Huntsville City Football Club fan David Colbert has been keeping up with ticket sales for Friday’s home opener against Crown Legacy at newly renovated Joe Davis Stadium.

“It looks like it’s going to be a sell out,” Colbert said. “I expect it to be loud.”

Tags were left in the seats representing the few remaining tickets for the Major League Soccer NEXT Pro team’s home debut at 7 p.m., but they were rapidly disappearing during an open house at the stadium on Tuesday.

“We’ll be sold out for Friday, and long after that,” said Huntsville City FC President Ian Ayre, who is also CEO of Huntsville City FC’s parent club, Major League Soccer’s Nashville Soccer Club.

“Season tickets are going well,” he said. “I think we’ll see this place full on a regular basis. You can feel the energy. You can look at the crowd that showed up for a ribbon cutting. It kind of sets the tone for what you can expect going forward.”

He gets no argument from Huntsville City FC fan Brandon Kelly.

“I’m excited to see the boys play under the home lights, with the chants in the background and getting rowdy for them,” he said. “It’s going to be a good time on Friday.”

Huntsville City FC opened the season with seven straight road matches.

“They’re getting tired playing away,” Kelly said.” I think they’re ready to play at home, and play in front of a home crowd that’s nearly sold out now.”

Head coach Jack Collison said the team has caught a glimpse of the town’s enthusiasm through videos of the watch parties around town during their road matches.

“The boys are excited,” he said. “They’re ready to rock and roll.”

Ayre said fans who show up Friday will have a chance to be a part of history.

“Who wouldn’t want to be a part of that?” he said.

Soccer fan Tyler Lewis definitely does.

“This is such a big soccer town that no one knows about,” Lewis said. “There are a lot of Premiere League fans down here. So, the fact that we finally have MLS NEXT Pro is going to help the league grow.”

Ayre said fans can expect “a great performance from the team,” along with “a lot of noise and energy.”

“We’ll have lots of fun stuff going on,” he added. “I think it will be a big party … I don’t want to give away too many secrets. But energy is an important part of the game. We’ve found with various teams I’ve been involved with, it can’t just be about the soccer, right? You’ve got to have a little bit of energy around the people, whether it’s pyrotechnics or other things. People who come down Friday, I think they will definitely have a fun time.”

Some things, however, will be a work in progress. That includes concessions. Huntsville City FC fans will see the usual menu items, hamburgers, hotdogs, popcorn and nachos.

Ayre said fans will be offered “a real mix” of items that will evolve over time.

“We’ll have to understand demand and understand what people like,” he said. “Hopefully, they’ll like in Huntsville what we like everywhere else.”

Ayre said local brands have been incorporated into the concessions and beverage offerings in Nashville. There will be a Yellowhammer Brewing beer garden at the stadium, but Huntsville City FC personnel were unsure if it will be open for the first match.

Fans will be able to purchase merchandise in support of their new team.

The home jerseys – or kits – were unveiled Tuesday night. They are on sale for $119.99. Youth jerseys are $79.99 for the primary and secondary kit. Scarves – winter and summer versions – are on sale for3 $40 and hats are $34.99 to 44.99 for snapbacks.

And fans can also expect to pay $10 for parking.

The match will be the first professional game at Joe Davis Stadium since 2015, when the Huntsville Stars minor league baseball team departed for Biloxi. The stadium had fallen into disrepair until the city made the decision to renovate it and repurpose it as a multiuse field that will also host high school football and other events.

Soccer fans attending the open house were impressed with the $29 million renovation.

“I used to come to this stadium when it was the Stars,” Colbert said. “I remember when it was old and kind of run down. It’s got all of the money pumped into it now. it looks like a beautiful, brand new stadium.”

“I absolutely love it,” Lewis added. “It’s beautiful. I can still see several touches from the Stars’ stadium. It’s revamped … absolutely gorgeous.”

The renovation received high marks from Ayre.

“It looks amazing,” he said. “I was here just a few weeks ago and it’s transformed since then. I’m sure in the next 72 hours, it will come along. It’s going to be incredible, it’s going to be full, so many tickets sold. This place will be full to the rafters.”

Scott Turner reports from Huntsville for the Lede.