The soccer craze is relatively new in Peoria. In fact the first soccer field was built in the community 60 years ago. It was the project of Joseph Spies who was a 16-year-old German immigrant that had just arrived in Peoria. He built the field with friends and started a competitive team. Spies continues to share in the joy of watching the game as a part of the German-American Society.
Spies and 25 other German-Americans cheered on their second favorite team to victory Friday afternoon.
It’s the sort of enthusiasm that can be found across Peoria. Dan Renick is the manager of The Fieldhouse. He says he doesn’t have to do anything special to create a vibrant atmosphere during the World Cup.
"Before we would get maybe 20, 25 people in for a game. Everyone was a little quieter, and it was more of a clique. Now, it’s, the whole bar’s packed: stranger’s high-fiving, people going crazy."
This is the kind of environment pubs and bars look to maximize. The Fox Pub and Café opened on the Fourth of July so customers could watch quarterfinal matches. Matt Rixner is the owner of the Fox Pub and Café. He says four years ago he never would have opened on the Fourth to show two matches. He says further he hasn’t done much advertising for this World Cup. But Rixner says he’s starting to think about the next tournament four years down the road in Russia.
"It’s hard to say how busy we’ll be depending on the time of the games. Because literally the games could be at six, seven in the morning. (Daniela asks, “Do you think people will come out for them?”) Yep, I do."
Rixner says it’s a mix of patriotism, camaraderie and the attractiveness of the game that keep people hooked. American interest in soccer is high enough 21.6 million viewers tuned in to watch the U.S. take on Belgium last Tuesday.
But the Peoria area interest in soccer goes beyond adults watching the professional players during the World Cup. Peoria soccer enthusiast Joseph Spies says passing on the game to younger players is what keeps soccer fever growing.
"Just for instance driving on Detweiller park or driving anywhere see kids play on a side, you know, that’s something that warms your heart. That’s something we never had. When I came over here, there was nothing. And now you can almost see it anywhere and everywhere. Kids play soccer, you know, it makes you feel good. It makes you feel great."
There are three travel soccer clubs in Peoria today. Nightly pickup games take place in Detweiller Park and other fields throughout the city. Large cities across the country have also started broadcasting games so more people can watch. Spies says the soccer times are changing.
"It shows soccer is here to stay. In 1956 we just had fun with it in the national league. But we never dreamed it would get that big along the way, and I think it’s great. I’m so happy about it."
This year’s World Cup champion will be crowned on Sunday. No matter the early elimination of the U.S. team from this year’s tournament, Peoria Sports Bar and Pub owners are already promising a more successful year based on the general uptick in business during the World Cup.