Were you at the game in Columbus? Give us your stories!

1. That stadium is hell to get into and out of car wise.
2. It was a great atmosphere around me (I was on the end opposite Sams Army) and every time any of the Mexico fans started trying to chant we'd drown them out with some USA chants.
3. Oh and when did Mexico fans start to think that passing the ball 4 times in their own half is worthy of Oles?
4. Best game I've been to so far. Took my little brother to his first USA game and he was able to witness a Dos a Cero. Pretty sweet.

 

Myself and three friends drove in from Buffalo, NY. Can't say enough about the people we met, both US and Mexican supporters. I was there in '01, couldn't make '05, but after last night I'm definitely going to make a habit out of making this game. C-bus knows how to get down.

 

Amen to that.

I was soooooooooo happy I made the call to stay right across I-71 at the Holiday Inn Express - after walking back to the hotel from the game (via the railroad tracks - I got a little lost), stopping at Wendy's, avoiding hypothermia by getting into dry clothes, downing my Baconator & fries, calling Mrs. Bluecat back in the Twin Popsicles, and looking for highlights on ESPN News (the only ESPN channe working in my room), then looking out the window well after 10pm to see cars still trying to get out of the parking lot...good call.

Being in the temporary bleachers was tremendous!!!! Even worth the hole I got in my US jersey from the flare after the second goal.


Getting caught in the rain squall/hailstorm in the parking lot was a bit intense, I have to tell you.

 

I was there with my son (aged 10), a friend and his son also 10, and a third friend with his girlfriend. We drove up from East Tennessee. We stayed at the Comfort Suites, just south of the stadium on 17th, to avoid the parking mayem.
When we first arrived at the stadium (around 5:00?), the weather was not so bad, but after about an hour, when that front came through, it was CRAZY! We were on the south end waiting to get in when it hit. That was the most intense (weather related) 5 minutes of my life! 50 MPH gusts, near horizontal rain, 30 seconds of pea sized hail, everything but frogs and fiery hailstones. My boy got a bit a scared for a moment, but I quickly assured him that we were not going to die. I had on a rain jacket but was completly soaked from the rear end down, waterproof boots full of water. Some dude all dressed up in a Captain America outfit keep playing his horn throughout the torrent, surreal. After the weather calamity, we finally made our way to the gate, then had trouble with our Ticketfast paper tickets (never again), had to go to the ticket office to get it "re-scanned" (Why was I the only gringo in line?) Finally made it to our seats 30 min before kick-off.
Game atmoshphere was just GREAT, didn't make the previous C-bus matches, but have been to other qualifiers. Nothing compares to Wednesday night, Including Tennessee-Florida games at Neyland (100k+ capacity). Of course I am highly biased, die hard US Soccer homer, so some might beg to differ. Can't wait for the T&T match in Nash-vegas(I must be living right!), but I dare say in won't be the same. Overall fantastic event, and the weather just makes for great War stories in the future.

 

Drove in with my dad from Pittsburgh. Was there in '01, couldn't make it in '05. Although my dad has made all 3 Columbus-Mexico Qualies. We ran a little late and parked across the train tracks and walked across the bogs of Mordor to get in. Best move we made all night. Got to our seats at midfield, bench-side, 14 rows up. Sort of regret not being in Sam's Army, but the seats were awesome, can't complain. Befriended a couple knowledgable guys behind me and even a Mexico supporting friend in front of me when I asked for a little info on El Tri. Suffice it to say, it was an awesome experience.

I don't know if this was the high point or the low point of my evening. But after hearing the "Si se puede" chants from the surprisingly well-represented and vocal Mexico fans I decided to respond with a "No se pueden" chant after Bradleys 2nd. It was nice to shove it back in their face but the looks of several 40yo men whose blood-shot and tear-filled eyes darted to me as soon as my chant became audible. It was awesome to taunt an archrival without any room for a comeback but man did those guys look heartbroken. A also kept asking every Mexico fan I saw if that was the first "dos a cero" game in the history of the US-Mexico rivalry. They thought I was an idiot and obviously did not get sarcasm.

 

section 204 row 5. mexican fans on my left,right,and down below. but up top i had some USA fans. the mexican fans where very nice one even bought my dad an beer at half time. lol but at one time when bradley scored some mexican fan threw an beer down stairs and hit an usa supporter who was hispanic. and they both went at it for a few mins. but other than that very nice. me and my dad came from new orleans, and we enjoyed it so much we are going to chicago to watch usa play my farthers home country honduras. lol

and i almost got blowin away from the winds after the game. walking back to the hotel.

 

Fans and travel board?

 

If you have yet to experience a USA Mexico match, I suggest you go to the next one. It is quite the experience. And the next time the two teams play in a WCQ in Columbus, book it.

I would love to go into detail about my trip but I'm beat. I'll just say the trip was worth every penny and every friggin' second where I was freezing.

 

I was there in '05 but too naive in '01.

This was my 5th time to Crew Stadium and on no other occasion did I have near as much trouble getting in and out. Granted this was as big a game as any I've been to attendance wise, but seriously what was the deal. I was driving from Lexington, KY and allowed an extra hour in addition to the hour earlier I wanted to get there (6pm for warmups) and I still only managed to get there for player intros and kick off, and that was only because we ran the half-mile from our car to the stadium! Then it took just as much if not more time to get out, until miraculously somebody opened up another exit in the back 1.5 hours after we had been sitting in our cars. Very poorly planned IMO.

