University of Richmond

[nancyb]

May I never have to go to the land of endless lines and inefficient staff again.

[Dr. Wankler]

Hey now, if it was in a small foreign country, you'd think it was quaint.


(major ;). Don't flame me. Instead, provide humorous details.)

[nancyb]

Apart from the backup from the highway to the stadium parking lot, that I sat in for about 30 minutes, the 20 minute wait in line to buy water and the 30 minutues of sitting still while trying to leave the parking lot, it was fine. Fortunately, someone pulled out of a spot that opened up a back way out of the lot and I managed to navigate my way around residential neighborhoods to find my way home. Otherwise, I'd probably still be there. I wouldn't have tried to rush home, but the kid had homework to do, so we were hoping for a speedy exit. No such luck.

The parking lot had two people taking your money. Actually, it was one person to tell you five dollars and another to take the money, and about 10 folks directing you to a parking spot.

[TangerineDream]

You should see it when Richmond hosts the Indy Car race at Richmond International Speedway in June.

What you experienced is a fraction of the gridlock involved in getting out of their parking grounds. Two hour waits to get out are not uncommon. It literally is every person for himself or herself when getting out of there as the police do very little to facilitate.

Richmond seems to use a minimalist approach when it comes to policing the traffic at sporting events.

[HeadHunter]

Originally posted by Dr. Wankler
(major ;). Don't flame me. Instead, provide humorous details.)

how about the god awful system to acquire beer. You had to go through three seperate lines and then were kept in a holding pen with zero view of the action. I realize it was an improvised set up due to the collegiate venue but still.

Parking also was terrible until i realized that I could ignore the lines and just park on a sidestreet. Much more convenient

[greatscott]

Originally posted by HeadHunter

Parking also was terrible until i realized that I could ignore the lines and just park on a sidestreet. Much more convenient
Living here, thats what I always do. Ithe first street when i got to traffic and walked 30 feet to the gate.

[nancyb]

Originally posted by HeadHunter
how about the god awful system to acquire beer. You had to go through three seperate lines and then were kept in a holding pen with zero view of the action. I realize it was an improvised set up due to the collegiate venue but still.

Parking also was terrible until i realized that I could ignore the lines and just park on a sidestreet. Much more convenient

If I ever go there again, I will avoid the parking lot like the plague.

[ttrevett]

Originally posted by nancyb
If I ever go there again, I will avoid the parking lot like the plague.

Wht the hell was the USSF doing when they scheduled Richmond anyway? Could they not have played this one in RFK?

Sorry you all had such a bad experience, but Richmond really is a nice place in certian areas.

[K]

Originally posted by ttrevett
Wht the hell was the USSF doing when they scheduled Richmond anyway? Could they not have played this one in RFK?

Sorry you all had such a bad experience, but Richmond really is a nice place in certian areas.

If they could have played it at RFK, don't you think they would have?

K

[Dr. Wankler]

Originally posted by ttrevett
Wht the hell was the USSF doing when they scheduled Richmond anyway? Could they not have played this one in RFK?

My guess is that USSF knew that they wouldn't be able to draw any more for fans for NZ, if even as many, in RFK. I mean, they get a lot of matches at RFK, usually with teams w/ more fans living in the US than NZ has, so they probably figured, why not try an alternate venue. Wouldn't be surprised if the WWC people had an eye on this match, though that would be cutting it close given that the announcements of venues are almost upon us.

[rocketeer22]

DC United had a game on Saturday and the Freedom had a game on Sunday (with a long-planned Breast Cancer awareness outreach).

[Colonel Angus]

Originally posted by HeadHunter
how about the god awful system to acquire beer. You had to go through three seperate lines and then were kept in a holding pen with zero view of the action. I realize it was an improvised set up due to the collegiate venue but still.


You've also got to remember that the owners of the Kickers despise alcohol and refuse to sell beer during any Kickers' games. They actually own a chain of grocery stores in the area and they don't sell beer either.

I was amazed they sold it even during the U.S. match. I would imagine US Soccer knows their fans a little better than we give them credit for, though. :)

[seanT]

I agree the logistics were terrible.

Its not like they were expecting 2000 and got
20,000.

I am afraid RFK might not get a MNT match this year, otherwise I would not have gone.

If for some godawful reason they get another game there ever, I will think long and hard before I go.

At least now that I have learned they don't sell beer during Kickers games I have a better understanding of the low attendance!

[perctarit]

Originally posted by Dr. Wankler
Hey now, if it was in a small foreign country, you'd think it was quaint.

Exactly! As Paul Callen, David Sheon, and I were walking in, we said to ourselves that it looked almost exactly like the Barbados national stadium before the final pre-hexagonal qualifier in Concacaf in 1998. Imagine our disappointment when they wouldn't let us bring in our quart of rum!

perc

[dfb547490]

I got a sandwich from the Arby's about 30 min before the game and there was hardly any wait at all. The lines did get real bad however, and dissuaded my dehydrated ass from getting more water after the game.

I didn't get anything from the concessions stand but I don't think anyone who "had" to stand in line there had anything to complain about...at least not the guys...in fact every time I walked by there was a crowd who weren't looking to buy anything. Maybe Marcel was right and that line was so long because everyone was paying in singles :D