And Eitel notes that interest in the international game is bigger than ever here.

"We have seen a steady increase over the last 13 years of televising soccer, not so much domestic games, but European league play and international matches," he says. "Every four years the World Cup is the busiest month of business we have. Now, even tournaments like the European Cup and Copa Libertadores are gaining popularity in Milwaukee. Most of our fans are internationals, students, and intrepid travelers who have experienced 'the beautiful game' while abroad."

According to Wilt, a key to building on that popularity, especially in terms of transforming soccer-playing kids into soccer-watching adults, is overcoming the disconnect that currently exists. And, he says, Major League Soccer has been a great success at short-circuiting that problem.

"It's about creating emotional connections with players, teams and leagues," he says. "A lot of people care about Major League Baseball, but few people care about college baseball. It's the same game, but there is no emotional connection to the players, teams or history. The soccer kids have converted into spectators in American cities where there are players and teams that they have allowed them to develop connections.

"Major League Soccer has grown from a 10-team league to a 16-team league in eight years. Average attendance in MLS now rivals both the NHL's and NBA's. Over time, the League will continue to develop its own histories, traditions and stars that will resonate with more and more people."

Is there no hope, then, for Milwaukee soccer fans unless we can land an MLS team? If so, then Brew City soccer die-hards are in trouble, it seems. Neither Lafferty nor Wilt sees a team here anytime soon.

Even though the Milwaukee MLS bid had calculated that it could kick off with 8,000 season ticket holders -- more than the Bucks have -- the package just didn't sell to Major League Soccer brass, thanks in large part to the struggle to get a stadium deal done.

"As far as I know there is no future for an MLS bid in Milwaukee," says Wilt, simply. "There are no hopes for a stadium and without a stadium, there are no hopes for an owner or a team."

Although no one interviewed for this story otherwise suggested that other popular sports have affected soccer's draw, Lafferty thinks that the wide range of options available to fans of pro sports in the area could hinder the arrival of a professional outdoor soccer squad.

"The economics of both Milwaukee and MLS would just make it very difficult for the league to succeed here. Milwaukee is a small metropolitan market, and already is trying to support the NBA, the Wave and minor league hockey, along with the Packers, in part. An MLS entry needs $40 million just to sit at the table, a soccer-specific stadium that is probably a nine-figure endeavor, then salaries and operational costs. I'm just not sure where that's going to come from at this point in time."

As fans continue to crowd some area bars to watch matches and as the Wave continues to draw enthusiastic crowds, soccer seems set to continue to grow in Milwaukee. Add in more and more kids and adults playing the game at venues like Brookfield Indoor Soccer Complex and in leagues like Milwaukee Kickers, which boasts more than 8,000 players on 650 teams and more and more soccer on TV. Then consider that the Latino and Eastern European -- and other ethnic -- communities in the city are populated by soccer fans of all ages, and it seems soccer is ripe for continued growth.

"I believe the depth of soccer interest locally is increasing," affirms Wilt. "Most Milwaukeeans under 40 have played soccer. Most of those in their 30s played soccer recreationally, while many more of those in their 20s played it competitively. Each decade the sport is edging more and more into the public consciousness.

"A lot of people talk about a soccer revolution, when it is actually a soccer evolution. The globalization of society positively impacts the level of interest in soccer in Milwaukee and that will only continue to grow in the decades ahead as the world becomes a smaller place and the world's game becomes more mainstream."

Lafferty agrees and takes a similarly measured approach. He, too, thinks the game will continue to grow, and like Wilt, he thinks it will be more evolution than revolution. He points to the need for the MLS to improve and for fans' knowledge of the game to make a similar leap.

"Some observers seem to expect that soccer is suddenly going to erupt as a spectator sport. For a variety of reasons, in this country, that never will happen. The game is not culturally entrenched; MLS is not the best league of its kind in the world; too few fans understand the nuances of the game, limiting their enjoyment.

"But that doesn't mean soccer doesn't have fans, or is some kind of failure as a spectator sport. Is soccer watched more now than a generation ago in this country? You'd have to say yes. Will that interest increase in one more generation? Most likely, yes. But it's not going to be like hitting a button on your microwave."