For those who went, Stadium Atmosphere?

[ttrevett]

What was the mix of Mexican and US fans there? Was it hugely dominated by the El Tri fans?

Max Bretos commented that at one point, the Mexican fans started to yell Ole for the American passes in midfield. This was deep in the second half when we we playing some beautiful one-touch balls in tight quaters.

What was the reaction after the goal, and after the game. Was the stadium quiet, or was Sam's Army loud enough?

Was there any violence in the crowd between the fans?

[metroflip73]

What was the mix of Mexican and US fans there? Was it hugely dominated by the El Tri fans?

Max Bretos commented that at one point, the Mexican fans started to yell Ole for the American passes in midfield. This was deep in the second half when we we playing some beautiful one-touch balls in tight quaters.

What was the reaction after the goal, and after the game. Was the stadium quiet, or was Sam's Army loud enough?

Was there any violence in the crowd between the fans?

I couldn't tell from watching it on TV, but apparently, the only thing thrown from the stands were streamers. I really don't mind playing Mexico in Texas. The fans there seem to have a better grip on things.

[ttrevett]

Brings up another question. I thought I saw a bag of some fluid come down and miss a linesman by very little. He jumped a bit. Were there any p___ bags thrown?

[StillKickin]

What was the mix of Mexican and US fans there? Was it hugely dominated by the El Tri fans?

Max Bretos commented that at one point, the Mexican fans started to yell Ole for the American passes in midfield. This was deep in the second half when we we playing some beautiful one-touch balls in tight quaters.

What was the reaction after the goal, and after the game. Was the stadium quiet, or was Sam's Army loud enough?

Was there any violence in the crowd between the fans?

I'd say it was about 85/15 for Mexico. It was vastly different than the Houston crowd last year.

After we scored, I was surprised at how loud the cheering was. I'm guessing it's because the Mexico crowd just shut up.

As far as violence, this USA fan sitting about 5 seats down from us got hit in the head by one of the many Mexico fans around us...because he wouldn't sit down. Even though all of us were standing the entire time.

Last year we were surrounded by the Mexico fans and it was pretty good-natured ribbing back and forth. This year, they were pretty nasty. Thought we'd have to defend ourselves physically getting back to the car. Very poor sports...but judging by their national team players and coaches, it's no surprise.

[StillKickin]

This is what I experienced last evening, and I was doling more than my fair share of Dos y Cero and remarks about madres, burros, lawnmowers, and other tasteless comments. I'm sure I received plenty back about my mother and such, but since they were all in Spanish, it really didn't matter to me.

I found none of that at half time or after the game when most of the crowd mixing was happening. The only people who were dicks were the Cotton Bowl parking authority who made me move my car out of the reserved super secret star chamber parking lot that they had waved me into. Asshats.
I wish we would have been in the same area you were. The ones around us were jerks.

[ttrevett]

Asshats.

It's rare that things make me laugh out loud, that's funny. Thank you!

What was the crowd reaction to the goal?

[Keeper 77]

I was sitting in the middle of Sam's Army so the noise factor was pro - US.

Outnumber would be an understatment. El Tri was well represented. The entire Coca-Cola halftime show was in spanish.

The only confrontation I saw was between two Mexican fans. One thought it would be real cute to throw a Coke at a group of US supporters. Apparently, he lacks a proper understanding of physics and drilled some poor El Tri fans woman right in the side of her head. As you can imagine, Coke flinger was then the subject of several choice words and an invitation to have his a$$ handed to him. He declined the invitation.

[Wallydrag]

I didn't have any problems with Mexican fans at all. There were a large contingent in the section next to us. After the game toilet paper and some kind of sticks like drum sticks are something got thrown at the field along with a few cups, but that was it. I didn't fear my well-being at all aftwards. No one said anything to me as I went back to my car surrounded by Mexican fans.

The atmosphere was great I though. When the Mexican fans want to get loud, man they can get loud. But us USA fans made some noise too.

I was sitting right on the corner of the US bench 2nd row from the field so I was able to see everyone right up close when they warmed up and such, to inlcude the Bruce.

Which reminds me. Is it just me, or does Bruce Arena dress like, well, for lack of a better term, dork? His pants start out wide at his waiste then tapper down to look like they're french rolled at the bottome, and then he wears these early-90's white Reebok hightops like junior high girls used to wear. He was definitly dressed like if was dropping me off for school, I'd make sure he did it 5 blocks away.

[Greddy]

Which reminds me. Is it just me, or does Bruce Arena dress like, well, for lack of a better term, dork? His pants start out wide at his waiste then tapper down to look like they're french rolled at the bottome, and then he wears these early-90's white Reebok hightops like junior high girls used to wear. He was definitly dressed like if was dropping me off for school, I'd make sure he did it 5 blocks away.

I know. Would it be too much to ask our coach to put on a nice suit? I mean, Lavolpe was wearing a pretty shi**y suit, but at least he was trying.

[csc7]

I know. Would it be too much to ask our coach to put on a nice suit? I mean, Lavolpe was wearing a pretty shi**y suit, but at least he was trying.

as long as Bruce isn't filling our players lungs with second hand smoke, i don't care what he's wearing..

[StillKickin]

You know, I don't really remember much of the game other than Donovan's shot, watching Pope score and then stripping off my shirt, losing it, and then ripping off my belt, swinging it above my head and beltwhipping the aluminium seats in front of me and screaming "In your mouths, bitches" to some Mexican fans that had this stunned look on their face after the goal.

