Last Wednesday, Fabian was playing in his third Major Arena Soccer League game for the Empire Strykers, who lost to the Tacoma Stars before 2,001 fans at the spartan Toyota Arena in Ontario. In Russia, and in the German Bundesliga before that, Fabian played on lush grass carpets manicured for soccer. There's more to Fabian joining the Strykers last month than the player's happiness. The MASL, meanwhile, born as the Professional Arena Soccer League in 2008 and rechristened six seasons later, has struggled financially and organizationally. The league averaged just 2,172 fans a game last season and is drawing 2,219 early into this season.

Source: Los Angeles Times January 03, 2024 10:41 UTC