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BALTIMORE (Map, News) - When Stephanie Horney nearly suffered a tragic loss several years ago, the Baltimore Blast’s players treated her like family.
“My grandson went into cardiac arrest after nearly drowning in a pool,” the 62-year-old Parkville resident said. “[Blast defender] P.J. [Wakefield] was one of the first there to come in and visit my grandson. They are all super guys.”
That’s why her family has stayed loyal to the team. James Becker, Horney’s grandson who survived the accident, is a 17-year-old season-ticket holder, and two of her daughters are on the board of the directors for the team’s fan club with her.
But the need for such a group in the near future is in doubt.
The Major Indoor Soccer League folded until the team’s owners create a more efficient business model — if it is feasible. The league struggled with several issues last season, including a poor national TV deal with Fox Soccer Channel that failed to broadcast parts of the championship game. The league’s title game was played at a neutral site in Milwaukee, which was too far for many fans in Baltimore or Monterrey, Mexico — the game’s participants — to attend.
“It makes me sad, but I understand there are problems and you know people aren’t making money. It’s not fair to the teams,” said Vickie Dulko, the Blast fan club’s president. “The fan base is down everywhere but Baltimore. I’ve been to New Jersey and Philadelphia and especially in the last year, their fan base is way down.”
The Blast, who claimed last season’s title with an 14-11 win over the LaRaza, has been the league’s most successful franchise and the winningest professional team in Baltimore recently, earning four championships in the past six years.
And the attendance numbers back up its success.
Baltimore led the league by averaging 7,229 fans for its 15 home games, compared to just 6,118 for Philadelphia, which finished second.
One of the most troubling aspects for the fans, however, is the fact once the league officially dissolves, all players will become free agents, allowing them to sign with any team — in any league. The relationship with the fans, such as Horney’s with Wakefield, is part of what endears the team to the fans in Charm City.
“Some of these guys I have gotten very close to, them and their families,” Dulko said. “If they have to go elsewhere for soccer or other jobs, it’s going to be sad.”
Comments from Examiner Readers
8:53 PM MST on Tue., Jun. 24, 2008 re: "Hale working on new arena"
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7:50 PM MST on Tue., Jun. 24, 2008
re: "Fizzled franchise?"
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7:26 PM MST on Tue., Jun. 24, 2008
re: "New arena could work for Baltimore"
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10:25 AM MST on Mon., Jun. 2, 2008
re: "Fizzled franchise?"
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8:24 AM MST on Mon., Jun. 2, 2008
re: "Fizzled franchise?"
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6:48 AM MST on Mon., Jun. 2, 2008
re: "MISL gets the boot"
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7:17 AM MST on Thu., May. 8, 2008
re: "MISL once again in flux"
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6:26 PM MST on Mon., Apr. 28, 2008
re: "Blast off to a dynasty"
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2:30 PM MST on Mon., Mar. 24, 2008
re: "Future stars have a Blast at youth soccer clinic"
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12:40 PM MST on Mon., Mar. 3, 2008
re: "Hale working on new arena"
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7:37 PM MST on Mon., Feb. 18, 2008
re: "Split decision for the Blast"
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6:19 PM MST on Mon., Feb. 18, 2008
re: "Split decision for the Blast"
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8:48 AM MST on Mon., Feb. 4, 2008
re: "Home sweet home"
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9:15 AM MST on Sun., Feb. 3, 2008
re: "Blast score season-high 25 points in win over Orlando"
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9:04 AM MST on Wed., Jan. 30, 2008
re: "Blast march to 12-7 win over Milwaukee"
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11:29 PM MST on Sat., Jan. 26, 2008
re: "Blast march to 12-7 win over Milwaukee"
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3:29 PM MST on Mon., Dec. 3, 2007
re: "Aristodemo: An artist on the field"
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11:56 PM MST on Fri., Nov. 16, 2007
re: "Blast looks to stay in first place"
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5:07 PM MST on Thu., May. 17, 2007
re: "New arena could work for Baltimore"
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1:59 PM MST on Thu., May. 17, 2007
re: "New arena could work for Baltimore"
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7:33 PM MST on Wed., May. 16, 2007
re: "New arena could work for Baltimore"
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10:38 AM MST on Tue., May. 15, 2007
re: "New arena could work for Baltimore"
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8:11 AM MST on Tue., May. 15, 2007
re: "Will Blast get blasted away?"
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12:06 PM MST on Wed., Apr. 11, 2007
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MJ said:
THE NEED FOR A NBA OR NHL MAY WORK AT FOR BALTIMORE! Most cities like Sacremento, Milwaukee, St.Louis or Minneapolis don't seem to fit in the NBA or NHL, but they have major support for their indoor franchise(s) and so as Baltimore. Many believe MLB and NFL don't fit into Charm City's act but the Orioles won 3 championship and the Ravens first 4 seasons won a Super Bowl. So the start for a NBA,ABA,NHL,ECHL,NLL, or AFL franchise can boost B-MORE's attraction. So a new major league size arena can bring in lots of fans and millions of dollars an year for the city. The biggest spots are Port Covington and either Canton for a 19,000-20,000 seat facility.
3 agree | 3 disagree
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MJ said:
Port Covington is a great spot for a new 19,000-20,000 seat arena that can attract an expansion NBA or NHL franchise, its a good spot first of all its next the Bay, facing Interstate 95 and plus a big area spot. Now bring the biggest event to Baltimore ever.
4 agree | 4 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
The MDC and MSA should propose the new arena site at Port Covington shopping area because more space than the current site, the new arena site can propose an 19,000 seat facility that can bring in more events and also rebuild the Baypoint and also start a new residential and suite area.
