David Woods

IndyStar

Calm down and be patient. We're on the right track. We'll win eventually.

That's not what Ersal Ozdemir, owner of the Indy Eleven, tells local soccer fans. That's what fans tell him.

The same message is delivered to general manager Peter Wilt, who said he looked "miserable" after Saturday's last-minute, 2-1 loss to the San Antonio Scorpions.

"They were saying, 'No, we had a good time. Don't worry about it. The team is going to come together,' " Wilt said.

With that kind of role reversal, it's hard to make a case that the Eleven's place on the local sports landscape is dependent on winning in the near future.

True, they haven't won a North American Soccer League game yet; they are last out of 10 teams with a 0-5-3 record. True, with the possible exception of the Chicago Cubs, no pro sports franchise can attract fans and sponsors indefinitely without winning. Or at least the hope of winning.

But the Eleven are 5-for-5 in NASL home sellouts, and their average attendance of 10,463 is by far the highest in the NASL. They drew an announced 9,181 for a midweek U.S. Open Cup game — a 5-2 victory over the Dayton Dutch Lions — which was the highest figure out of 16 third-round sites.

The Eleven might be trendy now, so the question becomes: How soon must they win to remain that way?

"I think they'll probably need to win in the second season, at least," said Nick McKinnon, 25, Indianapolis, a season ticket-holder who was kicking a soccer ball around a parking lot with friends before a recent game.

Several fans interviewed by The Indianapolis Star had similar reactions. Others were adamant that the Eleven are under no such deadline.

"If they're not going to win, I'm still going to come," said Allissa Moore, 30, Indianapolis. "They're our team. Win or lose, I'm going to be supportive. I'm glad they're here."

Another fan, David Miranda, 31, Greenwood, said he wasn't a fan of the Eleven but a fan of the sport. Miranda, who wore a Mexican national team No. 10 jersey, said he was born in Mexico and moved to the United States 20 years ago. It is important that Indianapolis have a soccer franchise, he said.

"I think people are just excited," Miranda said. "They like the sport. Indy is a big sports city. It doesn't matter what."

Wilt is perhaps more impatient than most executives would be. In his first year with the Chicago Fire, they completed an improbable double in 1998 by winning the Major League Soccer Cup and U.S. Open Cup in successive weeks.

Also, the New York Cosmos joined the NASL last fall and immediately won the league's Soccer Bowl.

"We're our own harshest critics," Wilt said. "We're not giving ourselves any kind of honeymoon or pass because we're a new team."

New teams typically are greeted enthusiastically. For instance, the Indiana Fever's highest average home attendance of 11,267 came in their inaugural WNBA season of 2000. The average has subsequently leveled off in the 7,000 to 8,000 range.

To enhance Eleven fans' experience, the team renovated IUPUI's Carroll Stadium, which has an official capacity of 10,285. The team paid for a video board, audio system, 11 suites, eight concession stands, 428 padded chairbacks and 4,000 bleacher seats on the east and west ends.

Without prompting, a couple of fans told The Star they actually like the stadium. The Eleven want to build their own venue, perhaps in anticipation of an attempt to join MLS.

Of the renovations, Ozdemir said: "We knew we needed to keep them engaged somehow so they're happy enough."

One reason Ozdemir would like a new stadium is so energy from the Brickyard Battalion, a supporter group whose members sit in the west stands, can ripple around the stadium.

"The thing is, that makes soccer different, just the passion and excitement, ups and downs, people screaming, yelling," he said. "This is kind of a taste of it."

For those who complain soccer is boring, Ozdemir said, the Eleven have scored in each game. The downside of that is they have allowed 17 goals, tied for worst in the NASL.

Defensive lapses are a source of frustration for a team that went on the road May 24 and tied the Cosmos 1-1. It was an indication of what the Eleven can become.

"I hope that people on the team see what we are doing here right now," goalkeeper Kristian Nicht said. "I mean, we played a really, really good game in New York against probably the best team in that league."

Assembling players from around the world — the roster features those from England, Germany, Brazil, Honduras and Jamaica — and making them "click right away" has been difficult, Ozdemir acknowledged.

The owner was once opposed to the World Cup break that interrupts NASL play for a month. But he said practice during that time could help the Eleven. Moreover, after this week's game at Atlanta ends the nine-game spring season, the Eleven open the summer/fall season July 12 with the first of 18 games. And they start with a clean slate: 0-0. The winner of each half of the season earn one of the four playoff berths.

Fans have clicked with the players, who express gratitude in postgame interviews and on Twitter. Wilt said he has never seen such loyalty.

"It's really interesting how these fans have connected to the team so quickly," Wilt said. "I don't think it's going to be something that's a fad or a short-term affair. I think the fans are here to stay."

Call Star reporter David Woods at (317) 444-6195.

NASL average home attendance

10,463 Indy Eleven

6,474 San Antonio

5,577 Minnesota

5,364 Carolina

5,214 Tampa Bay

4,677 New York

4,640 Atlanta

3,825 Fort Lauderdale

3,545 FC Edmonton

2,683 Ottawa FC