They drew 2000 to their home opener, the Patriots drew 523. Do you think the front office is concerned?

They drew 523 on Cinco de Mayo weekend with the de la Hoya fight. No, the front office isn't concerned. The level just isn't the same. Indios are a part of the US Amateur Soccer Association.

This is all fine now, they're spreading the soccer gospel to the west side. However, comma, apparently there's a rule that there can't be another team within a 70-mile radius of an established franchise. Whose rule it is, I'm not certain. If it's a USL rule, that's one thing. If it's a US Soccer rule...

Regardless, Indios hasn't been called on it because they're an amateur side. But they're also charging admission for games and selling advertising -- a very un-amateur-like thing.

We'll see if the new car smell lasts. Until then, the Pats' line seems to be welcoming the competition -- and the added stature of the sport around the county.

Can't be a US Soccer rule even here in Richmond there are 3 teams within 70 miles, Richmond (USLD2, & PDL), Williamsburg (VA Legacy, PDL) and FC Fredericksburg (PDL) and in the DC Area you have DC United, Northern VA Royals (PDL) and Crystal Palace (Baltimore, USL D2). Not to mention the God only knows how many teams in the NY Area....

Interesting point. Perhaps it has more to do with concentrated populations, then. I have to confess that I don't know. Maybe it's specific to a given franchise -- the franchise establishes itself and, with the league, determines how close anybody else can get.

Probably not a US Soccer rule, come to think of it, or MLS teams would have been forced to buy out a lot of USL franchise owners.

Hope they keep that Attendance to their Home games!

Why the negativity aginst the Indios? They need the support of the city as well as the Patriots. I think it is great for the city to have 2 good teams. By the way, the Indios are in the semifinals of a tournament in So. Cal. to qualify to possibly play the Patriots in the Open Cup. I hope to see a lot of fans at the game tonight.

They qualified for the U.S. Open Cup today after making the semifinals of the Region IV tournament.

www.usopencup.com

Rumor is Indios USA has been selling itself privately as something it isn't -- higher on the soccer ladder than the Patriots. They can do that with, say, potential advertisers who don't know any better. But, hey, that's advertising. Salesmen do things to sell.

Publicly, the El Paso Times has already stated they are an amateur side.

Again, though, the Patriots' line is that, as long as the soccer gospel is getting spread, they don't have any problem.

Did anyone else go to the Indios game last night. It was a good game and a great environment for soccer in this city. It reminded me of the Indios games in Juarez, minus the beer. I for one support the Indios and have season passes to the Patriots as well. I am very excited to see two great teams play some great soccer and I feel that if you enjoy soccer then you should definitely support both teams. Here is a question to everyone on the board, who do you think would win in a head to head match up between the Indios and Patriots, and who do you think will get farther in the Open Cup? Just a question to ponder. Get ready for a great weekend of Patriots soccer, with 3 games in a 5 day span!

Oh common, do you really think the alleged 2000 fans were paying fans? Both sides give tickets away in a city of over 700000 and that is the turnout? You get more fans showing up to a youth soccer tournament than to both teams put together.

In answer to your question regarding a match between Patriots and Indios? If Indios played the roster they play in the US, they would do as good as they did in the Cup.

Before the addition of Griego, I would have given the nod to the Indios, but now that the Pats have a proven goal scorer, it would be a very interesting game. I think the answer would lie in which stadium the game would be played in. We have seen time and time again when the Pats play on a larger field, that great team chemistry that we are all used to goes away a little bit. I also believe that the Indios players overall may have a bit more of experience over the Pats. This is a game that I would love to see happen, but I don't know if the two sides could ever come together to get it done. I have also discussed this with some of the Indios players who have great respect for the Patriots team and organization, and they do not have an answer, but they think that it would be a very competitive game. Congrats to both of these fine teams for representing the city well.
To remark to the last post, I don't feel that the Indios should feel any shame in knowing that they lost to a first division team on their home field 3-2 after traveling over 2,000 miles.

I an certain that the Indios aren't ashamed of the result. As for the experience mentioned, NPSL is not at the same level as the PDL, that is why they have fared so well all season. Playing less competitive teams doesn't mean that they have experience. I suppose you mean the experience all the international players have. This is why I previously posted a comment about the Indios moving up.

I concur, a 3-2 result is pretty good for a first year team. The goals are inconsistent when it comes to Indios, one day they win 5-0 the other they tie. One wonders if the large point difference is related to a travel roster vs home roster issue? Hmmm. I also agree with the statement about Griego, the Patriots were only scoring in set plays until they brought him into the equation. As I mentioned before, if the Indios play only NPSL players and keep the 1A players south of the border, the Patriots would come out on top.

Funny, I see it the opposite, playing at Patriots Stadium limits the long passes, having the lateral walls so close inhibits the game from flowing for the Patriots. Hopefully, if the Patriots advance, we will see the Dynamo in El Paso, something I heard the news media mention a while back ago about Indios playing an exhibition game with Dynamo. No matter who plays them, the Patriots or the Indios, I would love to see the game.