FC Dallas Stadium sold out for season opener
"We tripled season tickets last year. We have doubled season tickets this year," Quinn said at the team's final practice before the season opener. "There's so much positive energy at almost every metric you can possibly look at. Somebody's liking us."
FC Dallas head coach Schellas Hyndman said it's not just good for the fans. His players are responding to the hype.
"Our administration has worked so hard for this game to be a sellout," Hyndman said. "I think that's so inspiring for any athlete. We're hoping we can play well."
Soccer still isn't near the level of traditional American professional sports like football or baseball, but Quinn said he believes it's getting closer every day.
In fact, thanks to big fan bases like Seattle and Los Angeles, Major League Soccer had a higher average attendance last season than the NBA or the NHL.
If that wasn't enough evidence, FC Dallas has 17 fields at its complex in Frisco that are used 350 days per year, according to Quinn.
"Frisco is not that far. That's the one thing I always say," Quinn said. "It's a great day of entertainment. We hope more and more will continue to follow those who are already coming out."
Nothing would build up the momentum better than beating the team that took FC Dallas out of the playoffs last season.
"It's no mystery that we're not in love with New York," Quinn said. "It's big for us. They're a big team and people like to see them. An opening-day win is always a positive."
Hyndman said he knows a big win would be a good start to keep fans coming back for more.
"The fans want to go home winners," Hyndman said. "This is their team."
Sunday's game starts at 2 p.m. at FC Dallas Stadium.
AUDIO HIGHLIGHTS
Play Podcast Marc Stein and Steve Davis discuss to the retirements of Sir Alex Ferguson and David Beckham as well as Landon Donovan's omission from Jurgen Klinsmann's national team roster.
Play Podcast Soccer Today broadcasts an international edition with Marc Stein in London to cover the FA Cup final for ESPNFC, while Steve Davis joins from the ESPN Dallas studios in Las Colinas.
Play Podcast Robbie Rogers joins Soccer Today to discuss his MLS comeback plans, what it's been like for him at the Galaxy's training ground after he said in February that he is gay and needed to step away and Jason Collins' announcement in the NBA.
Play Podcast It's a travelogue edition of Soccer Today with Marc Stein in Houston covering the NBA playoffs and Steve Davis just back from a trip to the nation's capital to visit Jurgen Klinsmann. The guys kick off the morning by sharing stories from the road.
Play Podcast At the end of a sobering week in sports, Marc Stein and Steve Davis open Soccer Today from Copa ESPN by discussing the New England Revolution and the heavy emotions involved in playing a game just days after the Boston Marathon bombings.
Play Podcast Marc Stein and Steve Davis discuss Brek Shea's new team Stoke City taking on his former team FC Dallas in a friendly this summer.
Play Podcast Marc Stein and Steve Davis lament the performance of MLS clubs in the CONCACAF Champions League after the Seattle Sounders and Los Angeles Galaxy lost at home in the semifinals.
Play Podcast Marc Stein and Steve Davis discuss the United States national team after its 0-0 tie in Mexico shifted all the World Cup qualifying panic from the United States onto its hosts at Estadio Azteca.
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