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St. Louis Steamers (1979–1988)

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St.Louis Steamers
Logo of the original St. Louis Steamers
Founded1979
Dissolved1988
GroundSt. Louis Arena
St. Louis, Missouri
Capacity18,000
LeagueMajor Indoor Soccer League

The original St. Louis Steamers played in the original Major Indoor Soccer League from 1979 through 1988. Their home fixtures were held at the St. Louis Arena. The Steamers were popular for a number of years, with average attendance exceeding 12,000 for each season from 1980–81 through 1984–85, and outdrawing the NHL's St. Louis Blues for four consecutive seasons from 1980–81 through 1983–84.

Ownership

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History

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The Major Indoor Soccer League awarded St. Louis a franchise on July 31, 1979.[3] The home opener on December 14, 1979 drew over 18,000 fans to the Arena.[4] Part of the Steamers' attraction was that their roster was drawn in large part from local talent.[5]

The Steamers' popularity reached its peak during the 1981–82 season, when the team averaged 17,107 fans per game, including 19,298 fans in the Steamers' match at the Arena against the Denver Avalanche.[6] In 1981–82, the Steamers won their second straight division title, and reached the MISL Championship finals, where they lost to New York in a five-game series.

The Steamers played their final match on April 15, 1988 in front of 4,839 fans.[7] Following the 1987–88 season, the club folded, and the MISL terminated the Steamers' franchise.

Year-by-year

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League Champions Runners-Up Division Champions* Playoff Berth
Year League Reg. Season G.F. G.A. Percent Finish Playoffs Attendance
1979–80 MISL I 12–20 177 184 .375 Did not qualify 14,060
1980–81 MISL I 25–15 122 196 .625 Central Division champions Lost in MISL Finals to New York 15,219
1981–82 MISL I 28–16 128 182 .636 Central Division champions Lost in MISL Finals to New York 17,107
1982–83 MISL I 26–22 234 234 .542 Lost in 1st round to Wichita 14,693
1983–84 MISL I 26–22 220 202 .542 Western Division champions Lost in MISL Finals to Baltimore 13,992
1984–85 MISL I 24–24 211 207 .500 Lost in the Wild Card to Kansas City 12,711
1985–86 MISL I 23–25 223 233 .479 Lost in 1st round to San Diego 10,189
1986–87 MISL I 19–33 122 196 .365 Did not qualify 7,038
1987–88 MISL I 18–38 195 224 .321 Did not qualify 6,440

Retired numbers

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Coaches

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Yearly Awards

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MISL Rookie of the Year

MISL Goalkeeper of the Year

MISL All-Star Team Selection

MISL Coach of the Year

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "History". Official Website of the St. Louis Ambush Professional Soccer Team. St. Louis Ambush. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  2. ^ "History". Official Website of the St. Louis Ambush Professional Soccer Team. St. Louis Ambush. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  3. ^ Our St. Louis Steamers
  4. ^ Our St. Louis Steamers
  5. ^ Our St. Louis Steamers
  6. ^ Our St. Louis Steamers
  7. ^ Our St. Louis Steamers