The Milwaukee Soccer Development Group (MSDG) is hosting a tailgate and a soccer march from the Twisted Fisherman Crab Shack to the Valley Fields stadium in advance of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Marquette University men's match on Sept. 17.

Tailgating begins at 5 p.m. at The Twisted Fisherman, located at 1200 W. Canal Street, with the match starting at 7 p.m. at Valley Fields, located at 1818 W. Canal St.

The tailgate is MSDG's follow-up a follow-up to its "Professional Soccer in Milwaukee" symposium, which was held on July 15 at City Hall.

The group considers the tailgate and the march a challenge to the local soccer community to unite and show its strength of support for professional outdoor soccer in Milwaukee.

The UWM and MU men’s soccer rivalry dates back to 1973 and the two compete for the Milwaukee Cup, and the tailgate and march is meant to not only support the two local college programs, but, according to an MSDG release "demonstrate Milwaukee’s desire for a professional outdoor soccer team."

The tailgate will include a question and answer session with members of the local soccer community.

The Twisted Fisherman will donate a portion of the proceeds towards MSDG’s goal of raising funds to properly convert a set of unused tennis courts to soccer courts in the Greater Milwaukee Area.

Court conversion includes new line painting, goals and signs.

MSDG is also hosting a 3-on-3 tournament on Oct. 11 at the Burnham Park Tennis Courts for the same cause.