Home Opener! Sat. March 9th, 4:00pm MST v. Philadelphia Union P/I/P

It's time! Discuss. Hope the weather improves. As of now, 35 degrees & 70% chance of snow!

hope it is a fun one in the snow!

I should be able to survive sitting in the cold and snow. I always worry about the driving. If the roads are icy and/or traffic is backed up, getting to the game becomes the difficult part.

Orange Ball, Orange Ball, We want the Orange Ball
Orange Ball, Orange Ball, Orange Baaaaaaaalllllll
We want the orange ball
To play in the snow
Orange Ball, Orange Ball, Orange Ball

You saw it here first, game day decision = no Buddle. No inside info just a hunch.

Looking at some of the early weather reports, I'm thinking the game might be a game-day decision...

Wait, what? Do you mean the game itself? Are they expecting a big snowstorm?

Edit, nevermind, saw your post in the N&A thread. I hope not, the drive would be a mess!

Hey, I have a couple of questions.
First, I was wondering if anyone could give me a ride to and from the match. I'll be staying at the DoubleTree off of Quebec Street. I would give you gas money or a Cactus Pricks scarf & I would love to tailgate in the snow with C38.
Second, I've heard that the new supporters shield is going to be in Denver at the C38 tailgate. Is this true?
Finally, can Union fans tailgate with C38? I haven't had a problem tailgating with BA 1850, Texian Army, and ACB.
Thanks.

No (or at least I can't)
so I've heard
and yes

1) I can probably give you a lift, but I go super early (like noon). The tailgate wont "officially" start until 1, but there will be early people in all likelihood.

2) Yes.

3) Yes.

It occurs to me that this will be the first and only time Casey will be here this year, and that leads to an honest question: Should the fans provide some united effort to acknowledge his contributions to this team? (Something like sustained applause during the 10th minute of play or an orchestrated chant of his name at the start or finish of the game or if he is subbed.) Or, since this is the first home game of the season and he does after all now play for the opposition, would this be inappropriate?

How about I agree not to start the Rapids Reject! chant for him?

Frisbee dogs can do anything, so no orange required for them!

And speaking of Frisbee dogs, has there been any talk of how to bring them back. We love the Frisbee dogs and would prefer seeing them at halftime to the current "festivities".

I fully support this sort of idea. Franchise all time scorer. MLS cup MVP. Home town boy. I hope rapids fans show enough class to not bust out the "rapids reject" chant.

Assuming there is a game.... Agreed from earlier, no Buddle this weekend. Mwanga probably won't see the pitch yet. Pickens is in. Brown gets the start only because Buddle can't make it, otherwise I like Brown in later to run down a tired defense. Powers starts, Pablo starts but LaBrocca comes in for him at about 70'. Same back line as last Saturday.
CO wins 2-1 though I am not sure how, and it's likely veterans will score the goals... just a feeling.

I don't see this happening. He will probaby get a good applause in the beginning and that'll be it.

Given the weather forcast I could see both Pickens and Buddle held out.

Casey was #9 so applause should occur at 9th minute.

I like this idea.

You're assuming Casey is in the gamer in the 9th minute. If this last weekend was anything to go by he appears to be an option off the bench for the Union, not a starter.

I figure a Conor Casey chant pre-kickoff would be appropriate, but only if he is starting.

A Conor Casey chant at 9th minute would be good whether he is on the pitch or not. Try to get it to last a minute (very tough to do)

If he comes on as a sub, healthy applause and Conor Casey chant.

If he scores and starts celebrating like a wild man - Rapids Reject

Remember when Kimura was here last year with Portland and everyone did the "Kosuke San" chant? If Casey is in the game we could just do the "Conor Casey Rapids #9" chant.

Hopefully it will have the same effect on Casey and cause him to lose focus and play terribly, but I doubt that will happen.

Does DSG have heating for the field?

If the surface is super sloppy, how should that affect the lineup? I would bring in the bruisers and guys that are good in the air because it will be hard to string together a lot of passes on the ground if the field is sloppy.

I'm pretty sure it does. Underneath the grass hybrid surface there is a layer of sand with heat coils in it if I remember correctly.

I figured that knowing the dynamics of soccer they were saving him for a hat trick in his return to 'you wouldn't pay me what I wanted' land. ;>)

Though from what I've read most undersoil heating systems can't do much against a big snowstorm (like if we were to get 6-10 inches). AIUI there's a top of the line system that would help but I assume that there was no reason to put that into the Dick, as the number of times it would be used (being primarily a summer facility) would be minimal.