Soldiers Field Soccer Stadium As reported by Ryan Wood: The brand new Soldiers Field Soccer Stadium will be the site of the Breakers home playoff match later this month... Pictures from the Harvard matches: No. 10 Harvard 2 - No. 13 Stanford 1 - Sept. 4, 2010 Harvard Women's Soccer vs. Long Island (Sept. 3, 2010) Video Highlights: No. 10 Harvard 2 - No. 13 Stanford 1 - Sept. 4, 2010 [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eW9u1lJOeA"]Women's Soccer: Harvard 2 - Long Island Univ. 2[/ame] Man I wish this place held more people....It'll be good to have a sold out playoff match but I'd love to be able to play there long term! I also wish I had known about this earlier as I'd have gone to these two matches..... I'd love to see the Breakers and Harvard Soccer work much closer together...It was wierd watching the videos and not watching the game!!! I'm looking at the field, seats, grass berm, fences/nets etc... This will be a challenge for WPS/Breakers/FSC for sure....
BTW, The Harvard women play Rhode Island on Friday Sept 17th at 7pm.... I suggest a dress rehersal for the playoff match...Scout out our location etc... Hey maybe if Harvard gets Breakers supporters the Breakers will get Harvard supporters?? I'll be there!
Some of us only require standing room only sections any way. Love this arrangement for the short term! (Not financially viable for long term).
It does seem kind of a shame that Harvard didn't work with the Breakers to enhance the stadium so that it could be used by the latter on a regular basis, as the Freedom did with the Soccerplex. (I have to say I really hate Harvard Stadium, especially when I'm watching on TV.)
People show up, at least, but you do wonder how they'd do if they could find a better stadium that's still as accessible.
I have been to almost all the home games, and can not say I hate it. There are no bad sightlines, you don't walk a mile and half to get from the gate to seats inside, and don't find the concrete any better or worse than bleahers, and actually prefer them to the WUSA home at Nickerson. I think the attendance results show it ISN"T one of the worse decisions they made, particularly when you consider the alternatives available (or not available). The lines are absolutely annoying, but no more so than what happens at Gillette during the Pat's season. And they are worse on TV than in person IMHO. I would be interested to know if there are provisions to enhance the "soccer stadium" in teh future. Can more stands be added? Can they add infrastructure (permanent bathrooms and concessions)? This came together very quickly, I tailgated on the site the first few games this season.
I don't think the stadium keeps anyone away. I have gotten used to the conglomeration of lines, and am quite happy to watch games there. Of course, an appropriately sized stadium with actual seats and a regulation-sized grass pitch in the immediate Boston area would be preferable. It does beat watching the Revolution get lost amongst the sea of empty seats at Gillette, though.
I've grown to love Harvard Stadium. I don't find the football lines nearly as distracting in person as they are on TV (maybe I've been trained by Gillette to be accustomed to them). I love how the sound of the drums and chants echoes off the concrete. The location is excellent. And I think the stadium is kind of charming. Sure, I'd love real grass and no football lines, but given the options, I like where we are.