read the above. if it is im pumped to fly out from cali. i heard it was pretty nuts in the last round of qualifying before 02. anyone have any good stories?
The entire crowd stood the whole game, at least everyone I could see. I was fifth row, even with the top of the box, down towards the south end. Very close to where Hernandz pulled his stunt at the end of the match. I took my Dad, and he had a blast. He's been a soccer fan all his life, and had the foresight to take me to my first USA Qualifier in 1984. I'm proud to say that I've followed the Nats for almost 20 years. The Crew and USSF folks who worked on the ticket distribution did a fantastic job, and the local soccer folks, and the US Soccer "family" had first shot at tickets. There were some Mexican supporters in the upper deck, but most were scatterred about. I still recieve a ticket order form from the Crew whenever there is a USA match there (Ecuador, Paraguay this year), so they must have a database of names and addresses. Good move. It was definitely a pro-US Crowd, and probably our very first pro-US crowd EVER for a game in the states v. Mexico. Some people have likened it to a Woodstock for US Soccer fans. The crowd was that good, and the result as well. I'll never forget it, and the ticket stub is still in my wallet. I recall seeing entropy here from the boards sell his extra Sam's Army ticket(s) to a scalper, who probably sold them to a Mexican. Atrocious. I rememeber one Mex walking around with a sign which read (next time, choose Alaska!) as it was cold as hell. Gloves and hats for pretty much everyone. The lasting mental image for me will always be the sight of Sam's Army rising as one, just as Wolff's or Stewarts balls went in, but for a split second I could not yet hear the roar of the crowd. The giant upheaveal of all those people behind the goal told me the ball was in. Fantastic night.
We're still two years away from the hexagonal, which would be the earliest we could face Mexico. Like others have said - we both need to make it that far. There will be at least five suitably sized stadia online at that point. Besides Crew Stadium, let's not forget the Civic Center in Portland, plus new 17-27k seat soccer specific stadiums should be online in Carson CA, Frisco TX, and Rochester NY. I hear there's also an exciting announcement expected in the next 50-60 days regarding Harrison NJ. Two years is a long time away. We'll likely play Mexico a couple (if not more) times before then. --- If you want a trip down memory lane, check out Mike Lastort's photos and Wade Jackson's MPEGs from the game in Columbus two years ago! http://www.ibiblio.org/footy/2001/0228_usa_mex_ycj.php
Portland? Definately should not play them anywhere near the Mexican border, but Portland? I think I've missed something!
the Columbus/Nats/Mexico experience was indeed a Woodstock of Nats' experiences. there's probably been more than one of them, but it ranks right up there. all i remember is a) the tailgate pre-game where i got incredibly drunk; and b) sitting in about the 12th row right behind the goal and going absolutely bonkers twice in the 2nd half. i never felt cold.
Yep. You've missed something. Lots of folk up here that would root for the Tri. I went to the Women's Gold Cup doubleheader in Seattle. The Mexico fans were louder, and probably just as numerous, as the US fans. And this was a women's game. That might change if USSF used their distribution scheme that gives first crack to the US soccer "family," however.
That Columbus pre-game tailgate scene was like something out of an early Pat Metheny album. The land was flat, the air crisp. The Ohio heritage museum village was off to the right. To the left, a freight train inched onward. MattieG, Jeff, Brian and his brother from Pittsburgh, the V Army boys, Tex, and an assortment of local honeys knocked back coldie after coldie. We sobered up a bit after not drinking for a while and then eating some dogs. And the few Mexican vatos that skulked around were too vain and too stupid to zip up their coats. Stewart, Pope and Sanneh souled it up while heading to the locker room after pregame by pushing, chesting and punching each other. Classic.
And Tex kept telling Patterson and I (though I doubt Jeff remembers), "This isn't the Midwest. This is the East." And we would just say, "No, man. This is the Midwest. Believe me."
You said it all. I lived in the Portland area for 4 years and there is a big Hispanic (Mexican based) population there.