Pretty good game, well worth the price of admission.... a whopping 70K packed house....0-0 tie, but overall good nite of soccer. Zidane is nasssssssssssty I should have some pics up soon
yea man... i just got back.... they announced 70,635 people there... the first 70 minutes or so were very good... zidane is the best player in the world... and i'm pretty sure he knows it... he plays like everything is in slow motion, and while people go crazy around him, he's just cool and stuff... he was worth the price of admission, not the game itself.. and when all the stars were taken out, the game went downhill 0-0, and the last 20 minutes were sloow and sloppy... crowd was booing, and the paper airplanes were flying onto the field... still happy i went.. not everyday you get a chance to see r.carlos, zidane, figo, batistuta, and everyone else... too bad totti's hurt...
What the hell was the Web Site they were promoting on YES to vote on the ManU Us Tour www.championsworld.com is what I thought it was but that doesn't seem to be working. Of course with Charlie S. running Champions World I wouldn't be surprised if they were promoting a Web Site they don't have.
I'd pay 30 bucks just to see Zidane. He is a class above the rest, and there were over 70K there to see it. A great crowd too, with chants, waves. Definately worth the money, and i'm looking forward to seeing Man Utd put on a good show next summer at the swamp.
I'm looking forward to giving ManU a fair bit of stick next year at the swamp, but that's besides the point. I was at the game, and it was a good game. Lots of action. True, it was 0-0, but if you've ever sat through a Metro-Burn 0-0 tie, you recognize the difference. Well worth it, I was in the 5th row and was giving Figo crap while he was in. It was surely not world cup atmosphere, but that's the most electric I've seen a crowd at a game in the states, period. Yes, at the recent USA qualifiers Sam's Army got pretty nuts, but we got nuts while 85% of the crowd sat and watched like it was tennis. Tonight, everyone was loud, involved and paying attention. Like it was a show. Wish it was like that every game.
It works. I voted for the US National Team. Right now, the Celtic FC is in the lead. Hmm, time for Big Soccer to start stuffing the ballots.
Yes, that is what made a 0-0 game special. The ENTIRE crowd was into the match, cheering, whistling, paying complete attention, even booing and all this was without stupid noise makers, and sounds over the PA system.
I've never seen so many fans with camera's and camcorders at a sporting event like this one. There hasn't been an atmosphere like this at Giants Stadium since WC94. No annoying horns or immature/stupid chants like the one's during Metros games. Tonight, fans were chanting "Roma,Roma," or "ole, ole......", starting the wave and simply having a good time. The first 15 minutes of the match, Real put on a passing clinic which was worth the price of admission right there. A sluggish 2nd half was not surprising since this is still preaseason for both teams. Fans watched both teams warm-up before the match in awe, similar to what it must have been like when the USA Dream Team was in the Olympics in 1992. If anyone actually didn't attend because it was a NJSEA sponsored event (which I doubt was more than a handful), see how loyal Metro management is with ticket prices when they eventually have their own stadium (after all those e-mails fans sent to senators, etc. on their behalf). Metros had the same opportunity to put together this match, instead they always opt to bring Colombian and El Salvadorean teams to GS. Overall, a great night for soccer fans.
I must say I had a great time at the match tonight . It was alot of great fun . Even in the Upper Deck where I was the people were into the match . This match had more people tonight than have ever watched a Metro match ( including Double headers) . The question that must be asked : What did Champions World do what the Metros were unable to do ? Answer : promote the hell out of this match .
Yes, the Metro front office could learn a few things about marketing from Champions World. It seemed like every time I was listening to WFAN in the car this week I heard an advertisement for the game. I dont know when the last time I heard one for the Metros...
Took the words out of my mouth-I was in the bottom row, and it was about 2-3 minutes into the warmup when I turned around, and everyone had rushed down with cameras. And what everyone has posted about Zidane is so true-you have to see him in person. The crowd was fantastic-even cheered that tenor at halftime. Although they did a get a bit of the bird towards the end of the match. But I have no real complaints.
I was in the 2nd row right at midfield between both benches. I did not get there early enough to see them warmup unfortunately. I am a Roma fan but I have to agree with everyone on Zidane. He is just class and so calm on the ball. It was well worth the 60 bucks to see these guys play and to be so close. The last time Giants Stadium was like that was for WC 94. I think the 1st half was very good and then started to go downhill in the 2nd half as others have said. All in all a great night of soccer even if it was 0-0.
Atmosphere at Giants related to ezio's comment- there was a spectacular atmosphere at the stadium for the All-Star game/ Brazil vs the World double header,which was really close to a sell out. The Women's world cup double header wasn't too shabby either.
Apparently there were thousands more waiting at the bus terminal in NYC, only to see a line extending for a few blocks with not long to go until kickoff, so they decided to give it a miss. This could have been a sell-out. Champions World did a great job marketing this game, and people who never knew about any of the other international friendlies held by the Metros were asking me about this game. Sad to say it, but the Metros should take a few tips from Champions World, stop scheduling as many friendlies with mostly South American sides, and book the big teams, which will draw the great crowds like last night. I am wondering how long it will be before I see a crowd like last nights in the U.S. again. Well worth the $30 I paid.
Let's take a look at this from a different point of view.I don't think Championsworld or Stillitiano did anything all that great . Look at it this way: 1) With the high profile name value of the 2 clubs and the amount of stars each team brought this game would have drawn 50K anywhere on the east coast. (D.C. or New England). 2) Think about Stillitiano's Expenses, Rent For GS(80k) min., Travel and Hotel expense's for both teams and their traveling parties, Appereance fees 2 both teams (don't believe for a minute that Real or Roma didn't accept an Appearance fee), plus the donation to the U.N. Aids foundation. My point is after all is said and done all they accopmlished was bring an extra 20 K people more than what was expected or needed to cover expense's. How is this any different than when the Metros draw over 20K for a double header. So lets not go crazy heaping accolades on the marketing job Stillitiano did. The best part was at the start of the game was when the Head of the NJSEA welcomed the 2 teams to the " Best Stadium in the Country" then today in the Star -Ledger Zidane did nothing but blast the condition of the field.
You are correct here. I think what he means, and what I mean, is that the Metros could learn a few things in regard to when the Metros organize international friendlies, whether it be in conjunction with a Metros MLS game, or involving the Metros in the game. NOT for attempting to draw these fans to regular MLS matches, because as it has been well documented, most of these people couldn't care less about the Metros and MLS.
Yeah that's what it was. The Metrostars should hire you as their PR Guy, because you know it all. Guess the Mets weren't playing at Shea last nite, eh?
The question is, why these people don't care about their home town team? And MLS has to find a way to make them care. If these people love their European teams so much, move over there. Go Metros...
Re: Atmosphere at Giants Agree with Bob as well. I was going to mention those games too and didn't sorry. But he is right those games had spectacular atmospehere as well. We should see the same next year when Man U comes as well.
I actually have to agree with Zidane on this one too. I was thinking during the game last night as well that the field was not looking in great condition. Despite that I think the teams played very well and had some nice plays etc.
Parking was raised to $15. Parking: $15 x 20,000 cars = $350,000! Tickets: $35 x 70,635 = $2,462,775! Other: $10 x 70,635 = $ 706,350 Total: $3,519,125. Not bad for a Thursday night (and without all the hard-core Metro fans who boycotted the event {although noone noticed }) Oh, I forgot to deduct the $80,000 in stadium rent