Even though the NHL lockout has finally reached its conclusion, the mood surrounding Buffalo sports has been sour this year. The absence of hockey, the plight of the Buffalo Bills and the lack of a professional basketball team left local sports fans continually craving a winner.

The Western New York Flash, an organization that’s won three consecutive championships in three different leagues, embarks on yet another quest for glory, this time in the U.S. Soccer-backed National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL).

Today, the Flash released information regarding season ticket packages, flex packs and incentives for the coming season at Sahlen’s Stadium, 460 Oak St., Rochester. Season tickets run from $100 to $220 depending on preferred seating, and the entry form can be found here. The current prices represent a savings of $55 on club level seats, $38 on premium level seats and $18 on sideline level seats, so in this instance, the early bird would get cheap rates and the metaphorical worm.

For flex packs, the “Flash 11-voucher flex package” entitles the customer to use 11 tickets in any quantity and to any regular season game. For instance, if you wanted to take five people to see the Boston Breakers, three to see the Chicago Red Stars and three to watch FC Kansas City, then that would exhaust your flex package. These flex packs run for the same price as the season tickets. Head here for more details.

A smaller, five-ticket flex pack is available for a reduced rate. Find more details here.

Here’s some very tempting incentive info, too, courtesy of the club’s website:

If we sell 1000 Season Tickets (this includes Flex 11 Packs,) by Thursday, February 28th, 2013, we will host a pre-season kick-off Meet & Greet Party with all the players and coaches for Season Ticket & Flex 11 Package holders!  As an added incentive, REFER A FRIEND is now in effect through Feb 28th, 2013.  Refer a first time season ticket holder and receive a $10 Gift Certificate (up to 5 referrals/$50) for any merchandise sold at the Flash Shack.  So get the word out.  Today is a great day to give the gift of Flash Season Tickets.  Now is the time to support Women’s PROFESSIONAL Soccer!

In three years a professional club, the Flash have attracted stars like Alex Morgan, Marta, Christine Sinclair, McCall Zerboni, Adriana and Ashlyn Harris. Head coach Aaran Lines was briefly considered to replace Pia Sundhage as the leader of the U.S. Women’s National Team, even though Tom Sermanni was hired this fall, and Lines is expected to return to lead the new-look Flash again.

Western New York downed the Chicago Red Stars in the 2012 WPSL-Elite Championship in penalty kicks, one year after taking down the WPS’ Philadelphia Independence in a shootout.

With the college draft and the allocation of international players approaching, these are exciting times in U.S. women’s soccer, perhaps the final chance for the model of a women’s pro league to work in the United States. If it doesn’t work with the backing of our country’s biggest soccer governing body, then it probably cannot be done. Will you support it?