As for the game and everything, I thought '05 all around a better experience. I have no complaints about anything aside from getting in and out, but there wasn't as much enthusiasm or intensity around this game. Perhaps it was the weather, perhaps it was the late arriving crowd, who knows, but I definitely thought '05 was better, but overall wasn't disappointed with anything else. Thought we were out cheered and outnumbered (or at least close) by Mexico. The passion just wasn't there outside of Sam's Army.

Can't wait til Nashville, Chicago, and DC (I hope)!

 

The night before the game was absolutely awesome at Claddaghs ( even though I drank a bit too much ), and game day was awesome there as well.

I had to go in with a few others to set up the BAF's and other flags/banners, and being in the stadium early got me that much more excited. I went back into the parking lot, where after about twenty minutes the rail/hail/wind kicked in, and i was absolutely drenched.

The atmosphere outside was awesome, there was a lot of singing and chanting going back and forth, but fans from both teams wanted to get into the stadium asap, cause it was so cold.

once the section got full, it was absolutely awesome. Second only to K-Town in my experience. Bradleys first goal was so much fun cause it was in front of us, and the second, we knew it was coming Every single fan started chanting dos a cero directly after !

My group met bocanegra the day before the game, and the morning after the airport we hung out with Ching and Clark, and talked about the slapping incident and everything else. Great guys.

What a fun trip, and what a great scoreline.

 

It is obvious you are from California. It was not "cold"...it was cool. Cold was a week before when the high was 17 degrees and the low was 3 below. That is cold. Other than the rain and wind, the temp was not too bad.

 

He's from Cali and he thought 45 degrees was cold, imagine how the Mexies felt. There is a reason the USSF always schedules this game in Columbus

 

Came in from Philadelphia with the rest of the DVI/SoBs.

Had to get up at 5 AM to make it to the Bus departure point.

Set a record for quickest cross Pennsylvania journey ever.

Committed several misdemeanors.

Sang "Dos a Cero" to a car full of Mexicans at the Somerset Service Station.

Was involved in a spontaneous pre-game sing-off with Mexicans.

Was soaked to the bone in the parking lot.

Stood in the first row right behind the north goal.

Celebrated Bradley's first by accidentally hitting cameraman with streamer.

At half time, signed some waiver handed to me by a very attractive young lady. (If you read bigsoccer, send me an email!).

Shouted so much I got light-headed.

Went mental when we went 2-0 up.

Got Frankie Hejduk's game jersey.


Inspired massive jealousy.

Fell asleep watching soccer movies on the ride home and clutching Frankie's jersey.

Still haven't gotten my voice back.

 

Don't tell me you slapped Frankie to get the jersey!!!!

 

No, but I may have offered him my firstborn child...

 

Came in from Springfield, IL and had an awesome time.

Full details and photos here:

http://beemsville.wordpress.com/2009/02/13/doin-the-dos-a-cero/

Thanks to Hudson Street Hooligans and American Outlaws for the pregame at Ruby's!

 

I've now witnessed two Mexicans using the same uniral simultaneously. I can cross that off my bucket list.

 

What happened to the comatose Mexico supporter on the Claddagh bus? That dude was messed up.

 

That was on your bucket list?

Sorry, channeling Happy Gilmore.

 

First US v Mex game I have attended.

Drove the 3 hours from Ft Wayne, IN got to Claddagh's at 4PM.

Stood outside in the rain drinking beer cuz there was nowhere to stand in the bar. Met a bunch of great people from all over the country. Had a great time.

Took an hour and fifteen minutes (and several beers) to get to parking spot for the game.

Was in the Sam's Army section and had a great time. The atmosphere was everything I hoped it would be. Again met people from all over the country. Sang "Dos a Cero" so loud and long that I lost my voice until yesterday. Wind blew a streamer back at me so hard after the second goal that it left a mark on my forehead (how they played so well in that wind is a mystery to me).

Almost blown off my feet going back to car in parking lot. Found I had a flat tire on my vehicle. Gave us some time to down a couple of beers and wait for traffic to clear a little.

Drive home took five hours due to traffic stops caused by trucks blown off the interstates in three places.

Was one of the best times I have ever had and I will definitely be going to Nashville, Chicago and maybe DC.

 

Good to hear you had a great time, Prime Time. I'm stoked with the 2-0 result.

 

My first of hopefully many US-Mexico games and I had a blast!!!!

I was sitting in the "section"
came from the march!!!! WE WERE NOT GOING TO DRIVE THROUGH THAT!!! NAAAH WE MANNED IT OUT AND WALKED THROUGH THE RAIN FOR ABOUT IDK 3-5 BLOCKS???

my shoes got filled with mud and water, my jeans were supersoaked...i had a sick-like voice fore 3-4 days....

and i would do it again!!!!

I HAD A LOT OF FUN...GOT TO MEET GREAT PPL from all over the US!!!

this was cap #5 for me but it is by far the most memorable even though i wasted for about 65% of it hehe