I hadn’t planned on attending a match at Taft Stadium to watch OKC Energy FC, but I’m glad I did! It just so happened there was a midweek match the day I decided to make a spontaneous drive down from Kansas City. (Thanks to Jake Thurman on Twitter for the heads up!)

For a team playing in a high school stadium, Energy FC provided one of the most visually-appealing setups I’ve seen on the tour. Some “minor league” matches feel very minor league. But my experience at Taft Stadium felt otherwise.

The venue was dressed up and branded well with club colors and signage, in particular the main grandstand, where white seats spelled “OKC” against the green ones.

Not easy to make a stadium with a track look good but @EnergyFC pull it of well. Loving the setup here pic.twitter.com/ZiOBzn8gpG — The Soccer Tour (@TheSoccerTour) June 7, 2017

And, despite the track, the proximity to the pitch felt much closer than it was in reality.

I spent time floating around the stadium to take in the match from a number of different places, though my favorite spot was next to Furia Verde, whose drumming and chanting created a fun atmosphere with a distinct Latin rhythm.

The trumpet convinced me to spend the first half with Furia Verde pic.twitter.com/YG8QCGkQrk — The Soccer Tour (@TheSoccerTour) June 7, 2017

Energy FC have struggled on the pitch this season, so it came as a bit of a surprise to witness a 3-2 win against the much-discussed Phoenix Rising FC. (No, Didier Drogba didn’t play. Nor did Omar Bravo or Shawn Wright-Phillips.)

Defender Kyle Hyland treated those in attendance to this beauty.

Thanks to Adam for reaching out, (and Jake who put the game on my radar!)

Had a great time meeting @TheSoccerTour tonight at the @EnergyFC game! Awesome guy to talk to, who is embarking on a tour I dream of doing! pic.twitter.com/Si6eIpJYvu — Adam Clark (@LordBandaid) June 7, 2017

And it’s always a good time to see my friends from Strikers days.

Great catching up with my man @SteveBernasconi this evening! Everyone give @TheSoccerTour a follow! pic.twitter.com/9uXtL8PJww — Cody Laurendi (@CLaurendi23) June 7, 2017

Especially when they’re a club icon.