Letter to the Editor Re: Edmonton Aviators F.C.

Sirs,
I need to respond as the coverage of this demise, especially on the call-in shows, suggests that pro soccer itself is a poor idea and may never succeed in this city. Not unlike the Montreal Expos, however, if a fan disagrees with a business plan or the way a team handles itself and votes by not purchasing a ticket, the fan is blamed as apathetic rather than proactive. The Oilers of the 90's did not deserve and therefore did not receive widespread support, justifiably so. I have season tickets to the Oilers and Eskimos and will spend money on the appropriate sports franchises, but I vowed never to attend an Aviators game the first day they were unveiled, not because I don't like soccer, I love it, but because they completely turned me off.

• In order for them to succeed they required up to 30,000 preteen children to show up for every game and I can't imagine average sports fan responding favourably to this. I despise the idea personally. I lived in Vancouver during the 90's and went to many 86er games and loved every minute of it. Swangard, like Molson Stadium in Montreal is an intimate jewel and the park always feels like it's full even if it's only a couple of thousand. They made the west endzone a beer garden and attracted a following that liked soccer but also liked a professional atmosphere with no screaming kids kicking the back of your chair all night.

• Joe Petrone and Ross Ongaro may be absolutely professional, I have no idea personally, but you cannot fail miserably every time out and not have the stench follow you. It was the perfect time to start fresh like the women's side did.

• The Vancouver 86'ers and Montreal Concorde responded to public feedback and returned to their roots as the Whitecaps and Als. The Aviator name may have some deep meaning for the city but I never heard and the name remains a riddle. I still have a Drillers jersey somewhere in my closet and would have enjoyed an opportunity to dig it out if given the chance.

I will grudgingly come out to some of the final home games just to show some support to the idea of pro soccer in this city but the fans opinions in this matter need to be respected and investors need to know that a soccer following exists, just like the loyal baseball fans in this city.

Thanks for your time

Shawn McMann