MILWAUKEE — "It's a big hit. It really hurts," Milwaukee Wave Head Coach Giuliano Oliviero says.
Shock, still sinking in for Head Coach Giuliano Oliviero and marquee player Ian Bennett, with the Milwaukee Wave not playing this season.
"I'm probably one of the most positive guys," Ian Bennett says. "But 2020? I'm having a difficult time finding anything positive right now."
"It hasn't been easy, you know since last March. So you know, it's kind of a double whammy. I wanna give my best to the fans and cross our fingers. Say some prayers. We'll be back next season," Oliviero says.
Without a TV deal or major sponsors? The Wave needs to sell tickets, in order to make it go.
"With all the rules and restrictions? So, yeah, I feel bad for Owner Mike Zimmerman, because he's probably getting a lot of the abuse on social media," Bennett says.
"We need people at our games, you know. We rely on group sales. To me? It's nobody's fault," Oliviero says.
The toughest thing for Ian Bennett? The Wave, never got to defend their title. Not this year, when the pandemic halted play. And not next season, with the Wave, unable to play.
"Lance as you know? As an athlete? That is probably the toughest thing, period. Like, that's the frustrating part. Like, the team's not going to be the same," Bennett says.
Oliviero feels the Wave, can be saved.
"Everything I'm hearing is that we're going to be back. This is a one year thing," Oliviero says. "I came here as a young, immature 21 year old back in 1995. Coach Tozer brought me in and my family grew up with this organization, with the Milwaukee Wave and it's a part of your family."
But Bennett knows this is the end, for some.
"And the worst part? You're going to lose good people," Bennett says.
Established in 1984, the longest-running indoor soccer team in North American history? It will be strange to not see them, this fall.
