Courtesy: WISN.com


Futsal field opens at Lincoln Park

Keith Tozer had vision to turn old tennis courts into futsal field

Keith Tozer (Photo courtesy: US Youth Futsal)


Aug 17, 2016

MILWAUKEE —Officials unveiled Wisconsin's first outdoor futsal court Wednesday morning.

Futsal is a game similar to soccer. The court is in Lincoln Park off Green Bay Road and Hampton Avenue.

Wednesday's kickoff was one local man's dream come true.

Keith Tozer has been waiting for this moment for a long time.

"Just to see these children out here and playing and having a great time. Like I said, dreams can become a reality," Tozer said.

Tozer is the coach of the U.S. Men's National Futsal Team. It's growing in popularity.

Driving past Lincoln Park on the city's north side almost every day, Tozer took notice of neglected and dirty tennis courts.

"And I would also glance over to the left or the right and see no one playing tennis," Tozer said.

That's when he kicked around the idea of turning the courts into a futsal sanctuary.

"Tennis courts, basketball courts, parking lots. I see futsal courts everywhere in my mind," Tozer said.

After getting the green light from the Milwaukee County Parks Department, volunteers started renovations last summer.

While futsal is similar to soccer, the ball is a little bit heavier, and it is played on a hard surface instead of a field.

"I'm having a good day," futsal player Bobby Baker said.

Baker is a big fan of the new stadium.

"It's pretty smooth, not too sticky, not too smooth, so it's pretty good," he said.

Tozer said the new stadium will also provide a fun and safe place for kids like Baker to play.

"I think a feel-good story is what our community needs. This is a feel-good story. I mean, look at the children behind me," Tozer said.

The Lincoln Park futsal stadium will host a tournament this weekend featuring youth and adult teams.

The stadium schedule isn't posted yet but will eventually be up on the Milwaukee County Parks website.


Courtesy: 620 Wisconsin Radio Station


'The sport is booming' says USA Futsal's Keith Tozer

by Ashton Rotman

Aug 17, 2016

Lincoln Park was once home to unused tennis courts. Wisconsin Sports Group President Keith Tozer made it his vision and goal to turn this unused space into courts for futsal, one of the fastest growing sports in the world. Tozer says Milwaukee County Parks had a big role in making the transformation happen.

Tozer, the Commissioner of the Professional Futsal League and Head Coach of USA Futsal Men's team, joined Greg Matzek on Sports Central Wednesday night to discuss the process of getting these courts ready.

The newly minted Lincoln Park Futsal Stadium will officially open this weekend with clinics and tournaments. Milwaukee's Futsal Fest is slated to begin on Saturday morning at 8am.

Listen to Tozer's interview here!


Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com