Teams to watch
* Chattanooga Football Club National Premier Soccer League Home venue: Finley Stadium Season: May 9 through July * Chattanooga Roller Girls Women’s Flat Track Derby Association Home venue: Chattanooga Convention Center. Season: Feb. 7 into October * Chattanooga Rail Runners Central Basketball Association Home venue: Rossville Athletic Center Season: March 29 through May * Georgia Rampage X-League Indoor Football Home venue: Northwest Georgia Trade & Convention Center (Dalton) Season: March 29 through May * Mountain City of Chattanooga & Lightfoot Club of Chattanooga Tennessee Association of Vintage Base Ball. Home venue: 6th Cavalry Museum polo field Season: April 4 through August.
The National Premier Soccer League keeps growing, and the Chattanooga Football Club keeps going to the NPSL national final.
Last year in New Jersey was Chattanooga FC’s second runner-up finish in four years and third in the club’s six seasons of operation, and general manager Sean McDaniel said in late February that the league expects to have more than 70 teams in 2015. His team went 15-3-2 in 2014, and NPSL coach of the year Bill Elliott and national goalkeeper of the year Greg Hartley are among the principals back for 2015.
The success attracts fans, too, with CFC averaging about 5,000 for its home matches last year and drawing just under 8,900 for the 4-1 national semifinal win over Sacramento Gold FC.
There will be at least seven home games this year, and bids for U.S. Open Cup and postseason matches could bring more. Tickets cost $5 in advance or $7 the day of a game, or a jersey can be bought that works as a season ticket. The season begins May 9 with a visit to the Georgia Revolution in Conyers.