Please tell me you weren't the guy in the parking lot who tried to flash my daughters...asked them if they wanted to see a "real live nekid man." :D

As for the jerks on the way to the car, they wanted to take our flag and put it where the sun don't shine; they rambled on and on about Bush/Iraq. Real dumb stuff. I just kept saying, "Uno a Cero" and "We won; you lost."

[SNUSA]

85/15 for fans is probably being very generous to USA supporters. At least in terms of people who were wearing clothes to clearly identify themselves, I'd go much closer to 100/5.

However, I was there two hours before kickoff, and never saw any animosity. There were some jeering chants, perhaps, but no malice.

Even after the game, after they'd lost, I only saw Mexico fans who were in good spirits, enjoying a nice night.

One guy looked at me hard when he showed me the patch on his Mexico jersey after the game and I said "Uno-cero," but he kept walking.

All I heard after the goal was cheering. I think there was a lot of joy from the USA fans there, and the Mexico supporters couldn't do anything but be quiet.

Even in some crushing crowds at a blocked exit, everyone was good about moving around calmly and being good.

Cotton Bowl needs better crowd flow for cars and people, but they're tearing it down anyhow...

In short: A great atmosphere. If people saw problems, I'd say they saw a lot fewer than they would at a typical big American sporting event.

[Treetaliano]

85/15 for fans is probably being very generous to USA supporters. At least in terms of people who were wearing clothes to clearly identify themselves, I'd go much closer to 100/5.


I like the alternative math there...

[PaulGascoigne]

85/15 was about right. The fans were good natured to me, and some definitely had dual loyalties, including the Mexican born guy who was sitting with me who I thought was more for Mexico but cheered for the US when we scored.

There were lots of chances to flirt with Mexican chicas, which was a big plus.

My personal highlight was walking inside the Cotton Bowl along the end zone after the game. Someone looked just outside the stadium, where the extremely antiquated locker room facilities are located, and shouted, "There's Bruce." He was talking to the camera and I screamed "BRUUUUCE!" and he cut off what he was saying to look around and see where that was coming from :D

Big atmosphere, but not WCQ level, of course. Still, a good warm up for us. We were on Frankie's side in the second half, and it was great to shout out to him during the best game the guy's ever had outside of a world cup game in his whole career.

[Sandon Mibut]

Which reminds me. Is it just me, or does Bruce Arena dress like, well, for lack of a better term, dork? His pants start out wide at his waiste then tapper down to look like they're french rolled at the bottome, and then he wears these early-90's white Reebok hightops like junior high girls used to wear. He was definitly dressed like if was dropping me off for school, I'd make sure he did it 5 blocks away.Bruce does often dress like he's gonna go hang out at the Bing with Tony, Paulie Walnuts, Sylvia aond "Christofuh."

He's from Brooklyn and his folks are Italian. What, you thought he wouldn't favor the Track Suit Chic look?

And about the shoes, pretty sure those weren't Reeboks. As long as the swoosh is spnsoring US Soccer, you'll see Bruce in nothing but Nikes.

I know. Would it be too much to ask our coach to put on a nice suit? I mean, Lavolpe was wearing a pretty shi**y suit, but at least he was trying.Dude, that was NOT a suit. That was a blazer and jeans! Toss in the mullet and the butt and he looked like me trying to hit on chicks in college.... back in the late 80s!

Bruce may not dress up, but at least he's not out of fashion by 20 years.

Two questions about the crowd: A) did they boo the National Anthem and B) were there any "Osama" chants?

[SNUSA]

I heard neither booing nor Osama chants. The crowd was very pro-Mexico and lots had probably travelled, but it *was* still in Dallas, not Guadalajara or Azteca.

As for Bruce... yeah. Someone get that main a pair of Dockers.

[Pints]

You know, I don't really remember much of the game other than Donovan's shot, watching Pope score and then stripping off my shirt, losing it, and then ripping off my belt, swinging it above my head and beltwhipping the aluminium seats in front of me and screaming "In your mouths, bitches" to some Mexican fans that had this stunned look on their face after the goal.


---In your mouths, bitches....********ing brilliant!

"Asshats".....that's a good one too!

[hookemhorns25]

As far as violence, this USA fan sitting about 5 seats down from us got hit in the head by one of the many Mexico fans around us...because he wouldn't sit down. Even though all of us were standing the entire time.
If you were in section 29, that was me that got hit in the head. Overall, I was pretty unimpressed by the Mexican fans. Sure, they were loud, but when you outnumber the opposing fans 10:1, you're supposed to be. The Mexican fans behind us were more concerned with sitting down than cheering for their team. And as time wore on, I heard more and more USA fans and less and less Mexico fans.

[SNUSA]

That happened in section 1, too. I figured it was a given everyone would stand. A few people asked others to sit (and they politely obliged), and within the first five minutes most butts were down. However, it looked like this was the case for much of the stadium.

We were up for most of the second half, however. Of course, most of the second half, the US were on the verge of scoring right in front of us, so that can't be helped.

[McKinney_Burn]

Two questions about the crowd: A) did they boo the National Anthem and B) were there any "Osama" chants?

A) Not that I could tell. Though I didn't get into our anthem until "were so gallantly streaming", that is when the cheering for the Mexican anthem died down. No boos though.

B) Again, not that I could tell.