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Title: 60,000 expected at soccer match (US vs Mexico played in Glendale, AZ tonight)
Source:
Arizona Republic
URL Source: http://www.azcentral.com/community/ ... les/0207gl-soccerupdate07.html
Published: Feb 7, 2007
Author: Carrie Watters
Post Date: 2007-02-07 20:19:16 by Red Jones
Keywords: None
Views: 441
Comments: 25
60,000 expected at soccer match Carrie Watters The Arizona Republic Feb. 7, 2007 12:00 PM Expect traffic. More than 60,000 soccer fans will head to Glendale tonight for a soldout match between the U.S. National Team and Mexico. The game, the second professional soccer match at University of Phoenix Stadium, sold out late Tuesday night. Stadium officials aren't surprised. "It's a huge match," said Scott Norton, the director of marketing for Global Spectrum, which books stadium events. here's the US team. Fans should allow time for traffic. Parking lots open at 3 p.m. for tailgating and the stadium gates open at 5 p.m., two hours before the start time. A packed stadium is no surprise to soccer enthusiasts like Sam Kajoba. He said Valley residents from Mexico, Africa and other parts of the world are hungry for soccer. "It's a good game," he said Monday. "I love it." Kajoba, a Zambia native living in Phoenix, already has his tickets for tonight's game. The 28-year-old said he was disappointed when he moved here four years ago to discover the Valley did not boast its own professional team."I'd love to see big-time soccer in Arizona," he said. This is the second major soccer match at the stadium, which has built a reputation among gridiron fans, but was also built with another form of football in mind. The field was designed wide enough to allow for international soccer matches. The stadium's soccer christening came on Halloween as 40,496 fans watched an exhibition match between Mexican rivals Chivas and Club America. While the stadium seems to be galvanizing Valley soccer fans, the Glendale venue would not be a likely choice for a full-time professional team. It's too big. Major League Soccer prefers a stadium that's between 18,000 and 30,000 seats. Also, the league prefers soccer-specific stadiums after spending most of its 12-year history in NFL venues. The league is in the midst of expansion and expects enthusiasm to grow as English soccer legend David Beckham crosses the Atlantic to play with the Los Angeles Galaxy this summer. While University of Phoenix Stadium might not be ideal for a permanent professional team, stadium officials said they would put their name in the ring if the United States bids to host another World Cup. "If it's out there, we'd certainly go after it," Norton said. The most watched sporting event in the world, the World Cup happens every four years, with South Africa playing host in 2010. The one and only time America hosted the World Cup was in 1994, with matches played in nine cities across the country from Los Angeles to Dallas and Boston.
Poster Comment: the last time the US played Mexico in soccer (that I know of) was about 4-5 years ago. it was in Los Angeles as part of the World Cup stuff. the fans were almost 100% cheering for Mexico and very very loudly too. and the US team won. The mexicans hated it so bad. I remember I asked a couple of my mexican friends about it after the game - 'hey how about that soccer game?' and they refused to even speak of it. You can bet tonight's game that starts in 45 minutes will be similar with the fans overwhelming cheering very strongly against the US though the game is in Glendale, AZ. it'll be on ESPN2.
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Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 8.
#1. To: All (#0)
they said the game is sold out!
The announcer just said the Americans have yet to take the Mexican fans out of the game. Duh..it's being played in Glendale, AZ.
That guy yawning in the stands has it right...this is incredibly boring. Highlights from the frist half? Be still my beating heart...ping me if a riot breaks out...
I only tuned in for the race war. Soccer isn't a sport.
#9. To: Jethro Tull (#8)
I couldn't agree more.
...ungrateful little bastards REFUSE to shake hands with the victorious American team???
Anything that ends up with scores of 1-0 isn't a sport.
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#4. To: Red Jones, traitorous rots who welcome ILLEGALS into this country without regard to the economic impact or social destruction (#1)
#7. To: Jethro Tull (#4)
#8. To: who knows what evil (#7)
Replies to Comment # 8. Soccer isn't a sport.
#10. To: Jethro Tull, Red Jones (#8)
#23. To: Jethro Tull (#8)
Soccer isn't a sport.
End Trace Mode for Comment # 8.