St. Louis Ambush’s Resurgence
Following a successful debut season for CITY SC, soccer fans, both new and returning, are eager to support their city; however, they find themselves having to wait until the 2024 MLS season to do so. In the meantime the St. Louis Ambush, a St. Charles-based professional indoor team founded in 2013, has capitalized on the current soccer excitement by kicking off their MASL (Major Arena Soccer League) season with a new addition— a supporter section. Inspired by one of CITY’s standout characteristics, "Colectivo Ambush," consists of six supporter groups coming together to cheer on the Ambush.
The CITY Refs are one of the members that make up this new supporter group. The podcast hosted by Mando Gould and Danny Cal discusses soccer news, the St. Louis community and more. The duo rose to popularity by attending CITY home games in bright yellow referee outfits, and “reffing the refs.” They took the opportunity to join Colectivo Ambush as a means to grow the soccer fan base in St. Louis.
“I think [CITY SC’s debut season] got everyone excited about soccer in St. Louis, and the success left fans wanting more,” Gould said. “Ambush picks up right when the MLS season closes, so it’s an easy transition.”
Being a part of Colectivo Ambush allows members to work directly with the players and staff of the Ambush. In the CITY Ref’s case, they have been able to film challenge and skills videos with the team, in addition to having people like Jeff Locker, the Ambush’s head coach, general manager, and owner, on their podcast. On Episode 29 “Sideline Sitdown with Jeff Locker,” he explains how his role in the team grew after buying out the team in late 2019.
“The GM part just came natural from the standpoint of, kind of like playing fantasy soccer or fantasy football, you get to start picking and choosing who to bring in,” Locker said.
Locker stepped in and became the head coach after the coach at the time unexpectedly quit mid-season.
“I do a lot of coaching locally, I’ve done some coaching in different academies, and I’ve coached a lot of teams for a lot of years,” Locker said. “So I had never coached professional indoor, but there’s a lot of things similar, a lot of things different.”
The creation of this new supporters section has brought a new era to the club, especially taking into consideration the post-CITY state St. Louis is in. This addition has grabbed the attention of younger fans, seeing as attending a game is considerably cheaper than an MLS game. According to Ticket Smarter, the average St. Louis CITY SC tickets in the 2023 season cost $124, while an Ambush game started at $20. Junior Sam McNeil, a long time soccer fan, sees this difference as an opportunity to get a taste of St. Louis soccer. Having been playing soccer for almost 13 years, McNeil loves attending games in person, and the atmosphere they can create.
“I watched Messi play in a Copa America game in 2016, it was such a crazy atmosphere.” McNeil said. “Every single time he got the ball everyone was screaming, it was such a crazy experience.”
Furthermore, the loud and passionate environment Ambush Colectivo creates serves as another reason to attend a game. McNeil is an enthusiast for loud and supportive crowds.
“I definitely wouldn’t mind checking them out,” McNeil said. “If it turns out that these guys are good, and the supporters section is loud, watching them would be a lot of fun.”
Having been playing for St. Louis Scott Gallagher Soccer Club for several years, McNeil is someone who can truly appreciate a supportive atmosphere as a player. The encouraging yells, insulting shouts and the feeling of a goal in the stands can make all the difference for the players. Paulo Nascimento, the St. Louis Ambush’s goal keeper, feels the impact of the new supporter section. He has played soccer for over 33 years, and 21 of those as a professional.
“I love the fans, the environment, and the kids,” Nascimento said. “Ambush is the only club where I played indoors in the MASL, and probably it will be the club where I will end my career.”
Nascimento’s job differs from what many may expect from a regular goalie. Professional indoor is a much higher scoring game than the classic eleven v.s eleven, as one game this season has had up to 21 goals scored. As a result, Nascimento is forced to stay mentally sharp, and keep his team motivated; additionally, he serves as a leader in the team as he tries to guide his younger teammates.
“My goal as a goalie is to be one of the top goalies in the league and consecutively helpinging the team in every game,” Nascimento said. “As a teammate, share my experience with the younger ones.”
As of now, the St. Louis Ambush has suffered seven losses and only one win; nevertheless, with 17 games left in the season, there is still a chance at a successful season.
“Having a supporter section pushes us to work hard, it brings extra motivation even when things are not going well in the game.”
As the Colectivo Ambush takes center stage in St. Louis soccer, the supporter section became more than just a group of fans; it became a symbol for the city's unwavering love for the sport. The Ambush's resurgence signals a new era for indoor soccer in St. Louis.
