Soccer’s Growing Popularity: World Cup Fever in Nebraska

ABC News on Campus reporter Wade Hilligoss blogs: Zach Votipka (left) says he wouldn’t have chosen to do anything else on his 24th birthday than watch the World Cup. So it was pretty cool that he got to celebrate with more than 800 other soccer fans who turned out to watch the U.S. – England match at an outdoor viewing party in downtown Lincoln, Neb.
“I live and breathe soccer,” said the Rocklin, Calif., native who now lives in Lincoln. “It’s unbelievable that the World Cup is on my birthday, let alone a U.S. game.”
In a city where football is king, Votipka might seem like an anomaly. Lincoln draws more than 80,000 fans to University of Nebraska-Lincoln football games in the fall, so it’s unusual that a such big crowd would show up to an impromptu soccer event that was promoted primarily through Facebook.
But the turnout is indicative of Lincoln’s budding soccer scene and the sport's increasing popularity in the U.S.
“I love that this is free, and it’s even better that so many people came out,” Votipka said as he watched the pregame of the match.
The viewing party, sponsored by Captain Jack’s Bar and the American Outlaws soccer support group, was the first of its kind in the city, but with the successful turnout, it probably won’t be the last. At right: Each team’s supporters had something to cheer about as the U.S. and England managed one goal apiece.
“We’ll definitely, definitely, definitely do this again, maybe even in this World Cup,” said Captain Jack’s owner Kevin Reynolds. “We had twice as many people show up as we thought, and if we [the U.S.] make it to the next round, we’ll do a weekend game for sure.”
Captain Jack’s has become Lincoln’s unofficial soccer bar. After opening in 2008, Reynolds said he was approached by the Lincoln American Outlaws, a group of die-hard soccer fans, with a proposition: if the bar broadcast soccer, they’d bring in customers to watch.   “I would have never thought when I started that I would get this kind of push from soccer,” said Reynolds, who says he hardly knew a thing about the sport a few years ago. “Now, with their help, we can do stuff like we did today, and it’s a huge success.” At right: American pride was high as the U.S. managed a tie with heavily-favored England.
The American Outlaws organization spread quickly during the past two years, and now has chapters in 27 U.S. cities. Reynolds said the group’s proliferation speaks to soccer’s growing appeal in the country.
Votipka agreed.
“It’s all about the camaraderie and the atmosphere that Lincoln and America overall is getting for the sport,” said Votipka, who has been playing soccer since he was 5 years old. “The last eight years, the U.S. has significantly improved, and I love that soccer is finally catching on.”
And in a college town such as Lincoln, where the Husker football team rules, that’s saying something.
At left: Nate Becwar (left) and Sam Will of Lincoln, Neb. show off their American garb.
“When we scored that goal, the celebration reminded me of a touchdown on a Husker football Saturday,” Votipka said. “It’s definitely a sign things are picking up for soccer, and it was cool to be a part of. I knew from the beginning that if and when we scored, I was going to go berserk.”