[westcoast ape]

I need some advice. I am a longtime Galaxy fan who moved away from SoCal shortly before the HDC opened. I will be back in California for a couple weeks this August, and I am hoping to go to the 8/15 LAG v. Seattle match

1) recommendations on where to sit?
a) are there any good deals on seats?
b) should I (could I?) sit amidst the Riot Squad if I am not a "member"? (My wife and potentially one or two other soccer newbies will be coming along)

2) Since I live in Portland and have been following the Timbers here, I thought it might be fun to wear some Timbers Army stuff - you know, so that the Flounders can feel the special brand of hate that Portland feels for Seattle all the way down in LA.

3) While I'm there, I'd like to buy some Riot Squad stuff. How much, who from, where at?

4) Anything I need to know about parking, other things - (are bacon wrapped hot dogs still around? Tailgating?)

5) The 8/12 US v. Mexico Game! Almost forgot about this. Any body watching this in Orange County?

Thanks a lot for your help. Hopefully I'll see some people I recognize while down there.

[Vindo310]

1a) Whatever you can get the scalper down to

b)Yes anyone is welcome to sit among the riot squad. There are no official members of it. There is no kind of list or dues or anything and nobody knows everyone so don't worry about not fitting in. I would suggest not wearing Timbers gear if you do come to the Riot Squad. We are there to support LA not your local team :P

4)There is a bar across the street from the main HDC entrance called Off Campus Pub and a lot of people meet up there before the games. It's a cool bar with free pool, $4 pints of good beer, several TVs on soccer and the bartenders wear Galaxy gear on game days.

5)Check the riot squad forums under the Events tab for info on a viewing party.

[westcoast ape]

Thanks for the info. Agreed on the Timber shirt (though I do have a good anti-Seattle one) but my Galaxy jerseys are a) 10 years old, or b) have Beckahm's name. I guess I will just go dressed as a civilian.

[Vindo310]

People often wear the old Galaxy jerseys. A lot of people still wear Becks jerseys but people will just think your are a douche.

[rtdavide]

can't he just tape over Beckhams name?
that puts him in the moment....

[galaxynut]

Or, you can actually wear the Beckham shirt because he's an integral part of our team. There's nothing wrong with turning the page and supporting him.

Just another thought.

[jbgeach]

Yeah, I am stuck with Beckham shirts. There was really no other option at the time.

[westcoast ape]

That's how I got stuck with a Beckham shirt. No Donovan jerseys around. Like a few years back I wanted a Cobi shirt, but at that point you could really only find Donovan (and sometimes a Ruiz).

I'm not totally against Beckham the person - but I think he has no loyalty at all to the Galaxy and has acted rather shabbily in many respects. Nonetheless, he still has some games to prove himself worthy of being on the team.

[rokstedy]

Ape, I think only a small percent is gonna think you're a douche if you wear the Beckham shirt but who cares? I bet half of the crowd there has Beckham shirts and they're probably not concerned what the small percentage thinks.

You could always old school gear, show everyone that you're old school like that. But then people probably wouldn't care about that either.

Re: US vs. Mexico, a couple of my classmates and I are planning to watch this somewhere, either Orange or Fullerton. I'll keep you posted.

[socluis90]

I got stuck with a Martino jersey