K-Town: Home Away From Home

[Sachsen]

Memo to US Soccer:

We should play a game -- or two -- in Kaiserslautern EVERY SINGLE FRICKIN' YEAR. Against quality European opposition. No more friendlies against Jamaica and Canada in Hartford or Columbus or Gillette. K-Town has simply rocked for our team. Ramstein is awesome. It's probably the only place in Europe where we can have a home crowd.

If we could schedule some friendlies every year against the big 6 (England, Netherlands, Italy, Germany, France, Spain) or even the Czechs, Sweden, Portugal, Switzerland, etc., I think it would do wonders for our progression and development. A two game series of friendlies, take about two weeks? Would be incredible.

Hats off to our fans and our military personnel (and their families) for a fantastic showing today against Italy.

[Sachsen]

http://www.soccertimes.com/oped/2006/courtney/jun17.htm

Fellow defender Gregg Berhalter, a 2002 Cup veteran who is yet to play in this tournament, added: "It was a total team effort and we have a lot to be proud of. I never seen such a great U.S. crowd before. It was incredible."

Indeed, the American contingent on hand in Fritz Walter Stadion made up roughly half of the crowd and matched the Italian fans shout for shout, song for song. When the U.S. went behind, the fans stayed vocal. As the cards began to fly and the U.S. found itself down to nine men, it seemed both the team and the fans helped each other find the next higher gear.

"The fans were simply fantastic," U.S. manager Bruce Arena commented. "Both teams were well supported, but the U.S. fans really helped carry our team."

"The U.S. fan support was unbelievable," said visibly pumped up reserve goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann. "Staying on the base (Ramstein Air Base in Kaiserslautern) was great since we felt like we were at home and the atmosphere with fans was, well, as good as it gets..."

"The fan support was great. They were behind us 200 percent," Onyewu said. "They gave us the extra push when we were a man down. We don't even get this kind of support when we play in the U.S. It was just incredible."

[appoo]

Memo to US Soccer:

We should play a game -- or two -- in Kaiserslautern EVERY SINGLE FRICKIN' YEAR. Against quality European opposition. No more friendlies against Jamaica and Canada in Hartford or Columbus or Gillette. K-Town has simply rocked for our team. Ramstein is awesome. It's probably the only place in Europe where we can have a home crowd.

If we could schedule some friendlies every year against the big 6 (England, Netherlands, Italy, Germany, France, Spain) or even the Czechs, Sweden, Portugal, Switzerland, etc., I think it would do wonders for our progression and development. A two game series of friendlies, take about two weeks? Would be incredible.

Hats off to our fans and our military personnel (and their families) for a fantastic showing today against Italy.

make it an annual 4th of July tradition. And get anyone on the base into the match for free. I can't think of a better way to thank them.

[FirstStar]

The price of freedom is high, everywhere in the world. I'm just thankful every day that we produce our fair share of men and women willing to pay that price for us.

I agree 100%-- play in Germany near our bases and we'll get a great crowd. Go back a take another look at the pre-Poland match videos on USSoccer.com. There's a lot of inspiration there for both players and local fans.

We cn branch out if need be. Let'd play Italy in N. Italy near Vicenza. We may be moving our troops into Poland and (gasp!) even the Czech Republic in the future as we shut down German bases. Let's not be afraid to go there to play.

[SLCTex]

I like this idea.

[Soccerprep]

this is great especially with european qualification coming up. fifa normally schedules two days in a week where teams have qualification (saturday and wednesday) austria and switzerland will obviosuly be looking for games as they do not have to qualify. also if you look at the 2008 EURO qualifying page on wikipedia, you can find out that several teams will be in camp, and may look for a game. For instance, France plays on Mar 24, but not on Mar 28 (a FIFA international date). Each of the "major" teams have at least one open date on an international date. Why fly our international players here to play our friendly against Jamaica?

[halfnelson31]

Don't forget about bases in Japorea, a place with an abundance of quality stadia. Off the top of my head there are also bases in Turkey, Italy, and GB but I'm sure there can be a package with a train ticket to K-town for the game from other european bases.

[Brushes Sand]

Hold it. The Fed is going to do their moneygrabs against
latin opposition no matter what, so I don't see the purpose
of paying to rent out K-Town when we can snag an appearance
fee at the Nou Camp, Stade de France, the Millenium Stadium
or Old Trafford or if it's ever done the New Wembley.

And friendlies are not what we need. Without getting the Fed
distracted with the $$$signs in their eyes thinking K-Town
is some kind of "euro-experience" cashcow, we need to be
exploring dissolution of WarnerCo and joining Conmebol, or
if that wet dream remains unfeasible, then dear gawd PLEASE
let it be pounded in to the skulls of the powers that be that
we need COMPETITIVE fixtures beyond a home-and-away
with Mexico once every 4 years. The answer, of course,
is Copa America.

