I havent been to a Mex-Us game in Azteca since well I cant remember but both tied how's the security? not that I'm worried or anything,but some of my yank friends want to go and they want to sit with other US fans
Security was fine and in general the Mexico fans were good. We traded flags and they didn't burn the US flag in front of us Mexico did win so that might make a difference. Who knows, when the US does win, the Mexico fans may take it out on their own team and not us. The safest way to get to and from the game is by hooking up with the travel company through US Soccer. They had buses with police escorts. Others did take the subway and felt safe. Even did some chanting with and against some Mexican supporters. It was all in good fun. Just don't be surprised if a beer or two doesn't get hurled your way. There are idiots in every crowd all across the world.
Stadium security around the US fans is great. Own restroom but you do get an earful as you walk down the hall since we stand in front of the stadium VIP box. I stood next to the beer vendor the whole game so I really don't remember the 2nd half. 20 pesos for corona. I lost count at my ninth beer. After the game, I left the group and took off with a friend that lives in Mexico City and was OK. Everybody kept reminding me of my mother but other than that everyone was ok. One thing for sure, I would not have left the group if we had won. Back in 2001, security held us in the tunnel until the whole stadium was empty and our bus was also surrounded by Mexico fans. Imagine had we won! "Bus goes down in flames....with US fans inside" would have been the headline. Mexico fans can be and will be loud. The local team fan base are a bunch of crazies. PUMAS, TOLUCA, and AMERICA lead the way. Stuff will be thrown at you, trust me. If you take your kids, have them stand in front of you so that you can shield them from flying junk. I know it all sounds like it's not worth the trip but it is. We trash talk too and Azteca is a beautiful stadium.
I made a promise to myself after getting back from Germany that I would go to this one, so add me to the list. Can't wait! I may have missed it earlier in the thread, but do you guys have any quick hit pro-tips for someone making this trip for the first time (besides "lol, don't drink the water, lol")?
This will be the trip of a life time. Get your cash together folks and make this trip. You won't regret it!
In '01, we didn't have a completely separate area with our own restroom, etc., (they held a section of seats for us, but it was bigger than our group, so Mexico fans eventually filled in the back because they had nowhere else to go) and I saw none of the Mexico fans around us give anyone trouble. The only trouble was from the fans in the upper deck above us throwing stuff at us. Exiting under a tunnel of riot shields was interesting. Yeah, if we had won, I expect we'd have stayed in the stadium even longer! But for one failed offside trap, we'd have got out of there with a point.
I just got back from a week long respite in DF. the place is great, the people are cool, and the food is unreal. (Cheap hotels is the Plaza de Republica area NW of Reforma) I'm in, and a group of -at least- 10 friends will be in flying down. Does USSF get an allocation for these matches? F#*K el tri
Yes. They do. Glad to hear you'll be going. Once we can get a whole section in Mex City, the next place to conquer is getting a section in San Jose! I'll be going to CR this Hex if we both make it with a bag of piss in one hand and used D batteries in the other!
It's impressive. I went to the US game in Saprissa Stadium in '01 and thought it a more intimidating atmosphere for the players than Azteca. Fortunately, as with Azteca (and every away game I've been to thus far), the people around us were cool and we didn't have any problems.
I agree with this. I was at both in 2005 and the intimacy of Saprissa definitely makes for a more intimidating experience. Our boys also shat the bed that day though qualification was already in the bag.
as this is the first hex where i'll hav emyself a full-paying job- money's already going into the kitty for this one- and if there's any left over, consider myself down for saprissa as well!
I definitely want to go. How does it work getting tickets and coordinating security to and from the stadium, for those of you who have done it before?
Funny-ass clip. US fan crashes Mexican concert flashing dos-cero signs! Don't know if this was posted before. [youtube]GCka8mRDnQg[/youtube]
im definitely up for going but security in and around the stadium and also Mexico City is a concern for me...i usually dont do the tours but is that really the safest way to go?
I rode the subway to and from the game last time and no one said one word to me, and I don't look one bit Mexican. I had my jersey and US flag in a bag, so I was wearing a red t-shirt. On the way home there were 3 other American guys on the subway, that were dressed a lot more American than me (shorts, baseball hats, etc) but no one gave them any grief either. I would assume they will have the US fan section the same time as last time, right in the corner. It made security easy because there was a fence side and the expensive seats on the other as well as some cops. I never figured out if the plain clothes cops in front our section were Mexican or some kind of US embassy security. They definitely wanted to make sure nothing happened. Security has us wait about 40 minutes after the game to leave the stadium, which avoid any real issue. Maybe about 10 guys waited to yell at us, but there was a literal phalanx of cops that formed an arc so the fans could get on the waiting bus. I kept walking when everyone boarded the bus and I didn't have an issues. I'm definitely going to to goes this time and hopefully bring a couple brothers and my dad.
Stop watching man on fire havent been thre in awhile but security has always been good unless no one pisses Blanco off the fans should be okay I doubt he'll even play [youtube]qsxxr51JgnI[/youtube]
in 2005 security was fine and tickets were scanned twice-once entering the section, the other entering the stadium... Ticketmaster in Mexico handles general (non-USSF) ticket sales, and I suspect that by the time of the event you will be able to buy with a credit card and print out the tickets at home, just like in the USA... USSF will also get a block to sell (FIFA rules)... Agree that Saprissa and Azteca are the American hajj for soccer fans-you are not a true USA fan until you do one (or both).
I told my wife this was gonna be my little present to myself so count me in, assuming it's not scheduled for my anniversary or her, or my kids', birthday! Obviously we won't know the dates for this till this fall.
What's a rough cut cost on this trip for one traveller? I'd be flying from Tampa area and would probably want to add a few days for hanging out and seeing the sights (I'd assume). I've only been to Mexico City one before but it was for work and I was travelling from farther away.
I'm sure it was said earlier in this thread but it's late and I'm lazy, but where's the best place to stay/where will the Americans be? Whats the best way to get from there to the stadium? I'm just hoping this is not scheduled for easter weekend again.
well I'm still definitely in for this one, and I think we'll have at least 20 from the SCB down in La Ciudad de Mexico for this one. With Soccertravel.com out of business, we will have to find another way to get a bus ride to and from the stadium. And I'm sure as hell not gonna go with Oleole.com, their prices are ridiculous.
I say we rent a large house close to the stadium, and then take a taxi caravan to the game. Craig's list have many rentals in mex city.
La Zona Rosa is where I'm staying, maybe even at the same hotel as last time. We have a good crowd going for both this and Saprissa. (most likely 6-8 from the ATL).... Security is fine, we rode the subway down and took the bus back. No worries except for the occasional diaper bomb....