Walking into a Louisville Lightning soccer game is an experience like none other. The majority of home games during the inaugural season featured a packed facility with over 1,000 people and standing room only. The first thing fans see after entering the facility is one field full of kids playing soccer games and jumping on 25-foot high inflatable obstacle courses. Upon turning the corner and walking towards the Lightning game field, spectators take in the sights and sounds of the concessions area, merchandise vendors, beer gardens, Lightning Ladies dance team, and the cheering fans in the “Thunder Zone.”
Having a professional and exciting atmosphere is paramount to the Lightning organization. Despite setting records for attendance and fan interaction throughout the PASL last year, the Lightning recently began the first phase of several major improvements to the game-day experience. If you visited Mockingbird Valley Sports Complex, home of the Louisville Lightning, this summer you have probably noticed the start of several changes taking place in the facility. For example, the trophy case displaying awards garnered by the Mockingbird Valley Select Soccer program has moved from one end of the facility to the other, the concessions stand area seemed to lengthen 10 feet overnight, and there now appears to be a doorway growing out of stairwell leading to the second floor viewing area. Why the sudden change?
“Our fans and the passion they bring to games means the world to us,“ begins Nick Stover, VP of Operations for the Lightning. “We want to make sure they enjoy the game day experience and continue to provide us an incredible home field advantage.”
These moves, and others, are part of an overhaul underway in order to help make the game day experience for Lightning fans even better than last year. The trophy case moved in order to clear room for new permanent seating that will be installed during October. Additional movable bleachers are also being added to the Lightning’s “Thunder Zone” area located between the game field and Kids Zone field. There are also some additional improvements coming to the in-game experience, including new glass walls, updates in music and entertainment, and more pre-game and post-game interaction with the team.
“These improvements will help make our fans more comfortable,” says Lightning GM, David Horne. “There is not a single bad seat in our facility and now we have more of them available for use on game nights. My goal is to have the loudest, happiest fans in the league this season!”
If the route to happiness is through the stomach, then this very well may occur. The concessions area has also been updated. An additional 10 feet of counter space has been added to help speed up concessions lines. The menu will also be updated this year to include a wider variety of snack and meal items for hungry spectators.
Despite all of these additions, the Lightning ownership group promises to keep ticket prices similar to last year. “This is a great place for the family to come out on a Friday night this fall and winter, grab some food, enjoy a great game, and not have to worry about going broke in the process,” says Ted Nichols, part owner of the Lightning and Mockingbird Valley Soccer Complex. Tickets will be on sale to the general public soon. Check
www.louisvillelightning.com for updates in the near future!
