[highgarden]

Has Ajax been able to retain more of its players now that it plays in a first class facility? It seems like their young players still go to the big teams in England, Spain, and Italy. When Ajax won the Champions League in 1995, I seem to remember there being talk that with the new stadium on the way they would have increased revenue and would be better able to compete financially with the bigger clubs. Do you think Van der Vaart will be gone next season?

[Mattinho]

Originally posted by highgarden
Has Ajax been able to retain more of its players now that it plays in a first class facility? It seems like their young players still go to the big teams in England, Spain, and Italy. When Ajax won the Champions League in 1995, I seem to remember there being talk that with the new stadium on the way they would have increased revenue and would be better able to compete financially with the bigger clubs. Do you think Van der Vaart will be gone next season?

We'll find out this year because they have definitely strengthened their squad in the offseason with Sikora coming over. And yes, Van Der Fart is really that good, he's already world class in my opinion if only he can stay injury free this season, and in the rest of his career for that matter. Ajax will be a force this year.

[SlamD]

Originally posted by Mattinho

And yes, Van Der Fart is really that good...

Don't know if he will be to happy with his new name though...

I only come to the ArenA when the Admirals come to plough the fields (fantastic noise then BTW). The facillities ( at least for the audience) are very good, although I think the atmosphere is a bit chilly for a stadium. However, I don't know whether a stadium will influence players going abroad or not.

Even if Ajax is getting more revenues, they still won't be able to compete with England or Spain (mainly due to television rights). Next to that I think a player wants to compete at the highest level possible, so an offer from a big English or Spanish club could be tempting (although I think the Holland Casino (just wanted to write it once) Eredivisie has been improving in quality lately).

[ruudboy]

Can you smoke ganja during Ajax games at the Arena, and are there any Supporters groups that chill at the coffee house before and after games, when i come to Amsterdam to watch Ajax, i wanna chill with them, can you help a brotha out?

[Frieslander]

Originally posted by ruudboy
Can you smoke ganja during Ajax games at the Arena?

That's why they put a roof on the stadium. They wanted to make sure that even if you didn't bring your own, you still got to smoke.

[AFCA]

The stadium is a total disaster. Especially the strict camera control on fireworks and the lousy acoustics (you can hardly hear songs from the first ring) suck!

Who wants to play football under a roof anyway? ************ stadium.

[ruudboy]

Cool, thanks fellas, it does suck about the accustics though, but from watching Ajax games here in the Bay Area, and going to Earthquakes games, I think the atmoshere will be like nothing i have ever experienced for Football, plus i wanna check out the the California bud in Amsterdam!

[Mattinho]

Originally posted by ruudboy
Cool, thanks fellas, it does suck about the accustics though, but from watching Ajax games here in the Bay Area, and going to Earthquakes games, I think the atmoshere will be like nothing i have ever experienced for Football, plus i wanna check out the the California bud in Amsterdam!

Why go all the way to Amsterdam to check out California Bud? You're gonna try so many different kinds that you won't remember the names, but I've never heard of Cali bud in Amsterdam. Every shop has their own growers so every place has different bud. But if you really want to go crazy, check out anything that says "smart shop", they sell some interesting mushrooms in there.

[Oscar]

I know of California weed in the Hague

[O'Dubhghaill Rules!]

Even if they were getting more revenue they're spending it all on a new field every week cause the architect screwed everything up and it always dies cause of the roof.

And yes, whether it's allowed or not, from my experiences, they do smoke weed in the Arena.