Take a bow, Chattanooga Football Club. You too, Chattahooligans.
The fan base and fanaticism of the energetic brood that follows around the Chattanooga FC was in full attendance - and full voice - Saturday night as the team rolled to the National Premier Soccer League final with a 3-0 win over Indiana.
It was a nearly flawless performance, other than few fannies short of the five-figure number the followers focused on.
It was one-sided and dominant. It was excellent and enjoyable and energetic. And the soccer wasn't bad, either.
"(The Chattahooligans) are worth the price of admission to watch them - never mind the team and the game," Chattanooga FC coach Bill Elliott said Monday on "Press Row" on ESPN 105.1 FM. "Soccer is so popular around the world because of the fan culture, and that's what the Chattahooligans are. They are part of the action and part of the scene."
Simply put, the Chattanooga FC has become an event that is bigger than the sport on the scene.
It has been the perfect elixir at an opportune time. It would not be possible without the energy. The energy would not be possible without the winning. The winning would not be possible without the supreme effort from those involved with the Chattanooga FC. The effort is supremely enhanced by the energy.
It's the circle of sporting euphoria that is an elusive combination of success for any organization.
"Some places draw about 1,000 or 1,500. They are decent crowds. Others are less than that," Elliott said. "I really don't know how many they get because so many of our fans travel.
Chattahooligan Galen Riley leads the group in a chant during the Chattanooga Football Club's national semifinal match against the Indiana Fire at Finley Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2015, in Chattanooga.
CFC's Luke Winter dribbles between Indiana Fire's Derek Creviston, left, and Tanner Wikken during Chattanooga Football Club's national semifinal match against the Indiana Fire at Finley Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2015, in Chattanooga."It's overwhelming, the kind of support we have. It's crazy."
Crazy is a fair word.
Crazy that Chattanooga was picked as the host over New York City. Crazy that the possible crowd could be more than 12,000, and Elliott thinks it will surpass it. Crazy that the narrative goes beyond just the moment to wondering if this is becoming a soccer town, to wondering how much beer sales could help UTC crowds at football games and even whether the FC could jump a league or two into the professional ranks above where they currently reside.
All of those debates are interesting and truthfully can be reserved for another day.
This is about the amazing progress of a club and its core of fans that 10 years ago was a dream. Heck, two decades ago, when Elliott played for the Chattanooga Express, this kind of environment and atmosphere was fantasy.
And Saturday was the pinnacle, and maybe just the starting point.
That showing, and the cascading momentum the local bunch has generated, offered more than enough evidence for the Premier poobahs to grant Chattanooga the honor to host the championship against New York on Saturday.
"It's about the event and the culture and the buzz. That was the motivation of what we wanted when we started this," CFC general manager Sean McDaniel said Monday on ESPN 105.1.
McDaniel said the potential of moving leagues is not in the cards right now for several reasons, but the excitement about the here and now was clear in his voice.
As well it should be.
Yes, Chattanooga over NYC. In a sporting event.
OK, let's all catch our breath.
Yep, it's still true.
So we currently are the major burg in the minor league soccer world, and that's cool.
This moment and this announcement is every bit about the connection between the fan base and the FC. This is a group celebration that includes players, coaches, support staff and even the good folks over at Finley.
This is about the evening and the environment as much as the entertainment.
This has become an event, and it comes from the success on the field and the success of the support off the field.
Goal, Chattanooga.
Contact Jay Greeson at jgreeson@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6343. Follow him on Twitter at jgreeson@timesfreepress.com.