In 1978, Cincinnati was at the forefront of a new sport or, more accurately, a new version of an old sport as the Kids indoor soccer team debuted. They were charter members of the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL), but at the end of that first season, the team folded. The MISL went on to become quite popular as some teams experienced better attendance than the NHL and NBA teams with which they shared arenas. However, it would be 17 years before Cincinnati fielded another indoor soccer team.
Starting in Dayton
In 1995, the Dayton Dynamo of the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL) moved south to Cincinnati and was renamed the Silverbacks. The team’s new name was inspired by the popular silverback gorillas at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden. After playing in three different arenas in Dayton, the renamed club settled into the Cincinnati Gardens bringing indoor soccer back to the Queen City for the first time since 1979.
The NPSL was formed in 1984, at the height of the sport's popularity, as the American Indoor Soccer Association. It intended to be a farm system of sorts for the MISL. In 1992, the MISL went out of business, and the NPSL, though it was struggling, became the top-level league in the sport.
In their first season in the Queen City, the team finished with 14 wins against 26 losses as they averaged just over 3,700 fans a game. The following season, they improved to 21 and 19 but drew fewer fans. The team made it to the conference semifinals where they lost to the Hershey Impact. They moved to the Crown (formerly Riverfront Coliseum, now Heritage Bank Center), for the 1997-98 season.
Moving downtown
Attendance increased to an average of 4,900 fans per game downtown, but that was still second-worst in the league. On the carpet, the team finished with 15-25, still good enough to make the playoffs. Unfortunately, the team lost in the opening round to the Harrisburg Heat.
Even though the team was becoming more popular, they played third banana, as it were, to the very popular Cincinnati Cyclones hockey team, as well as concerts and other events at the Crown. That left very few Friday and Saturday night dates for the Silverbacks. A move back to the Gardens wasn’t an option as the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks of the American hockey league had taken up residence there.
Final days
In August of 1998, the team’s ownership transferred back to the last group in Dayton to own the team, the Miami Valley Soccer Limited Partnership, but there were no plans for the team to return to the Gem City. The team folded for good before the start of the 1998-99 season.
It’s strange to think that in soccer-mad Cincinnati, the indoor game never took hold. The Cincinnati Kings indoor team was established in 2008 and played at the GameTime Training Center in Fairfield. They played in the Professional Arena Soccer League, now called the Major Arena Soccer League (MASL). The Kings folded in 2013.
With the rise in popularity of outdoor soccer, it is unlikely the indoor version will ever be as popular as it was in the 1980s. The MASL is now the top-level league in the sport, but most of its cubs play in smaller arenas, its 17 teams drawing an average of around 2,500 fans a game.
68 comments
Charles Heffernan
Need a loan? Personal loans? Commercial loans? Home loan? Agriculture and project financing? We offer all types of loans with 0.6% interest! Contact email address: ( cristydavis533@gmail.com )
Quick loan offer
We offer loans at 0.6% We offer debt consolidation loans, business loans, personal loans, car loans, hotel loans, student loans, personal loans, home refinancing loans, more information Email: ( cristydavis533@gmail.com )
Urgent loan offer.
Charles Heffernan
Do you need an emergency loan? we offer loans at 2%, we offer debt restructuring loans, business loans, private loans, car loans, hotel loans, student loans, personal loans Home refinancing loans, more information Email: ( cristydavis533@gmail.com )
We offer loans at 2% We offer debt consolidation loans, business loans, personal loans, car loans, hotel loans, student loans, personal loans, home refinancing loans, more information Email: ( cristydavis533@gmail.com )
Urgent loan offer.
Do you need a quick loan?
Welcome everyone! Our lending capacity ranges from €2,000 to €5,000,000 and a reasonable 2% interest on very simple and effortless terms. If you are interested, leave your message by email: ( cristydavis533@gmail.com )
Kevin Rankin
Recovering From Fake Online Investment Schemes
I had been a loyal customer of a particular investment company for several months investing my funds, using their services without issue. The company suddenly closed my account and l was unable to withdraw. Desperate for a resolution I discovered Lost Recovery Masters, a special legal recovery expert intelligence group service specializing in resolving issues with unscrupulous and fake online investment companies. Lost Recovery Masters successfully recouped all my lost funds to my immense relief. I am grateful for Lost Recovery Masters, As a form of appreciation this was the best I could do for them. I highly recommend their services. If you need their assistance, contact them on
Website: (https://lostrecoverymasters.com/)
Whatsapp +44(7537-105921
Support Email (Support@lostrecoverymasters.com)
Kevin Rankin
Recovering From Fake Online Investment Schemes
I had been a loyal customer of a particular investment company for several months investing my funds, using their services without issue. The company suddenly closed my account and l was unable to withdraw. Desperate for a resolution I discovered Lost Recovery Masters, a special legal recovery expert intelligence group service specializing in resolving issues with unscrupulous and fake online investment companies. Lost Recovery Masters successfully recouped all my lost funds to my immense relief. I am grateful for Lost Recovery Masters, As a form of appreciation this was the best I could do for them. I highly recommend their services. If you need their assistance, contact them on
Website: (https://lostrecoverymasters.com/)
Whatsapp +44(7537-105921
Support Email (Support@lostrecoverymasters.com)
toya lowe
I am very happy today with my family. My husband left me for a good 3 years now, and i love him so much, i have been looking for a way to get him back since then. i have tried many options but he did not come back, until i met a friend that darted me to Dr. Osaka a spell caster, who helped me to bring back my husband after 2 weeks. Me and my husband are living happily together today, That man is great, you can contact him via email drosakalovespelltemple217@gmail.com… Now i will advice any serious persons that found themselves in this kind of problem to contact him now a fast solution without stress.. He always hello, now i call him my father. contact him now he is always online email (drosakalovespelltemple217@gmail.com) or contact him on his WhatsApp mobile line +2349024827182
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089677235386
Leave a comment
This site is protected by hCaptcha and the hCaptcha Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.