Yep, that sums it up. Yes, it is literally food items for the guys to eat on the van on road trips. I was a bit surprised but not shocked at multiple players living in a house and not even having a trash can or vacuum. One of our new owners even helped buy items for the guys. Maybe these players don't have extra employment during the season, I know some guys who have 'second jobs'. I am not trolling my team but illustrating how low the pay is for many players in the league. As long as guys are willing to play for little or no money, some semi-pro version of indoor soccer will continue to exist if there is a league to play in (local or otherwise ).
Tough to have a second gig with the schedule a pro player has, between training and travel. Playing soccer almost has to be your second job.
Ambush defender Chris Mattingly (our best player right now) works as a 'medical sales rep'. Sales jobs can have some schedule flexibility so that type of job is a good fit. One of our players last season was waiting tables part time at a bar owned by a coach. I know several players are coaching kids soccer but probably no big money there. Certainly a standard 9-5 schedule would not work real well during the season, unless a guy is not playing due to injury.
Wave are right now a game out of second, having played 2 more games than Chicago who sits in second at 6-3. Figure that the Wave will have to win at least 12 games to have a shot at the playoffs. they play Baltimore twice Cedar Rapids twice, Chicago twice, And KC, Syracuse and St Louis once So thats 6-3 at worst.
The Wave are in good position. Cedar Rapids, Chicago, and Milwaukee are all very much in charge of their own destinies. The questions remain if Chicago can figure out Milwaukee, if Milwaukee can figure out Cedar Rapids, and if Cedar Rapids can figure out Chicago. The ones that can break their trends best will be in.
The Wave is right in the thick of the playoff hunt, but they're far from in a good position. They currently sit in 4th, have a tough schedule the rest of the way, and most likely need to go 7-2 in order to get in. There is absolutely no room for error.
The Blast fan club use to do this as well , Basicly they would ask the players to list some of their favorite snacks for long trips and the fan club would provide it for them. I do not believe they are buying them dinner .
Our booster club in Saint Louis doesn't buy meals for team road trips. Just contributions to snack items. I don't know how our team manages meals on road trips.
You guys can believe whatever you want , They were never going to play with 4 teams. The teams who were going to play should be joining the MASL this year.
how do you know that "Most Teams" do this? Because we certainly didn't do it that way in Milwaukee, nor currently in Cedar Rapids. on the road, most of the hotels we have stayed at over the years provided some form of continental breakfast. The players were on there own for getting breakfast either there or where ever. In Milwaukee, we would give them per diem for road trips. With a typical evening game, the guys would be responsible for their own meals. We rarely gathered as a team for meals. In cedar rapids, the guys would eat breakfast at the hotel and then some teams would provide either pasta or pizzas after the game. I don't know how "most teams" handle their meals, but I would imagine that it's similar to Cedar Rapids with the way the current league is set up.
I know three of Cedar Rapids Rampage's biggest super fans who are restaurant owners and sponsors: La Cantina (Mexican place right across 1st Ave from the arena), White Star Ale House (brew pub downtown), and Wasabi (amazing Sushi and tempura downtown). Hell, I'm pretty sure some Rampage United players ONLY form of compensation was some pretty fantastic free food.