Pitt must go the distance for soccer teams

Pop quiz: How do you get from Pitt to Indiana Township?

Well, if you don’t know, then it’s… Pop quiz: How do you get from Pitt to Indiana Township?

Well, if you don’t know, then it’s unlikely you’ll ever see either soccer team play a home game. This year, after two years of shifting about fields around Pittsburgh, the soccer teams finally found a home. The problem is it’s in Indiana Township.

The teams must certainly be thrilled to have a permanent location. But it’s doubtful that Founders Field was their dream destination.

What’s Indiana Township to Pitt? Seemingly nothing. It’s not close, that’s for sure. It’s not located adjacent to Oakland; it’s not even in the city. It’s not even a suburb close to the city lines.

And it’s not like there’s something else Pitt-related out there. The choice of location seems rather random.

So, how does one get to Founders Field?

Not by bus, unless, of course, spectators are looking for as much exercise as the players they are traveling to watch. An Oakland dweller would have to ride any Downtown-bound bus from Fifth Avenue down to Smithfield Street. Once there, he would then have to walk several blocks to Liberty Avenue, where he could catch the 1B. After getting off the bus, he would then have about a mile walk to the field, including a jaunt down the busy Route 910.

Everyone in search of some soccer action enjoys riding several buses and dodging cars as part of his or her spectator experience, right?

The trip is a bit less arduous for those blessed with a car (or a friend with one).

On Saturday, the athletics department tried to make life easier for men’s soccer fans. They called it “Panthers Soccer Student Spectacular” and provided transportation from campus to the game.

Unfortunately, only eight fans attended.

Is the problem really that Pitt students have such little spirit? After all, the men’s soccer team was nationally ranked after its excellent season start, winning its first five games.

It’s more likely the case that almost no one knew about the new transportation option – the athletics department did little to advertise. There weren’t fliers around campus, there was no paid advertisement and there was no press release.

It doesn’t take a complex mathematical formula to figure out that greater distance equals fewer fans. The athletics department had to be aware that the more obstacles put in fans’ ways – distance, complicated and few traveling options, remote location – would deter fans.

It’s hard to believe there isn’t somewhere better – closer and on a bus route with stops both in Oakland and near the field – available to host the soccer teams.

It seems like best way the soccer teams can get a crowd – or some support from the athletics department, for that matter – is to play with a football.