-bs

[bmurphyfl]

I just got back from Kaiserslautern and Germany last night and everything everybody is saying about the atmosphere is correct. However, give the traditional US fans the credit. We were all over town before the game and in the US section during the game and my friends and I didn't see many US servicemen. The base had set up a few viewing parties for the servicemen on the bases so most of them probably stayed on the base to watch the match. So, I think it was the traditional fans that created that atmosphere.

I think something happened when the US fans learned Ghana had beaten the Czechs. It was like everyone did the math in their head, realized we just needed a draw against Italy and sort of felt electrified.

I never thought I would be singing to the Italian fans at a World Cup game, "YOU'RE NOT SINGING!!" It was like bizarro world. I don't know if it could be seen on TV but the Italian players were waving their arms at the Italian fans to stand up but their fans just sat there like lumps on a log. It was an amazing day.

So, I wouldn't bank on the same atmosphere in Kaiserslautern but I would bank on the same atmosphere in Nuremburg on Thursday. My friends will have had a few days to rest their voices and will be ready to go.

Plus, friggin' Frankie Hejduk was hanging out in the US section shitless screaming for the boys. The guy is great. That right there is a perfect reason why it's so much fun to root for this team.

Oh, and Joe-Max was in the crowd cheering too. Not in the hospitality suites; not in the corporate boxes; in the nosebleeds with the fans.

[FirstStar]

Hold it. The Fed is going to do their moneygrabs against
latin opposition no matter what, so I don't see the purpose
of paying to rent out K-Town when we can snag an appearance
fee at the Nou Camp, Stade de France, the Millenium Stadium
or Old Trafford or if it's ever done the New Wembley.

And friendlies are not what we need. Without getting the Fed
distracted with the $$$signs in their eyes thinking K-Town
is some kind of "euro-experience" cashcow, we need to be
exploring dissolution of WarnerCo and joining Conmebol, or
if that wet dream remains unfeasible, then dear gawd PLEASE
let it be pounded in to the skulls of the powers that be that
we need COMPETITIVE fixtures beyond a home-and-away
with Mexico once every 4 years. The answer, of course,
is Copa America.

-bs

What the Fed can do, and we've been saying for years on BS that they should do, is occasionally bifurcate the friendlies and play MLS-heavy squad for those Central/North America matches (they have some merit in keeping tabs on qualification opponents) and play Euro-heavy squads for friendlies in Europe (we started this last year with Scotland match and then the Germany match this year). Depending on who moves this year (Eddie Johnson, Clint Dempsey) and injuries, there will always be some need for players to fly the Atlantic to fill out these squads, but we've enough talent on both sides of the pond to do this now on a consistent basis. We've done quite a lot of MLS-teams in America, it's time to do more Euro-teams in Europe.

Besides, it'll give Roehl Sybing something to cheer about.

[Reccossu]

Just got back from Germany. Was at the game. The US fans were well outnumbered, probably about 2 to 1. But the Italians sat a lot, and the US fans chanted and stood and yelled and sang the whole game. I'd say the majority of the fans US by far were from stateside. No doubt the local community helped up the ante a little, but these tickets were hrad to come by no matter where you lived. It seemed like Italians had picked up the large majority of neutral seats. The seating just was better for our fans than in Gels. I, at least, felt more spread around and less able to feel coordinated as fans in Gels.

It was a great atmosphere in K-town, and I think the crowd really helped lift the guys --so a perfect night for a fan.

[dfb547490]

make it an annual 4th of July tradition. And get anyone on the base into the match for free. I can't think of a better way to thank them.

That might be tough seeing as how I believe there are more people stationed at Rammstein/Landstuhl than can fit into the stadium :) Still, maybe hold a lottery among troops stationed at the base for free tickets or something.

I like the idea. Yes there were a ton of people who traveled from the US for this game but hardly anybody made the trip across the Atlantic for the Poland game, and that was still a pro-US crowd.

[taylor]

Too be clear, the soldiers/NSA people were in the city, not, imo the stands, but they danced on every table before the game and that set the tone, that we were not going to be, uh hum, "tread on". The US fans in the stadium were US fans from everywhere. I hope we play every single freaking euro game there from now on. USSF gets 1/3rd of the tickets to distribute and we will rock ANYONE.


For all the people that were not there in the city, make it a point to come to the next game we play there and you will never regret it.