4 agree | 4 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
These are hilarious comments. Many of you are showing your abject ignorance .
4 agree | 6 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
The Blasts WON the championship!!!! They played excellent especially when #6 Scott Buete returned from his injuries. The games were exciting. I just hope that the Baltimore Blast is able to become part of a new league.
4 agree | 3 disagree
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Patrick said:
I'm glad to see the Truth finally came out. This whole MISL situation has been handled poorly for years by everyone involved. The players not knowing as indicated in Sean's article is a joke!
5 agree | 5 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Let's drop Fox Soccer Channel from coverage. Their performance during the championship telecast receives a failing grade. Aside from the techincal difficulties which led to only a portion of the game being viewed, their commentatores proved to know little about the game nor the teams involved. The championship game should be played in front of at least one of the team's fans.
7 agree | 9 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
this soccer league is not major league . 6 teams and no television what kind of league is it anyway when every year 2 or 3 teams fold??????
6 agree | 9 disagree
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Rocko Mango said:
Someone ought to tell these boys that soccer is a girls' sport. They should have some self-respect and play football or lacrosse.
14 agree | 20 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
i think that if we have a new arena it should seat 20,000 or more and to say Baltimore does not have a shot at getting an nba or nhl team is not rite anything can happien just like they sayed baltimore was not a good place for football and we got one an it is doing great
61 agree | 59 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Anybody really follow this 'sport'? I mean, besides the 10 or 12 that go to games?
54 agree | 65 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
The Blast are great but danny kelly is a backstabing chump.
73 agree | 68 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
The Blast are getting hot at a good time. This run reminds me of the playoff run 5-6 years ago when we won our first title in 20 years. Support this team! They're the only Baltimore likely to have a winning record or title shot this year, and they're mostly local boys.
76 agree | 52 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Peters knocked this one out of the park. He's going places.
88 agree | 86 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Mike Peters is an amazing sports journalist.
94 agree | 83 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Yawn.
Can we get a professional sport in the winter?
Nothing worse than a bunch of sissies running around squealing "don't use your hands! don't use your hands!"
95 agree | 91 disagreeVote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Anastasia B. said:
The Blast is an awesome team and I love you Robbie! You keep the team together and strong. You'll always be there for them. You Rock!!!
195 agree | 130 disagree
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Soccer Fanatic 01 said:
I love your team and how they put forth the effort they need to win the game. I was at the game in Baltimore, on Friday the 16th. When they played the Team La Raza. And I've got to say that Team Blast was really fun to watch. My friend and I had a "Blast" thanks, ~sincerly, soccer fanatics!~
182 agree | 145 disagree
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Neil said:
The state screwed up when they built the convention center 10 years ago on a spot that would have been so much better utilized on a new arena. Now, however, they need a new place. I actually think Westport would do well, since the city wants to do something positive with that cesspool of a neighborhood, that just so happens to be in a great location. It's right next to 95, 295, the water and it has a light rail stop. Also, while the Blast gets a new arena, bring on the AHL, the AFL, and the NLL.
428 agree | 274 disagree
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Jimmie said:
I know a place that the Blast can play - the Baltimore Athletic Club for women.
267 agree | 296 disagree
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Ken said:
Hey Jimmie if you know a place the Blast can play in while they build a new arena name it. If the Blast are so lame like you say why do you care about a new arena anyway. And by the way it has not been called the Civic Center in a very long time. Dave is right you must not know much about a good team and it's owner looking out for his team and it's fans. What are you a Peter Angelos fan. lile that guy takes care of his team or cares about it's fans. We need to build a new arena, But in a new location. Hopefully Mr Fry and Mr Brodie and The Stadium Authority will realize the Blast are too good of a thing to loss and will either find a place for them to play while a new arena is build. Or better yet find a new location to build a arena, Like Canton. makes to much sense close to I-95. GO BLAST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
270 agree | 284 disagree
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Dave said:
I guess "Jimmie" is not a follower of the MISL. If he was, he'd know that nearly every team that has had to drop out of the MISL for one reason or another has folded permanently. The Blast are the oldest continuously operating franchise in indoor soccer -- 26 years in this city, with four championships. What other Baltimore team can even compare to that success ratio? And even our fiercest rivals say that they'd rather play in Baltimore than any other road destination, because our fans are the most fervent and knowledgable in the league. And the Blast are still the best sports bargain in town -- I have to take out a second mortgage to go see the Ravens or Orioles, but I can afford season tickets to the Blast, and have for the past 15 years. So let's build a new arena -- but let's not shut down the Blast to do it.
316 agree | 491 disagree
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Jimmie said:
Tell Ed to stop whining. There are venues in and around town where the Blast could play while a the Civic Center is torn down and a new arena built in its place. Hale is just trying to strongarm the city into going along with his Canton arena plan. Poor Ed and his lame soccer franchise.
365 agree | 321 disagree
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William Kennedy said:
Baltimore has needed a new arena since 1964. When the NHL first expanded, Baltimore was a prime location, but when the league executives toured the Civic Center the deemed the new arena completely unfit. It hasn't improved since then. A 12-15,000 seat arena would do nicely for the Blast and the new indoor football team, but in order to get prime events such as an NCAA 1st & 2nd round or Regional basketball tournament, or FROZEN FOUR Hockey tournament or woment basketball regional or FINAL FOUR and some of the larger musical acts, a 20-22,000 seat venue is neccessary. Mr HAle, don't undersell Baltimore or yourself by thinking too small on this project.
55 agree | 47 disagree
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