2. FAN SUPPORT
While many in the Motor City seem intent on supporting a new pro team, there are looming questions on whether a city of our size can truly support five professional teams. The urban areas of Detroit combine for the 11th largest in population in the United States; this accounts for Detroit being the largest sports market that the MLS does not have a team in. The numbers would clearly support a viable reason for Detroit having a team. A lack of support for soccer historically and a clear disinterest in past teams including the Michigan Bucks are cautionary signs, however. Despite the supernova growth of Detroit City FC, the club still only has an average attendance under 10,000.
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By comparison, the city of Cincinnati showed strong support for their new semi-professional soccer club by averaging an attendance close to MLS league average. Other cities have had stronger grassroots soccer movements and have also shown stronger interest. The effort to bring in MLS to Detroit is much like the University of Michigan football program lately, a lot of promise despite some substandard results. Hopefully, the support hikes up for professional soccer in the Motor City much like the Wolverines program has in the past year.
