PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – It was a rare sight today — pro football on the streets of Center City, in the middle of a workday.

They usually play indoors. But as a lunchtime crowd looked on, members of the Philadelphia Soul of the Arena Football League practiced on Market Street between 16th and 17th.

Co-owner Ron Jaworski says the Soul need to do the unusual.

“We’re not the Philadelphia Eagles. We’re not the Flyers. We’re not the Phillies. We’re not the Sixers. We continually have to work a lot harder, so people are aware of our brand.”

Especially since the Soul haven’t played for two years, says co-owner Craig Spencer.

“Fans tend to go on, and move on. So we really felt we had to get back out and reintroduce ourselves.”

One cabbie didn’t appreciate the midday shutdown of a major downtown block for a football practice, saying “on a weekday? That’s crazy.”

Mayor Nutter urged Philadelphians to lighten up, saying “It’s about an hour. We can handle it. And it helps to promote Philadelphia.”

The practice was staged to promote Friday night’s game against Jacksonville at the Wells Fargo Center.

Reported by Mike DeNardo, KYW Newsradio