Major Indoor Soccer League (1978-1979)
Tombstone
Born: October 5, 1978 – MISL founding franchise1Paolercio, Michael. “‘Kids’ Bring Pro Soccer To Cincinnati”. The Enquirer (Cincinnati, OH). October 6, 1978
Folded: September 19792Hertzel, Bob. “MISL Keeps It Quiet, But Soccer Kids Dead”. The Enquirer (Cincinnati, OH). September 21, 1979
First Game: December 22, 1978 (L 7-2 @ New York Arrows)
Last Game: March 20, 1979 (L 9-4 @ New York Arrows)
MISL Championships: None
Arena
Riverfront Coliseum (15,794)
Opened: 1975
Marketing
Team Colors: Blue, White & Red
Ownership
Owners: Barry Mendelson, Pete Rose, Reuven Katz, Lee Comisar, Michael Comisar, Barry Buse, Pat Buse, Douglas Cole & Arthur Stagnaro
Attendance
Cincinnati Kids attendance records are now complete.
In addition to their 12 regular season home dates during the 1978-79 MISL season, the Kids also attracted 2,768 fans to the Riverfront Coliseum for a February 10th, 1978 international friendly against Spartak of Moscow. That exhibition game is not included in the figures and chart shown below.
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Sources:
- Re-construction by Fun While It Lasted from newspaper box scores (Kids figures)
- 1989-90 MISL Official Guide (MISL league-wide figure)
Our Favorite Stuff
Cincinnati Kids
Logo T-Shirt
“We’d like to build a successful franchise,” Kids founder Barry Mendelson declared at the team’s debut press conference at the famed Maisonette restaurant in October 1978. “It will not have a one-year stay and evaporate.”
But guess what? Go on … guess.
This Kids logo tee comes from Cincinnati’s own Old School Shirts and is available in sizes small through XXXL.
When you make a purchase through an affiliate link like this one, Fun While It Lasted earns a commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support!
Background
The Cincinnati Kids were a One-Year Wonder in the original Major Indoor Soccer League (1978-1992). They were active only for the league’s inaugural season in the winter of 1978-79 and folded shortly thereafter.
The Kids gained some minor notoriety by virtue of the fact that Cincinnati Reds star Pete Rose was part of the team’s 10-man ownership group. But Rose’s promotional value to the club eroded when he signed a record-setting free agent contract with the rival Philadelphia Phillies in early December 1978, two weeks before the Kids played their debut game. Rose was on hand to kick out the ceremonial first ball when the Kids played the New York Arrows in the MISL’s inaugural game on December 22, 1978 at Long Island’s Nassau Coliseum. The Kids lost 7-2 before an announced crowd of 10,386.
The Kids were a competitive squad and were particularly strong at home, posting a 10-2 record in twelve matches at Riverfront Coliseum. Overall Cincinnati finished third in the six-team MISL with a 16-8 record. Forward Tony Graham paced the Kids’ offense with 18 goals. Keith Van Eron handled the bulk of the goalkeeping duties.
At the box office, the Kids averaged 3,191 for 12 regular season contests. The Kids were hampered by a weird calendar at the Riverfront Coliseum, where they played second banana to the Cincinnati Stingers of the World Hockey Association. Seven of the Kids’ twelve home dates were 1:35 PM matinees, often with crews hurrying to flip the playing surface for Stingers games later the same night.
The Kids also hosted Spartak of Moscow for an international exhibition match on February 10th, 1979. The Soviets bested the Kids 7-3 before an announced gathering of 2,768 at the Coliseum.
Demise & Aftermath
The Kids’ only season ended the same way it began – with a loss to the New York Arrows on the carpet of the Nassau Coliseum. The Arrows bested the Kids 9-4 in the MISL’s semi-final playoff match on March 20th, 1979.
No official announcement was ever made regarding the Kids’ fate. But in September 1979 MISL officials acknowledged that Cincinnati would not return for the league’s second season and dispersed the team’s roster.
After the demise of the Kids, indoor soccer returned briefly to the Queen City in the mid-1990’s with the Cincinnati Silverbacks of the National Professional Soccer League. The Silverbacks lasted three seasons from 1995 to 1998.
Dave Morrison over at NASLJerseys.com has some great shots of a Buzz Demling game-worn Kids home jersey.
Cincinnati Kids Shop
Cincinnati Kids Video
Downloads
1978-79 Cincinnati Kids Results & Attendance
1978-79 Cincinnati Kids Results & Attendance
Links
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One Response
Kids’ jerseys were fabulous.