After my last post, I went to the night before party, which was great. Apparently I am popular with the Hartford chapter because of Twitter. A girl from NJ was there, and people kept thinking she was me! She said, "SO many people have come to me to ask if I'm from Houston!" I thought it was funny, especially since I never think of myself as someone that's popular.
The long islands from the first bartender at City Steam were delicious, the pizza hit the spot, and the chapter had a 50/50 raffle. Basically, 50% of the raffle money goes to the chapter, and the other 50% goes to the winner. Not a bad idea! I also met Grant Wahl again, and I met Ives (from Soccer by Ives) for the first time. I met people from Brooklyn, Central Jersey, and Cape Cod (MA).
I will say this chapter did quite well in terms of preparation. Anytime someone posted a question on their Facebook event or tweeted, they responded quickly and efficiently. Kudos to the guys there!
The next day, we slept in and even missed breakfast, oops! We stayed at a Homewood Suites again (just like Salt Lake City), so it was free breakfast, free wifi, and free dinner M-Th. We did have to pay a $16 parking fee/night, but the room was free thanks to using points. Our room had a kitchen, huge living room, and 1.5 bathrooms, which means we had two toilets, yay (the little things matter)!
We decided to do something free, nearby, and easy, so we went to the state capitol. We learned a lot about CT. I didn't know people like Katherine Hepburn came from CT. There is so much history in that state. The Hall of Flags contained flags dating back to the civil war, and it was amazing. I should note we rented a car so we could get around (don't think there's public transportation from the airport). It cost less than $11 for the trip thanks to car rental points.
Afterwards, we did some light grocery shopping. You cannot buy alcohol at WalMart - only a liquor store - so that's something to keep in mind for the future. It's interesting how different states have different laws. In contrast, Californian grocery stores sell hard liquor (along with beer and wine). In Denver, the alcohol percentage differs between a liquor store and grocery store, so it's best to buy from a liquor store. It's always a good idea to know before going to a new state/city, so make sure you ask!
From the liquor store, we headed to the tailgate and primarily hung out with a couple of guys from Brooklyn and a guy from Cape Cod (met in Seattle). It was a good time and a good turnout. The local NBC media interviewed me but primarily asked about the heat and whether or not it affected my decision to wear my scarf. I found this question strange considering I'm from Texas!
The game itself was crazy. We made it a general admission section, and aside from one family who didn't want to be there (was moved by AO national, not security, thank goodness), the atmosphere was electric. Full of drunkards and excited north easterners (who could blame them?!?!), the section was rocking! The capos of AO Hartford did a good job coordinating quickly, and they are certainly to be commended.
The lone drummer was a gal who's a New England Revolution supporter. I forgot her name already (drat!!! she's SOOOOO nice too!!!), but she is an awesome person. I met her when she and her husband came down to Houston for a regular MLS season game. They tailgated with us, and to this day, her husband raves about the local craft beer we serve (St. Arnold's) at the Texian Army tailgates. We had a good time back then, and we had a good time again last night. We looked at each other, did a double take, and squealed like little school girls when we realized we knew each other. What are the chances that we would meet again and be RIGHT next to each other in a section, supporting the same team? It was a moment that is somewhat indescribable, and a great reason why following footy is classy.
Towards the end of the second half, some random guy (AO Hartford didn't claim him, so I don't think he's part of their chapter) came up to her and said, "You have zero rhythm." I can't even imagine what she was going through. We're hot, we're sweaty, we're dehydrated, we're surrounded by guys who seemingly are going to puke on you at any moment, she's doing a damn good job of drumming, and then this asshole says this. The main capo went after him to tell him off, but the damage was done. She didn't feel like dealing with more assholes, and so she handed me the drumsticks for the second half.
I have to admit I had a blast drumming, and I always do. I feel like I'm really contributing to the section when I do. Music was one of my undergraduate majors, so it's easy for me to adapt to crowds when they suddenly decide to sing another chant in the middle of doing another chant (happens frequently). I like the bass drum because all you have to do is keep time. That sounds like a no-brainer, but it's actually harder than it seems especially when you're in an outdoor setting. Sound travels at different wavelengths, reverberation occurs if you're near a canopy, etc. I think people think that all you have to do is beat the drum, but it really takes a lot of stamina and coordination. Also as a drummer, you kind of end up being a capo. When the main capo understandably becomes tired or runs out of ideas, it's the drummer's job to keep the section going.
Drummers WHO KNOW AO CHANTS (this is KEY!!!) are severely needed at the games. The AO chants are different than most club chants because they often change beats, meter signature, and tempo within the same chant. Frankly I can't stand drummers who drum the Latin beats for the USA games. Not only is it a cop-out in that there is unoriginality, but I am here for the USA, not a Latin country. I am also here for a country game, not club. I have drummed for Dynamo games, and I am very careful not to mix up the two.
