Dogtown, one of St. Louis’ most central and colorful neighborhoods, has experienced significant growth over the past year. New businesses, such as Fields Foods and F45 Training, have joined the neighborhood, the Oakland Avenue Playground underwent an incredible facelift, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Irish Festival are back in business and now, in partnership with St. Louis CITY SC and private donations, Dogtown is home to the first, enclosed futsal court in the city.
What is futsal?
For those who are not familiar with the sport, futsal is a condensed game of soccer that is traditionally played on a concrete court. Similar to basketball, futsal courts are often built in dense, urban areas because the footprint of the court is small and the barriers to entry of the sport are minimal: it’s not expensive to play and all that’s really needed is a ball (and, if you’d like, a pair of shoes).
Futsal is typically played with five players on each team, but the flexibility of the court gives anyone from children to aging athletes and brand new players the space to practice their skills. Recently, soccer players around the St. Louis metropolitan area have flocked to the popular Facebook group, St. Louis Pick Up Soccer, to initiate and organize impromptu games.
St. Louis CITY SC
St. Louis CITY SC, the highly anticipated MLS franchise that will begin playing in the spring of 2023, has made cultivate of the sport a priority. Although the Franz Park futsal court is the first enclosed court, the first futsal courts they helped fund were completed in Dutchtown in 2021 and more courts are planned for the future.
With the momentum that the team is building towards their inaugural season, communities anticipate that kids will see these courts and park renovations as their new playground.
The Dogtown Family Festival and Fun Run
Looking ahead, St. Louis CITY SC is teaming up with Dogtown United to help fundraise for the St. Patrick’s Day Festival and the Wilkinson Early Childhood Center as a sponsor of the Dogtown Family Festival and Fun Run. After a formal ribbon cutting of the Franz Park futsal court, attendees and participants of the race will receive St. Louis CITY SC giveaways, participate in a scrimmage on the new court and meet with players and staff of the St. Louis CITY SC team!
The Fun Run takes place on Saturday, September 17 and offers two race options for the family.
9:00 a.m. Adult 1-Mile Run (2 laps around Franz Park)
Age 10 and above - $259:30 a.m. Kids 1/2-Mile Dash (1 lap around Franz Park)
Kids under the age of 10 - $20
Register for the fun run by September 16, 2022. Registration cost will increase by $5 after September 1, 2022. Included with race registration, participants will receive a t-shirt, snacks, water, Heavy Riff beer or specialty cocktail (adults only) and access to the family festival.