ST. LOUIS, MO (April 5, 2010) – The debut of AC St. Louis on Saturday night at the Anheuser-Busch Soccer Park was a memorable one not just because of the exciting action on the field, but because of the excitement that the soccer starved fans of St. Louis brought to the stands.

Nearly 3,000 people turned out the night before Easter for a sneak preview of St. Louis’ first professional outdoor soccer team in over three decades as AC St. Louis hosted the MLS Kansas City Wizards in an exhibition match. The game was the one and only public look at the new St. Louis squad before their official league home opener on Saturday night, April 17.

Fans from five different supporter’s groups poured into the east stands of The Anheuser-Busch Soccer Park, and none of them wasted anytime getting the atmosphere ramped up. Right from the opening kick-off the crowd was on there feet chanting and cheering on their new team.

“We certainly have the enthusiasm, and the fans were in strong form,” said Edi Nurkic from the United Knights. “The team played and fought well during the game. This will only make our group stronger, because we are behind AC St. Louis all the way. “

“To say St. Louis has waited a longtime for this moment would be an understatement,” said Matt Gallo from the supporter’s group dubbed DayPints. “We have been without professional outdoor soccer since 1977, and a hunger has grown for it in that time. I think the crowd’s fervor proved that this town is in fact ready for a new team.”

AC St. Louis has seven groups supporting it; United Knights, DayPints, Ead’s Brigade, Laclede’s Army, River City Saints, Verde, and the STL Ultras. While all the groups began the match sitting in their specified areas by the beginning of the second half they migrated to each other, forming one cohesive group.

And while AC St. Louis fell 2-1 to the Wizards the night will be remembered for what St. Louis fans began to establish. A sporting atmosphere not quite like anything else St. Louis has ever seen.