Friday, June 17, 2005 Cincinnati Kings Kick Local Soccer Scene Into Shape By Kate Westrich Family-oriented, inexpensive fun has kicked its way into Cincinnati. The largest chunk of soccer players in Cincinnati are under the age of 13. The Cincinnati Kings, our professional soccer team, is trying to engage those young athletes, while at the same time creating new soccer fans. The Cincinnati Kings play at the Xavier University Soccer Field. The Kings’ soccer team is halfway through their season but there is still time to catch them in action. General Manager JT Roberts encourages families to come out to the Kings’ games because it’s “entertaining and exciting. It’s soccer.” It’s also very accessible. In addition to playing their games in a very central location where fans get to sit very close to the players and the game, the team has ensured that players are accessible to fans. “We’re making the guys very visible,” says Roberts. All of the players are encouraged to work with as youth soccer coaches and use their professional athlete status to participate in more community events. The community presence is paying off. Sean Pace is a 20-year-old student at Northern Kentucky University and huge sports fan. “You can talk to {the players] after a game and they seem really grateful and humble for what they have,” Pace says. Pace is also quick to point out that the games are extremely affordable. “Being a college student I appreciate that I can afford going to a King's game,” he says. “Seven dollars for a great seat is much more in my price range than say the 20 to 35 dollar range of a professional baseball game.” The Kings are also bringing the international aspect of soccer to Cincinnati. Tiest Sondall from the Netherlands is Daniel Cheeseman’s favorite player. Cheeseman, a coach at St. Henry High School in Kentucky, likes when Sondall yells during games. “His accent comes out and it makes the game of soccer seem more real; it shows how people from all over play the game.” Having international players on the team makes it more interesting for the local players, too. Jack Cummings is the Right Midfielder for the Kings from Maderia. He likes playing with the international players because they bring with them different ways to play soccer. Family Oriented Fun Tanya Long of Mt. Orab started getting into soccer when her son Dakota, 9, started playing. Now she and her husband take Dakota and kids from his soccer team to Kings’ games. “I think soccer, even though it's low scoring, is very fast paced,” says Long. “I am never bored at a Kings game.” In an effort to keep kids from getting bored, there is the Kids Kingdom Club for Cincinnati Kings fans ages 12 and younger. For $25 members of the club get to enjoy benefits such as a T-shirt, free admission to home games and autograph sessions and photo ops with the Kings players. Roberts says the Kings are fortunate to have such a great fan base and having events for families before and after the game only lets people feel more connected to the team. Kate Westrich is a Cincinnati native and avid flip-flop wearer. Return to regular view