Lansing — The smell of burgers and sighs of disappointment filled the air as fans of the U.S. soccer team watched their team lose to the Czech Republic on Monday at Trippers in the Frandor Shopping Center, 354 Frandor Ave.
"The day turned out well but could have been better if the U.S. could have given a better performance," said Dan Raben, the general manager for TNT Dynamite Soccer Club, the organization that was hosting the event.
The event itself was a celebration of the U.S. team's opening game against the Czech Republic. Doors opened at 11 a.m., and Raben was hopeful for a strong showing of fans from around the area.
"This is the setup, and it looks like we'll have a pretty good turnout for the game," Raben said.
People started rolling in, and Raben gave out raffle tickets for prizes to be awarded at halftime. Slowly the place filled up with excited soccer fans. Trippers' management estimates 225 people attended the event.
Kevin Thomas, a Meridian Township resident, brought his three sons and said the main reason he was drawn to watch the game at Trippers was that it represented more of a restaurant and had less of a bar-like atmosphere.
"It's not as smoky in this place, and this gives it more of a family-friendly restaurant feeling instead of a sports bar," Thomas said. "It becomes a lot easier to watch and enjoy the game this way."
As the game drew closer, Joey Dunn, a seventh-grader who played on a TNT Dynamite soccer team, said he was glad the games were finally on because they hardly can be seen on TV when the World Cup isn't on.
"Normal games are hardly ever on TV," Dunn said. "I think this sport is one of the more exciting sports, and I am just glad that these games are on so much so I am able to watch it more often."
Matt Mansfield, the fundraising coordinator for the soccer club, also said soccer has trouble attracting fans because of its limited media coverage.
"For being the most popular sport in the world, soccer struggles to get enough news press and TV coverage in the U.S.," Mansfield said. "This causes fans of the game to have to search for a place that covers these games."
Mansfield added that the World Cup makes it easier for people to become fans of the sport and for soccer to slowly grow in popularity.
"It really helps to build a fan base because the cup is such a big event," Mansfield said. "Boys and girls soccer youth clubs are growing, but it will take awhile before soccer has the fan base it has around the world."
By the time the game kicked off a little after noon, the place was packed with U.S. fans to cheer on their team, but those cheers were cut short as the Czech Republic took a quick 1-0 lead early on.
By the time the first half ended, the U.S. was down 2-0, leaving fans in shock.
"I'm not real happy with their performance in the first half," said Mitch Wood, a spectator whose son plays for TNT Dynamite soccer. "This is a tough way to start off on their first World Cup game."
Wood added that even with the poor performance so far, he feels it won't affect the number of people who keep watching the event.
"I think people got the soccer bug right now," Wood said. "I'm hearing guys on radio saying how they watched the games all weekend, and I think that regardless of how the U.S. does that people will continue to watch these games."
As the second half began, people were hopeful for a comeback from the United States but those hopes would be dashed. The team missed opportunity after opportunity, shooting wide of the goal and hitting crossbar several times.
While the United States was missing its chances, the Czech Republic took advantage as it connected on one more goal to make the score 3-0 and ended the chance of the United States getting a win or tie.
Raben said that aside from the loss, the turnout for the event was a success and shows how many people enjoy soccer in the community.
"A great crowd showed up today," he said. "Parents, high school and elementary kids — this just shows the support for soccer in the area."
