Anyone planning on going? I cannot wait for this season to begin and I thought some of you had gone in the past. I'm still working out the final details but I hope to be there Saturday for the DCU - US U23 game.
I've been twice, it's a blast. I'm looking into the Odense scrimmage. Getting days off from work on short notice might be tough though.
I'd like to go. It all depends on work and what ticket prices look like. I'll know more in the next day or two. I've got my eye on the U17/U20 matches or the Odense match the following week. The U17/20 might be interesting, but I can't imagine the regular starters playing in those games. The really good matches should be the ones against Toronto and KC, but those are on Tuesdays... ugh. We'll see [crosses fingers]
Do you guys have the times and dates of the games? I'm going to be in FL soon and would like to know the timing and dates of the games. Thanks in advance.
per Goff (http://blog.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2008/01/breaking_womens_team_news_and.html) D.C. United has announced more of its preseason travel plans and matches. After a few days in D.C. next week, the club will head to Bradenton, Fla., where exhibitions are scheduled against the U.S. under-17s (Feb. 1), U.S. under-23s (Feb. 2), Toronto FC (Feb. 5), Danish club Odense (Feb. 8) and Kansas City (Feb. 12). United will train in California Feb. 15-25 and then head to San Antonio Feb. 29-March 10 for a preseason tournament. More details are to come, but I believe D.C. will play San Jose in San Luis Obispo, Calif.
It's nice down there. Bradenton Beach and Anna Maria are laid back beach areas. Wish I was going, enjoy the weather!
Chico . . . just to respond to your question from the other thread . . . Of course I'm going down to Bradenton! Even though it cost a couple of hundred bucks, you get to see free DCUnited soccer, and somehow in my mind that makes sense. This will be my fifth pre-season. I'll end up doing my normal "Notes & Quotes" and Q&A's. I would strongly recommend folks to come down! Looking at the schedule, the Friday, Feb 8th game, makes the most sense. - Fly down Thursday night to Tampa. - Rent a car and make the one-hour drive south to Bradenton. Hotels/motels are fairly cheap ($50 to $80/night) - there is a Days Inn right at the intersection of Rte 75 and 64 (Exit 217?), which was cheap and clean a couple of years ago. That also allows for a straight shot to the academy by going down 53rd Ave. - Most games start at 10 AM. They do stack games, if there is a second game it will start at around Noon. Sometimes there are games in the afternoon, so you can catch those also! The rules for talking with the team are pretty straight forward. You've got to remember they are there to work! After practices and/or games, if you keep it low key, usually the players are very cool with chatting for a couple minutes - wear your team jersey! If you want something more "official", such as a Q&A, then you ask Doug Hicks, who will be down there, and he'll let you know the schedule for the team. Usually, the team does its interviews at night after the day is complete. The one thing I would say is to remember you are guests of the team. You didn't buy tickets, so you don't have any "rights". Anybody not associated with the team is fair game. As Chico can tell you, you WILL run into other notable, such as RDA, Nowak, and basically anyone important in MLS. All these folks love the fact that fans take the time and spend the coin to come down! Actually, most of them think you're crazy, but that why they love you for it. It is a great time! Five years ago, literally I was the only person down there. Last year every game was attended by a couple of hundred, and there were a couple of other journalists. The trend is going to continue to grow. Eventually MLS will have to start controling access, so I'd get down there while the opportunity still exists.
Agree with John's points. We were there for the infamous "send him to hospital" game which to this day I say was complete BS. Unfortunately for me it isn't looking good this year. My boss is out that week and that puts me in charge of the insane asylum where I work. You guys have a blast though and keep in mind everything John posted above.
My family used to go down to Brandenton Beach, Smurfs was always a good spot to grab a bite to eat, and there was a really good Chicago-style Deep Dish Pizza joint too.
woohoo, I'm in. Boss approved, got the tix. I'm just trying to convince my dad to go, and my little brother (gainesville) will show up after classes if the game is late enough (altho it sounds like the game will be early rather than late). I. Am. Psyched.
I usually fly into Tampa and stay in Clearwater. Figure on two nights hotel and car rental. Hard to say what airfares are right now, try kayak.com for a package deal. Of course we usually stay right next door to a strip joint so that throws my finances all out of whack.
Thanks for this. It was exactly the info I came looking for. To start, I'll probably be there on the 2nd for the U-23 match, but I may go back up there for some of the matches later in the week.
plane tix into tampa are running < $200 for the odense game, according to expedia. Hotel will probably run about $100-200 depending on how many nights you stay.
Hahahahaha. Thats not bad. When are the playing dates? It might fall under my Schools Spring Break, all my buddies are wack and their all working now so no Cancun for me this year.
For those who are young and bold, 15 hour car trip, and that's driving "normal". . . . Three guys (5 hour driving shifts) . . . get out of DC by 6 PM Friday . . . you'd get there just in time for a 10 AM kick off! Sleep in motel over night. Heck, if you wanted to, you could get a head start on the return trip, or hit Ybor City. Leave 5 AM Sunday . . . you'd be back in time for the Super Bowl kickoff. Maybe cost everyone $100 bucks total. AND you'd get the "I've got really big balls and more support than the normal fan" pre-season award.
I'm all set for Saturday. Diceson, what happens on non-game days? I imagine they'll be practicing, but are these open to the public as well? Thanks!
Per this thread, and I think it was also on Goff's blog somewheres. --------------- D.C. United 2008 Preseason Schedule (all times EST): Monday, January 28: Training at RFK Stadium (10:30 a.m.) Tuesday, January 29: Fitness Testing, no media availability Wednesday, January 30-Thursday, February 12: Training in Bradenton, FL Friday, February 1: Match v. U17s Saturday, February 2: Match v. U23s Wednesday, February 5: Match v. Toronto FC Friday, February 8: Match v. Odense (Denmark) Tuesday, February 12: Match v. Kansas City February 15-25: West Coast Friday, February 29 - Monday, March 10: San Antonio March 11-13: CONCACAF Champions’ Cup Match at Harbour View FC (Jamaica) March 18-20: CONCACAF Champions’ Cup Match v. Harbour View FC at RFK. ------------- I'll be down there for the Odense game.