If you could only see one match...

[christopher d]

On the weekend of 2/21/04, which one would it be?

I'm going to be in Germany this weekend, staying with friends near Bad Kreuznach -- 459 miles from Rostock (a long distance to go for a match, even by Ami-messen). So, even though I'm seriously considering moving heaven and hell to get up to the Baltic coast to watch Cletus and Stevie C, I'd like to know how my options shape up.

Now, I've never had the chance to go to a BL match before, (something about the cheapest flights from the US being in January) so any match I go to will be a thrill.

The spieltabelle is listed below. I'd love people's thoughts on who I should go see, given where I'll be staying. (IOW, if you want me to schlepp up to Berlin, why is this match so much better than FCK : Stuttgart). Tell me why, and for which squad I should root.

(Hannover fans: a PM with info on what you folks do for away-games would also be greatly appreciated :) ).



Sa 21.02.04 15:30
FC Schalke 04 - Werder Bremen -:-
VfL Wolfsburg - 1860 München -:-
Bayern München - Hamburger SV -:-
Hansa Rostock - Hannover 96 -:-
Bor. M'gladbach - SC Freiburg -:-
1. FC Kaiserslautern - VfB Stuttgart -:-
Bayer Leverkusen - VfL Bochum -:-
So 22.02.04 17:30
Hertha BSC - Eintracht Frankfurt -:-
Borussia Dortmund - 1. FC Köln -:-

[F96]

There would be no question if it would be HSV-Bayern, but they are playing in Munich, so a big NO!

Schalke - Bremen sounds pretty good but of course seing Mathis and USA (Steve) would be worth the trip to Rostock!

[todd11]

if you're going to be near bad kreuznach, the closest game is obviously the kaiserslautern game. even though i'm very much NOT a kaiserslautern fan, i have to admit the atmosphere in their stadium is very good. you'd also get to see VFB, which this season (i assume you follow the bundesliga so you know their story) is a very entertaining side. also on sunday, it'd be worth your while to take the 2 1/2 hr ride up to dortmund to experience the westfalen... it'll be everything you ever hoped your european soccer experience should be...guaranteed.

[jonam]

Kaiserslautern would be a good choice as that is a region where many US Americans live (http://www.kaiserslauternamerican.com/) due to the military base there (Ramstein (http://www.ramstein.af.mil/)).

The Fritz-Walter-Stadion is undergoing a redevelopement and will be extended to 48.000 seats (about 56.000 for Bundesliga matches). The new seats won't be availbale for the Stuttgart match but it will be an amazing atmosphere on the "Betzenberg", I guess.

If you want to watch an American play pro football there is the possibility to attend:

So 22.02.04 15:00 Karlsruher SC - LR Ahlen -:-

Conor Casey is a regular starter and top scorer for Karlsruhe.


jonam

[Germanshepherd]

Originally posted by Hannover96Girl
Schalke - Bremen sounds pretty good but of course seing Mathis and USA (Steve) would be worth the trip to Rostock!

Rostock is always worth the trip. :)

Originally posted by SObearCAL
On the weekend of 2/21/04, which one would it be?

I'm going to be in Germany this weekend, staying with friends near Bad Kreuznach -- 459 miles from Rostock (a long distance to go for a match, even by Ami-messen). So, even though I'm seriously considering moving heaven and hell to get up to the Baltic coast to watch Cletus and Stevie C, I'd like to know how my options shape up.

You could actually fly from Munich to Rostock (1 hour 50 minutes flight) on Friday 6.40 PM and back to Munich on Sunday 3.50 PM. So you would have enough time to even see the baltic-sea and the beautiful coast.

[CanuckFan]

Drop down a division, rent a car, head south to Karlsruhe and catch your very own Conor Casey with Karlsruhe SC as they host LR Ahlen on that Sunday. He will likely be playing. Can't guarantee that Mathis will still be starting (we'll see over the next few weeks).

So 22.02.04 15:00 Karlsruher SC - LR Ahlen

Although, if you don't need to see an American in action, the K'town vs Stuttgart game should be great.

[FCBasel1893]

None of the matches is really a big burner, but still most of them would be worth visiting. I'd go for Borussia Dortmund - 1. FC Köln simply because the Westfalenstadion is always impressive. Bayern Munich - HSV is a good matchup but the Olympiastadium doesn't allow for much atmosphere. Schalke - Bremen is a good one, but hard to get tickets probably. Kaiserslautern - Stuttgart would also be a possibility.

[olafgb]

The Karlsruhe game on Sunday is a good idea. You can also decide on that one in very short terms as tickets will definitely be available.

The ticket situation can be much harder on Saturday. I'd also recommend Lautern vs Stuttgart given the distance to Bad Kreuznach (a friend of mine is living there - if you're seeing a red GMC van with a GT number plate, say hello to him ;)). For distance reason I'd otherwise restrict on the games in NRW, which are Schalke, Gladbach and Leverkusen (and Dortmund on Sunday). Schalke and Leverkusen will cause problems regarding the tickets. Gladbach is easier to catch and if you like that: Bökelberg is one of the traditional, old fashioned stadiums and Borussia plays one of their last games in there

[jonam]

On the weekend of 2/21/04, which one would it be?

I'm going to be in Germany this weekend, staying with friends near Bad Kreuznach -- 459 miles from Rostock (a long distance to go for a match, even by Ami-messen). So, even though I'm seriously considering moving heaven and hell to get up to the Baltic coast to watch Cletus and Stevie C, I'd like to know how my options shape up.

Now, I've never had the chance to go to a BL match before, (something about the cheapest flights from the US being in January) so any match I go to will be a thrill.

The spieltabelle is listed below. I'd love people's thoughts on who I should go see, given where I'll be staying. (IOW, if you want me to schlepp up to Berlin, why is this match so much better than FCK : Stuttgart). Tell me why, and for which squad I should root.

(Hannover fans: a PM with info on what you folks do for away-games would also be greatly appreciated :) ).



Sa 21.02.04 15:30
FC Schalke 04 - Werder Bremen -:-
VfL Wolfsburg - 1860 München -:-
Bayern München - Hamburger SV -:-
Hansa Rostock - Hannover 96 -:-
Bor. M'gladbach - SC Freiburg -:-
1. FC Kaiserslautern - VfB Stuttgart -:-
Bayer Leverkusen - VfL Bochum -:-
So 22.02.04 17:30
Hertha BSC - Eintracht Frankfurt -:-
Borussia Dortmund - 1. FC Köln -:-

You haven't told us yet which match you attended and what your experiences were?!? Hopefully you enjoyed the trip.

[christopher d]

You haven't told us yet which match you attended and what your experiences were?!? Hopefully you enjoyed the trip. Goodness. That "Find similar threads" function is working well. I actually, to my dismay, wound up not going to Germany that weekend. I had planned to visit young Mr. Casey in Karlsruhe, had I gone.

[Joser]

Fc St. Pauli!