Geoff Calkins

The Commercial Appeal

It’s March 2019. You head down to AutoZone Park, buy a hot dog and a cold beer, and find your seat to cheer on — a Memphis professional soccer team?

Yes, a Memphis professional soccer team.

According to two people with knowledge of the negotiations, the Redbirds ownership group has been in discussions to bring a United Soccer League team to Memphis, which could begin play in AutoZone Park as early as 2019.

Craig Unger, the president, general manager and part owner of the Redbirds, declined to comment on the possibility.

Asked about a report by the soccer website soctakes.com that the addition of a Memphis franchise was a “done deal,” Unger said, “We are aware of that social media report. We are focused completely on the Redbirds historic season and are getting ready to sell playoff tickets.”

What Unger didn’t say: “Are you crazy? That report is nonsense.”

What you should feel free to interpret Unger’s comments to mean: “Yes, we’re aiming to bring soccer to Memphis, we’re just not ready to talk about it yet.”

Which is fine, really. Let them have the press conference if and when it's finalized.

In the meantime, the rest of us can contemplate the happy news that Memphis may well have a legitimate pro soccer team once again.

The USL isn’t Major League Soccer, but it’s only one tier down, and two steps up from the semi-pro Memphis City FC team that started last year.

FC Cincinnati averages more than 20,000 fans a game. Louisville, San Antonio, Phoenix, Rio Grande Valley, Tampa Bay, Ottawa and Reno all average more than 5,000 fans a game.

Nashville ’s USL team begins play next year. Birmingham and Austin will begin play in 2019.

So if you’re wondering if Memphians will turn out to watch minor-league soccer in a beautiful baseball park, the answer is: It’s certainly worth a shot.

This town has a rich soccer history, from the Rogues to the Americans to the Storm.

Memphis fell in love with Tony Carbognani and Stan Stamenkovic, sent Carey Talley, Ross Paule, Richard Mulroney and others to the MLS, and was the offseason home of superstar Tim Howard for a good long while.

All this was before soccer became the hottest sport in the country, before kids everywhere started playing the FIFA video game as much as NBA 2K.

So, absolutely, it’s worth giving it a whirl. It’s also further evidence of the commitment and vision of the new Redbirds ownership group.

Memphians didn’t know quite what to think when the St. Louis Cardinals bought the Redbirds, then turned around and sold them to New York businessman Peter Freund. But Freund has not only brought new energy and ideas to the baseball club, he’s apparently aiming to bring professional soccer to downtown.

What’s not to like about another legitimate professional team in Memphis? What’s not to like about another 15 lively game nights in AutoZone Park? What’s not to like about a businessman investing in Memphis, then finding ways to invest some more?

There’s nothing not to like about any of that, of course.

So stay tuned for further developments and details. You’ll be hearing them before long. In the meantime, please do celebrate the end of the Redbirds historic season. There may be more history, coming soon.