My only regret is that for this trip, I should've brought my drumming gloves. I've now drummed 1.5 games so far of this tournament (including the related friendly). I honestly didn't expect to do any drumming, but I suppose it's fallen into my lap. I can't complain though because I enjoy it.
After the game, I checked on the revs girl (really bothers me I can't remember her name-Alice? Alison? Alyssa? ???). She seemed to be ok after taking a break the second half. "Tonight just wasn't the night I wanted to deal with that," and I totally understand as a female. I think Hartford for me was the first time for either club or country when I didn't have some guy (and yes, it is always a male) come up to me and say, "If you get tired, I'll take over," or "You're not doing a good job," or "You suck!" I felt so sorry for the revs girl because she brought the only drum, and to have some guy dis-respect that is quite unnecessary. Nevertheless by the end of the post-game tailgate she seemed fine, which I am glad.
This morning I left on a US airways flight to DC. A one-way ticket only cost $88, which is not bad at all! David took the Amtrak because he loves trains. It costs about the same amount, but the train left at 6:45AM, and my flight left at 11:55AM (no-brainer for me!). We arrived about the same time in DC, which I find funny. We walked around DC for about seven hours (Dupont Circle, Lincoln Memorial, Korean War and World War II memorials, White House, etc), so we're pooped. Have a great night!
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Monday, July 15, 2013
USMNT Gold Cup: After Portland thru Salt Lake City
After returning from Portland last week on Wednesday, I went to Minute Clinic in the Pacific Beach area of San Diego. I had what I thought was a severe hives outbreak, but it turns out it was a case of scabies. Gross!!! The outbreak had started the first morning I woke up in San Diego (after Independence Day) and continually had become worse. Even with the best of hygiene, one can get scabies, I learned. Those who travel are more prone to scabies, and there’s nothing you can do to prevent it. I guess I got lucky! Thank goodness for nationwide insurance and doc-in-the-boxes!
As a result, I have learned while traveling that prescription or over-the-counter medications do not have to be included in the one-Ziplock bag with the rest of your toiletries while going through security at airports. Furthermore, a doctor’s note is not necessarily needed either (though I had the clinic visit summary, just in case). Medications do not have to comply with the three-ounce rule, as the both the scabies cream and calamine lotion are over three ounces. These are things to know while traveling, as you never know what kind of situation you may have. Luckily I brought an extra box of Ziplock bags (great cell phone covers when it rains), although a number of airports will provide them (especially the smaller airports).
So, in a nutshell, that’s why I currently look like I have leprosy, but the outbreak has subsided as of two days ago, thank goodness. Now I’m in the process of healing the wounds. A nightly bath with epsom salt is helpful, although if you happen to travel with four pounds (that’s all Ralph’s had in San Diego), TSA will search your luggage. They most likely think it’s fertilizer or some kind of bomb contribution.
On Thursday in San Diego, we went to the zoo. I have never wanted to go to another city’s zoo, except San Diego. I now know why it’s the best in the USA. Not only is there a lot of research, but the layout is vibrant compared to Houston’s zoo. There are lots of steep trails, so get ready for some walking and light hiking! Our $44 ticket also included unlimited bus and aerial cable car rides. It was definitely worth the money!
Friday early morning, we departed for Salt Lake City on Southwest Airlines (SAN-PHX-SLC for $140 one-way). We were a bit early arriving (around noon), and the hotel wouldn’t have a room for us until 1:30PM. This is something to keep in mind when scheduling flights. Hotels, especially on weekends, may not be able to accommodate very early check-ins. Nevertheless, we went grocery shopping and had lunch at a wonderful place called Tony Caputo’s. It’s an intimate, non-corporate (important to me while traveling!) deli. They serve entrees, salads, soups, etc. (all made freshly) and also sell meats and cheeses. I had linguini with clam sauce (came with a salad and bread roll) for less than $10. Most impressive of all, a signed Beckerman USMNT jersey is used as decoration. It’s a welcome sight for those of us who are traveling for the team! Next door is a small bakery, and the bite-size fruit tart did not make it past the cash register because I ate it all. :-)
We checked into the hotel, Homewood Suites downtown. I used points, so it was only $40/night. Homewood Suites isn’t a well-known hotel because there’s typically only one location in a city, if that. They’re one step above Hampton Inns on the Hilton totem pole because you get an entire suite - kitchen, living room, dining area, bedroom, and bathroom. They’re kind of like Marriott’s Residence Inns, but cheaper. Homewood Suites provides free wifi, free breakfast daily, usually free parking, a light free dinner Monday-Thursday evenings, and if state law allows, free beer or wine in the evenings as well. In Memphis, they put out a tub of ice and Budweiser/Bud Light cans, and you just drink whatever you want. In Jacksonville, they put out 3-4 bottles of wine, and you just pour and help yourself. Works for me!
