Atmosphere at the USMNT v Costa Rica WCQ in Portland

[nyrmetros]

I just came across this webpage which has a narrative of the US vs Costa Rica game, Sam's Army, atmosphere, etc...

http://home.comcast.net/~rcampb61/RCBWeb/history/not_just_a_game.htm


I've heard people say on this board that outside the cold war game in C-bus, the Portland game was the next best in terms of pro US atmosphere.

Does anyone have additional pics, video clips, or memories they'd like to share of this game?

[Thomas A Fina]

All I remember was Tab's blast (off of a nice three touch sequence), that everyone wore white, adn those @#^%*@#%@#&% ThunderSticks.

and it was an excellent atmosphere

[Brushes Sand]

I was just thinking about Tabare's goal the other day.....

For my money, bigger than Stewarts' against Colombia,
bigger than Donovan or Head in Jeonju. Head v. Portugal
comes close.

But that blast had more cathartic release than anything
I've seen in the current era.

-bs

[Thomas A Fina]

I'd say McBride's goal in RFK was pretty close to that.

[Finnegan]

I was there, I was in the south end where Tab scored his scorcher and the atmosphere was insane.

Portland brings it for the Mens and Womens National Teams and the Timbers Army brings it for the local boys.

Why on earth...ON EARTH we have not had another WCQ in Portland is beyond me. Now I see USSF in it's brilliant wisdom just sited the first game in Birmingham. Probably about as far west as they are going to go.

It just makes no sense. But I guess trying to make sense of what those a$$hats at USSF do is kinda of stupid huh?

EDIT: wanted to make clear I was not raggin on Birmingham but on the USSF.

[genpabloescobar]

I was there, I was in the south end where Tab scored his scorcher and the atmosphere was insane.

Portland brings it for the Mens and Womens National Teams and the Timbers Army brings it for the local boys.

Why on earth...ON EARTH we have not had another WCQ in Portland is beyond me. Now I see USSF in it's brilliant wisdom just sited the first game in Birmingham. Probably about as far west as they are going to go.

It just makes no sense. But I guess trying to make sense of what those a$$hats at USSF do is kinda of stupid huh?

EDIT: wanted to make clear I was not raggin on Birmingham but on the USSF.

How about a much shorter commute since they have a noon game on Sunday in Mexico City?

[scarshins]

Thunder-frickin-sticks. Atmosphere was pretty good. Pro-US I mean. Maybe not as intense or edge of the seat as some of the games the last go-round. Dooley had his last great game.

[Thomas Flannigan]

Thanks for starting this thread. It still gives me chills to think about it. i was not there but I watched it on TV.

Portland deserves a big qualifer, Mexico or Costa Rica.

[Chowderhead]

From the comfort of my living room, I could tell that the atmosphere was decent despite the numbing effects of the thunder sticks. They created a droneful buzz and managed to suck all of the spontaneity out of the place. The stadium seemed quirky, quaint and cozy.

I also remember that Sampson and the Fed had the field narrowed to 70 yards. That irritated me. But when it became obvious that the field that they had put down was inadequate (chunks coming up, players slipping,etc.), I was infuriated. Another classic USSF schlepp up.

That along with lame efforts of the broadcast crew to impart drama (Boy Ley on Ramos,the pre-game Wynalda melodrama, the shots of the "brain trust"), made that game almost unwatchable.

The team was also crap.

Portland would still be a suitable venue, though, if they could guarantee a decent playing surface.

[Chowderhead]

Why on earth...ON EARTH we have not had another WCQ in Portland is beyond me.

EDIT:

Do remember that the field was crap. The venue is fine. The field was an embarrassment.

[SCBozeman]

Wasn't there and didn't watch it, but here's what I remember about the game...

the day it was played I was backpacking through Europe. Not having any idea how to find out the score I went to the "Soccer Scene" -- a football store on Carnaby Street that sells jerseys and crap. I asked the infamously cantakerous owner if he knew who won. His reply: "Probably Costa Rica; the USA is crap." He was wrong, but right as proven in France.

[Finnegan]

Do remember that the field was crap. The venue is fine. The field was an embarrassment.

The field is now that NextTurf stuff but for the Women's World Cup in 2003 they put down grass and it was a perfect sized pitch - packed to the gills with about 30K pro-US fans. Although U.S. Woman's games tend to be a little more family oriented.

If we were to get a Mens WCQ I will guarantee that the surface woudl be as nice as in 2003. I would also guarantee that the Timbers Army would help welcome Sams Army and all U.S. Supporters to a supporters section that would set the standard for all U.S. soccer crowds.

[ratfacejt]

I was there and to me it was a real turning point in from a fan support perspective. Everywhere around town there were signs welcoming the US team, the stadium rocked, and the fan support section was awsome. The entire section came in as a group.

I stumbled upon the video a while back and really enjoyed watching it again (although it was a little embarassing when our coach stopped watching the game and started trying to get the crowd even more rev'd up). If I find it again, I'll burn some DVD copies.

[Thomas Flannigan]

The TV announcers intimated that the field was in poor shape to help the US. They put grass down over astro turf and watered the hell out of it. The thinking was Costa Rica was faster and a wet field would cancel that advantage to some extent.
I remember the USA USA chant really got going 20-30 seconds before the goal. That was the loudest of the day. Did it make a difference? We will never know..

[babytiger2001]

Amazing experience, no doubt about it.

Was definitely the noisiest stadium I had been in, for a WCQ or otherwise, up to that point. Flew into Portland that morning, and while knowing that I was going to fly back to San Jose that night without even having the chance to pay my father a visit in the same state (may god rest his soul, by the way), this truly felt like a major event.

When I walked into Civic Stadium still waiting for the early-morning coffee from the Southwest Airlines flight to kick in, I walked into the stadium, and the deafening noise hit me like a ton of bricks. Thought I was in a European stadium-- or the twilight zone, or something like that.

The noise and the intensity of the crowd kept building and building as the match went on, and Tab Ramos' goal was the perfect crescendo.

That crowd had a great synergy that day, and as great of a win as that was, watching and listening to that crowd was at least as exciting as the match itself.