Very impressed with the Ravens

I got to watch some of the Rochester Ravens game against Ottawa from May 29th. I could tell exactly where Mel and Shoey were because I can pick them out based on how they run. I'm being dead serious. I've probably spent a full few days worth of just watching film. You can tell who is who by how they run pretty quickly.

http://www.rochesterravensfc.com/videos.cfm

I was very impressed with the sports management aspect of the Ravens. I know nothing about soccer so I can't break down soccer and tell you who played well and who didn't. From the sports management aspect I feel like the Ravens might be in a league of their own. I don't want to say that exactly yet because I haven't been to many other W League or WPSL games. I am going to one on Tuesday though.

Anyway the field and the music and announcer and stadium gave me the feel of a professional women's soccer team, not a summer league team. I was blown away with what I saw and I honestly think that a WPS team should strive to have a stadium the way that the Ravens do. That is a perfect soccer stadium. I think the WPS should have a game played their once a year.

The other stadium I have been to was of a team that no longer exists and that isn't quite that surprising to be honest. The team folded and the atmosphere and field and stadium was nothing special.

I wasn't expecting to see field boards or beautiful stands when I watched the Ravens game. I wasn't expecting to hear music being played either. Since I don't go to too many W-league games or WPSL games I would feel bad to say that the set-up and look of the Ravens stadium is the best in the country, but I have the feeling that if it isn't the best, that it is pretty close to the best. From the website to the shots of the stadium and to the events in the community that I have read about, the Rochester Ravens seem to be one of the finer summer league teams in the country. They seem to be truly dedicated to making the Ravens the best that they can be. They seem to really care about the community and the game of women's soccer. They really impress me and from all that I can see are doing a wonderful job operating the team. I think the players who play on that team should consider themselves lucky that they have people in charge who care.

Although it is a turf stadium for the Ravens, I do remember watching a summer league team last year in which the grass hadn't appeared to have been mowed in a while. That team didn't appear to really care about the field or set-up of the game.

If another team impresses me I will let you know, but I have a feeling that the Ravens are one of the best teams in terms of operations.