Hoosiers excited for pro soccer team

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Successful professional soccer in Indianapolis may seem like a long shot,  but the still unnamed team has already scored its first goal. 

Season ticket sales are beyond what even an optimistic team president first targeted. 

Chatam Tap on Mass Avenue takes soccer seriously.
   
"There was never a place where people could get together and watch the games, watch the matches."

So when owner Daniel Jones opened Chatam in 2007, he made it a place for soccer fans to gather. The pulse of soccer in the city beats loudly at Chatham and word of a North American Soccer league franchise coming to Indy is being welcomed with open arms.      

"I'm kind of surprised by the overwhelming support and the way people are talking about this and excited about it," said Jones. 

They are excited about Indy Pro Soccer, as it's called, since the team doesn't yet have a name. 

"Well the goal is to create a sustainable professional soccer team that can play at the highest level Indiana has ever seen," said Peter Wilt, President and General Manager of Indy Pro Soccer. 

Selling enough season tickets to put fans in these stands at the IUPUI track stadium where the team will play starting in April of 2014 is key to the franchise's success.  So far, fans are willing to spend their money for Indy soccer.  

Said Wilt, "In only two months we have sold 2,700 season tickets." 

Wilt says ticket sales are surpassed only by the passion soccer fans have for the team, which he says is what's needed to ensure success beyond this intial excitement.

"It's not like they are supporting this because its a nice social outing or they play soccer because they want to watch it.  But they really feel a connection to this team," said Wilt. 

While the team will play at IUPUI for now, future plans call for a soccer stadium downtown.  Strong season ticket sales are crucial to reaching that goal.