independence, Missouri, and off of Interstate-70, the building is hard to miss. There is seating for 5,800 people that includes plenty of great views for fans in attendance. The Comets name has been a mainstay in town since the original franchise operated out of the Kemper Arena; the club was so popular that it outdrew the NBA Kansas City Kings leaving many to believe the reason why the basketball team relocated to Sacramento in 1985. The building is celebrating a decade this year and is known for its eclectic concession options that include local Kansas City-style barbecue. There have also been reports that the Comets will debut a brand-new blue turf this season.

The Milwaukee Wave is the oldest professional soccer team in the country and offers one of the better game-day experiences at its home venue in downtown Milwaukee. The team plays on a customized black turf, features interactive video promotions, and plays in front of enthusiastic audiences. It is also located down the street from the Fiserv Forum and there are plenty of bars and restaurants within walking distance that makes this the ideal one-stop destination for fans. The atmosphere is to-notch and fans are not only entertained by the winning soccer on the field, but by half-time events such as bubble soccer and youth soccer matches.

Silver Spurs Arena, Orlando SeaWolves

The Silver Spurs Arena is another modern venue that will host indoor soccer for the first time this year. The Orlando SeaWolves hope to lure a few fans away from the Magic Kingdom that is located minutes away from the venue. It is another smaller size arena that should benefit the club that is mostly comprised of last year’s Cedar Rapids Rampage team that played in front of minuscule fans at their downtown arena. The Wolves won’t be too far away from its nearest rival the Florida Tropic, an hour away down Interstate-4

The Family Arena is located a few miles from the visually pleasing downtown of St.Charles, Missouri. The home of the Ambush is the perfect size venue for the soccer club that provides music and atmosphere of days gone by. Gameday atmosphere features a local high school band, tabletop field suites, and disco music for quintessential indoor soccer environment. The St. Louis area has supported soccer well on and off for almost 40 seasons, the Ambush hope to produce a few more wins than losses this season. The team colors of teal and black are as vibrant as is its team mascot Bushwacker’s furry mustache.

Allen Event Center, Dallas Sidekicks

The Dallas Sidekicks return to the Allen Event Center after a one-year hiatus and hope to recapture some of their winning ways they had during the club’s first few seasons in the league. The 6,006-seat facility is located in the northern suburbs of Dallas and is home to the ECHL Allen Americans hockey team. Like with many other new venues in the league, it’s an adequate and modern building for the club. The arena is located in the Village of Allen that is home to numerous restaurants, bars, a dog park, open-space areas, and children’s play area. Kelly’s at the Village Craft Tavern is recommended, only steps from the arena and offering a wide selection of beers on tap (30+) many local to Texas.

El Paso County Coliseum, El Paso Coyotes

The El Paso County Coliseum opened up in 1942 and was the primary venue for rodeo and livestock shows. The WPA projects first event drew a group of local farmers and businessmen for a barbecue for “Cotton Week”. The Coyotes began operations in 2016 and have slowly established themselves in the border city. The 5,250 seat venue offers cuisine inspired by the area, a dance team to entertain fans during stoppage of play, and seats that hover above the turf and are not obstructed by plexiglass.

Arena Monterrey, Monterrey Flash

“La Arena” is the largest building (17,599) and the Flash is the last surviving Mexican franchise in the MASL. Construction of the arena was to begin in 1992 and completed the next year, but delays caused its completion a decade later in 2003. The Flash began operations in 2013 and drew a league-record crowd of 9,626 people to its first game. The seating around the pitch is separated by extra space and raised above the floor and boards. Indoor soccer has been part of the arena’s history since its opening at 2003.

RGV Barracudas FC, State Farm Arena

The State Farm Arena in Hidalgo, Texas, was constructed in 2003 in his been home to a series of numerous sports ranging from hockey to indoor soccer. The 5,500 modern facility was built at a cost of 23 million dollars and is also the home of concerts and berries events in the Rio Grande Valley. The Barracudas began operations in 2014 and took hiatus after two years before joining the MASL last year.

Ontario Fury, Citizens Business Bank Arena

The home of the Ontario Fury can accommodate 9,491 guests for soccer and offers 36 luxury suites on two concourse levels. The modern arena offers an array of concession items and services over 4.3 million people in the Inland Empire. The arena features 25 suites and 500 club seats, as well as 1,000-square foot bar. The Fury began operations in 2013 and also operate the Ontario Fury II in MASL 2. The arena is also home to the Ontario Reign of the American Hockey League and the Agua Caliente Clippers of the NBA G-League.

Valley View Casino Center, San Diego Sockers

The arena began life as the San Diego International Sports Arena in 1966 and was commonly known as The Sports Arena. It has been the home to a variety of professional sports franchises and entertainment throughout its 50 plus years, but the original San Diego Sockers franchise was its biggest dynasty, capturing ten championships from 1982 to 1992. The current club is the third incarnation and has added three more championships to its resume.

According to Craig Elsten, CMO of the club, “Sockers fans have a deep history with our club and are some of the most knowledgeable in the MASL. Our fan experience is highlighted by our supporters’ section, called “The Deep End”, where rabid Sockers fans stand the entire game, chant and sing to support the team, bang drums, and wave flags, and generate spirit for the crowd.”

ShoWare Center, Tacoma Stars

The ShoWare Center is located in Kent, Washington–18 miles from both downtown Tacoma and Seattle. The Stars have created a spirited atmosphere of lights, lasers, music, and numerous mascots to entertain the crowds at each game. The club even offers its own IPA beer at home games. The arena is within easy access to major freeways and parking is always free. It was also the first sports arenas to achieve GOLD certification from L.E.A.D. The arena is also home to the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League.

Turlock Soccer Complex, Turlock Express

The smallest and most interesting facility in the league is the home of the Express. The building was never designed to be a professional sports venue and is geared towards rec and adult league indoor soccer. Turlock is also the smallest city in the league with a metro population base of around 72,000. However, the crowds are almost on top of the boards during games with fans overflowing the outside of the soccer boards. The strong fan base has kept the club alive as they do battle with the big boys in the western division of the MASL. The atmosphere at inside the complex is definitely unique.

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