[Maximum Optimal]

Just got back from Germany. Was at the game. The US fans were well outnumbered, probably about 2 to 1. But the Italians sat a lot, and the US fans chanted and stood and yelled and sang the whole game. I'd say the majority of the fans US by far were from stateside. No doubt the local community helped up the ante a little, but these tickets were hrad to come by no matter where you lived. It seemed like Italians had picked up the large majority of neutral seats. The seating just was better for our fans than in Gels. I, at least, felt more spread around and less able to feel coordinated as fans in Gels.

It was a great atmosphere in K-town, and I think the crowd really helped lift the guys --so a perfect night for a fan.

I was at the game too and agree with this. There were more Italian fans (maybe not quite 2 to 1) but they mostly sat and were quiet. The US fans never sat down and stayed in the match throughout, even after the early goal. And I thought it was very classy of the team, lead by Claudio, to stay behind and applaud us. They seemed very appreciative. In contrast, the Italian team disappeared into the locker room pretty fast.

[bltleo]

I was at the game too and agree with this. There were more Italian fans (maybe not quite 2 to 1) but they mostly sat and were quiet. The US fans never sat down and stayed in the match throughout, even after the early goal. And I thought it was very classy of the team, lead by Claudio, to stay behind and applaud us. They seemed very appreciative. In contrast, the Italian team disappeared into the locker room pretty fast.

yeah, Italian fans were simply disappointed and sad..

but I definitely agree too...K-TOWN is like "hometown" for Americans...they are many Americans living near K-Town and many american fans came to K-town to support team...they were surely more Italians on this game than Americans..but Americans were more enthusiastic and celebrated much more...US fans are really fantastic one...it was nice from Clausio to applaud US fans...you deserved it.....US fans made the game.....it was fantastic to hear many US fans crying USA...great......K-TOWN is like "your hometown".

My italian friend Maria left the stadium so quickly .....Italians was thinking that they will win ....as Czech was thinking that they would beat Ghana....

US FANS supported the team so fantastic that your team played for you AMERICAN FANS!!..It was visible...but Italians did not play for italian fans...They have given up early......I think if US fans had been supported USMNT so much in Gelsenkirchen as they did in K-Town, US would have beaten Czechs..

I LOVE AMERICAN FANS....I saw many of them in Cologne....after they came back from K-Town...they behave so fantastic...and I love their patriotism..

Absolutely great fans!

MO how did you like K-Town personally???

[bltleo]

I would be happy if USA played every year many games in K-town..

it would be convinient from me..since I live in Cologne and this is not far away from K-town...this way I could watch many USMNT games

Why don´t you play your friendly in K-town???

[bltleo]

I was at the game too and agree with this. There were more Italian fans (maybe not quite 2 to 1) but they mostly sat and were quiet. The US fans never sat down and stayed in the match throughout, even after the early goal. And I thought it was very classy of the team, lead by Claudio, to stay behind and applaud us. They seemed very appreciative. In contrast, the Italian team disappeared into the locker room pretty fast.

Reyna is nice.. he played in our team Leverkusen and he often applaud
by fans here too...he is man who deserve respect.

by the way did you see Frankie Hejduk?

all your team and all US fans deserve big respect..

what´s a game...

fantatic US support!!!

[Sachsen]

U.S. soccer fans in K-town party before U.S.-Italy matchup (http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=37133&archive=true)

[glove]

All I can say to those who attendend the game is Thanks for being so fuggin loud and on cue with your singing. My jaw dropped when I realized that the US fans were drowning out the Azzuri. I have never heard US fans sing like that and hope this will carry over stateside during the next qualifying round in '08. Job well done. My only question is will there be as many US fans in Nuremburg? Must have been 15,000 or so from my best guess.
LMFAO when crowd belted out the....Bullllll Sh*********t Bulllllll Sh*******t after Eddie received his second yellow.

[bltleo]

and I think Englishmen will choise Cologne as their "home" city. There were so many thousend Englishmen during game England-Sweden in Cologne yesterday. The city arranged extra special public view and screen for english fans. Plus German fans celebrated yesterday at FAN FAST in Cologne. Many Englishmen came without tickets and watched game in the public. It was probably the biggest party in Cologne I have ever seen.

Of course K-Town is smaller city. I wished that Americans played in Cologne than in K-Town. But maybe for Americans was smaller hosting city K-Town better because surely not so many Americans came to Germany as Englishmen. Of course many Americans live near K-Town due your military base there. So for USA game was K-Town better. Maybe Italian would have prefered Munich more. But K-Town is "american" home advantage.:).

I liked atmosphere in K-Town. However the atmosphere in Berlin or Cologne was a bit better from my german point view. But Germans need bigger stadiums:).

I agree K-Town is like HOme AWAY FROM HOME for US fans.

See you in Dortmund??? I hope so

bltleo
GERMANY