It’s in our history. It’s in our blood. Filled with an uncommon scene of blue instead of Cardinal Red at Busch Stadium, Chelsea F.C. squared off against Manchester City on May 23, 2013, in front of more than 48,000 soccer fans in an English Premier League friendly. Finishing 4-3 in favor of Manchester City, the atmosphere at this international friendly in May was as loud and bright as a World Series game in October.

 Soccer is a big part of St. Louis culture, but the city has not hosted a professional outdoor soccer team since the St. Louis Stars, a team that was a member of the North American Soccer League (NASL) from 1968 to 1977.

 After the players of the St. Louis Stars walked off the field after a NASL playoffs loss to the Rochester Lancers in 1977, the club relocated to Anaheim. The fear of outdoor professional soccer never returning to this town was an actual possibility. However, St. Louis Football Club (STL FC) has risen up and brought new hope to St. Louis soccer fans.

 “The history of soccer in St. Louis is tremendous. From Championships to players on the US National team, St. Louis is a soccer town,” Jeremy Alumbaugh, general manager of STL FC, said. “There is an obvious desire to have professional soccer in this tradition rich soccer city.”

 STL FC is an expansion team in the USL Pro League. It is planning to start it’s inaugural season next year, and has already agreed to play at the St. Louis Soccer Park stadium in Fenton.  The stadium holds 5,600 fans.

 “We anticipate large crowds based on interest and ticket sales,” Alumbaugh said. “We are well over halfway to our season ticket goal.”

 Many students, such as juniors Drew Hartmann and Dylan Noelker, are excited for the newest sports team in St. Louis. Hartmann said he has already bought season tickets for his whole family, and Noelker said he plans to go to every game he can.

“I’m pretty excited,” Hartmann said. “I’m definitely going to every single home game if I can. I already got season tickets for my whole family.”

 Both students said STL FC will receive plenty of support from the St. Louis community.

 “We showed support throughout the past few years with our support of soccer in general,” Hartmann said.  “All the international friendlies that came here, like Chelsea Man-City. I think there will be a lot of support from the immigrants in St. Louis as well. The heritage of soccer here is just too massive. I don’t think there’s a way we don’t support it.”

 Noelker said he sees the new USL team as a stepping stone toward getting a Major League Soccer team to call St. Louis home.

“This is the first, and arguably most important, step in getting a MLS team in STL,” Noelker said. “You always hear everyone saying, ‘I wish we had an MLS team.’ If they really mean it, they will support this team to the fullest. Just look at the support our school’s team has gotten. People around here want soccer.”

 While the team has already secured a stadium, it has yet to release a roster. So far, STL FC has only hired a general manager, Jeremy Alumbaugh; a head coach, Dale Schilly; and other staff members. The team has held multiple tryouts, however, and will have 26 players on the roster by the time the season starts in 2015. Without a roster, uncertainty remains as to how much success STL FC will have competing in the USL, but Alumbaugh believes in his staff.

“We have confidence in our coaching staff,” Alumbaugh said. “They are being very methodical in getting the right players to represent STL FC and this city.”

 Hartmann, who has been following and keeping up to date with the team, said  he likes what he has seen so far about the STL FC staff.

 “I’ve heard good things about the coach. He managed a good team,” Hartmann said. “Of course they didn’t do very well because of front office stuff like that but he’s pretty knowledgeable guy. He’s coached before in the pros. I’ve also heard good things about the GM.”

Hartmann also points to the Sacramento and the Oklahoma City USL teams as barometers for estimating STL FC’s performance next year.

 “You look at teams that were really good last year like Sacramento,” Hartmann said. “You look at Oklahoma City, and they had a decent team. I expect us to be more like OKC because of location and the market. I expect a mid-table finish this year, higher as the years go one, and maybe challenging for a title in two to three years.”

 Like any new business or organization, STL FC has done a lot of recent marketing to get their name known. The club reached a three year agreement with Soccer Master, making it the official retailer of STL FC. There have also been billboards advertising the team’s upcoming season and merchandise.

 Although jerseys have yet to be released, Alumbaugh said  you can get merchandise both online and at the fan shop at Soccer Park.

 Hartmann has already gotten some bumper stickers, and Noelker said he is looking forward to the holiday season for some “STL FC Swag.”

 “I haven’t gotten any merchandise yet, but Christmas is right around the corner if you catch my drift,” Noelker said. “I want to get a scarf, a hoodie and a T-shirt.”

 Both students have gone all in in support of STL FC, and they are not alone. The St. Louligans are an organization dedicated to supporting soccer in St. Louis.

 “They are an independent supporters group that live and breathe soccer.” Alumbaugh said. “They are our most passionate fans that will stand, sing, chant and drive the team and stadium with their energy and passion.”

 Hartmann and Noelker both have looked into the group, but both say they are not St. Louligans quite yet.

 “I’ve looked into it. It said if you’re a fan and you go to games you’re a St. Louligan, but I’m not friends with any of those guys,” Hartmann said. “I’m a 16 year old kid and they are in their thirties, drinking a lot of beer and watching soccer. I go for the game but they are more for party and fun. I’m all for that, but in this point of my life I can’t do that yet.”

St. Louligan or not, excitement is in the air as St. Louisans are looking forward to the kickoff of STL FC’s season next year. It’s in our history. It’s in our blood. It’s outdoor soccer back in St. Louis.