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Bringing a professional soccer team to Omaha is something Frank Oņate has been dreaming about for some time.
With the help of the Major Indoor Soccer League, Oņate’s dream now has come true.
The Omaha Vipers, the seventh franchise in the MISL, were officially announced Wednesday at a press conference. It was appropriately held at a La Mesa Restaurant, the Mexican food chain that Oņate owns and operates.
“Being born in Mexico, I played a lot of soccer growing up,’’ Oņate said. “And now that I live here in Omaha, I wanted to do everything I could to bring a team here.’’
The press conference included Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle, who said he was excited about the new franchise.
“This is a great day,’’ he said. “This will be another way to complement the sports scene of Omaha.’’
Suttle added that a professional soccer franchise is something that he and Hispanic business leaders in the community had talked about three years ago.
“We kicked it around when I was on the City Council,’’ he said. “And now, it’s become a reality.’’
Also attending the press conference were Vipers minority owners Sam Coughlin and Jose Ramon Munoz, Metropolitan Entertainment and Convention Authority (MECA) President Roger Dixon and MISL Commissioner David Grimaldi.
“I think the ownership here in place will do Omaha very, very proud,’’ Grimaldi said. “I know the fans will find games captivating.’’
Oņate said the franchise, which will play its home games at the Civic Auditorium, will work quickly to put the other pieces in place before the season starts in late November. A coach is expected to be hired in the next two weeks, followed by tryouts next month and the setting of a 20-player roster.
“I know that Omaha is ready for something of this nature,’’ Oņate said. “When you see the great team at Creighton and all of the soccer interest from youth teams on up, I’m confident we’ll be able to bring fans in.’’
Oņate added that the future Vipers could have diverse backgrounds.
“I’ve already had a couple of former Creighton players talk to me about it,’’ he said. “At tryouts, I think you’re going to see players with all sorts of experience. Professional. College. Probably some players who never even played beyond high school. Everyone will get a chance to show what they can do.’’
Grimaldi said fans should enjoy MISL action for two major reasons.
“It’s affordable, and it’s exciting,’’ he said. “I truly believe this is the best value in sports entertainment.’’
Season tickets for Vipers games will range from $96 to $216. Those prices are based on a 12-game home schedule.
Dixon said most of those games probably will be played on Sunday. The Vipers will share the Auditorium with two other regular tenants, the Omaha Beef indoor football team and the Omaha Lancers hockey team.
The MISL announced the addition of the Omaha franchise last week on the league’s website. Other MISL teams are the Baltimore Blast, Milwaukee Wave, Missouri Comets, Philadelphia Kixx, Rockford (Ill.) Rampage and La RaZa de Monterrey (Mexico).
MISL games are played on an indoor field that measures 200 feet by 85 feet. Like hockey, there are dasherboards and Plexiglas surrounding the field.
One big difference in the indoor game is scoring. Each goal is worth two points and a goal from beyond the 45-foot-arc counts as three points.
“The sport of soccer is growing, and it’s only going to get bigger,’’ Oņate said. “I know this team will have a positive impact on the community, and I can’t wait for that first game.’’
Contact the writer:
444-1350, mike.patterson@owh.com
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