I should note we rented a car from Hertz. I used points so the base price was free, but the taxes and surcharges were about $60 for about three days. That’s not bad! I was upgraded to a Ford Edge (SUV), which I really liked. The vehicle came with all the bells and whistles (completely touch-screen). In fact, there was no auxillary hole, so I had to use Bluetooth the entire time. The only downside is that the average miles per gallon is less than 22. I get 35 MPG on average in my Toyota Corolla.
The night before party was at Bourbon House, a familiar bar since we were in Salt Lake City last month for the world cup qualifier. I have to admit it was pretty dull for a Friday night. There were only about two tables of the American Outlaws (AOs) Salt Lake City chapter, and I think we were the only two out-of-towners (aside from two people from AO national). I introduced myself to Grant Wahl, as I have been tweeting him quite a bit, and he’s a really nice, down-to-earth guy. He’s very easy to talk to, and we found out Salt Lake was his 88th cap. He also has a sister-in-law from Houston, so we found some common ground. We left after the Gold Cup game ended.
Saturday morning we woke up to go to the tailgate, which began around 10:30AM. It’s probably the best morning tailgate I’ve ever attended. There was a full roasted pig, breakfast tacos, a hash brown kind of casserole made with cream of chicken soup (must find recipe!), mimosas, and much more! There weren’t many people, but still had a good time.
We went into the section when the gates opened for section set up. It should be noted for Gold Cup, CONCACAF really makes things difficult for us by not noting general admission on the ticket. So, everyone had to be in their assigned seats. As a result, this also meant we didn’t have a dedicated section of American Outlaws and were mixed in with normal people. We were all in the endline sections, but the bottom three sections maybe had 1-3 rows of AOs each. My tickets, along with some others, were in the upper center section behind the goal, which was a great view! We could really see the field!
During the second half, an AO Salt Lake City member came over to us to accuse us of not supporting the single row of AOs in one of the lower sections. I should note at this point, the two AO national leaders had moved to the front row to join us, and they unfortunately were the victims of her wrath. They were at the end of the row, and I was in the middle. I could hear her bitching from the center of the row, and she continued to bitch for about 10 minutes, which was highly unattractive and detracted from the game.
There is absolutely nothing we can do when we can’t hear the lower sections, and we’re all split amongst newbies. There is absolutely nothing we can do when the chapter doesn’t have a drum or capos. There is absolutely nothing we can do when chant sheets aren’t passed out or taped to the chairs to incorporate the normal US fans. I tweeted last week and asked AO Salt Lake City if they had a spare bass drum/mallets I could use, and there was no response. It was the same scenario as the world cup qualifier, so I don’t understand why this female was throwing a hissy fit. If the chapter chooses or doesn’t have the resources to provide a drum/capo, then so be it, but don’t bitch about it to AO national. There’s nothing that can be done about it during the game.
Anyway, after winning the game against Cuba, we went back to Bourbon House to meet Chris and Dale. It finally felt like a proper AO event. Chris the previous night had spent decided to spend the night in the mountains, and Dale flew in on game day. Both are AO NYC chapter members, but it should be noted Chris is from Alaska, and Dale is from Phoenix (switched chapter memberships this month due to moving). Along with David (AO San Diego president), we’re the only four American Outlaws to attend ALL USMNT Gold Cup games, which is quite a feat! Somehow someone came up with the idea of us being the four horsemen, and so each one of us is Conquest, Death, Famine, and War. We had a great time, lured some strangers onto the couches with us, and cheered on Real Salt Lake (RSL), as they were playing Dallas (yay for beating Dallas!). It was a fun time, and there were quite a bit of lively RSL supporters and fans there as well. What a change from the previous night!
Yesterday we decided to visit Temple Square. We quickly learned almost everything closes on Sundays, including the Salt Lake Temple in the square (was surprised!). Macy’s, Ann Taylor, H&M, etc. were all closed! Since I had never been, we went to the Great Salt Lake. It was QUITE smelly at the marina, and I don’t know why people would even want to swim there. However, we did find an off-road (thanks to seeing another car drive), and we decided to follow. Thank goodness I had a SUV! It was worth it though, as the off-roading part of the lake was not as smelly, prettier, and the waves were calmer. The lake’s a great place to surf kayak, if you have your own kayak.
It’s interesting how there is nothing built around the lake (at least, the portion where we were), and we learned why. We stopped at a souvenir store, and the shopkeeper gave us a quick history of the lake. There used to be a MASSIVE complex next to the lake before it burned in 1925. Later, it was re-built, abandoned, squatted, and then burned down in the 1960s. Since then, nothing has been successful, e.g. a go-cart facility. There’s a myth that there’s a Salt Lake curse, so businesses are unwilling to build. Right now the biggest thing is the Saltair Pavillion, where weekly concerts are held. When I saw the huge room and stage, I immediately thought of dubstepping (my favorite kind of clubbing music). The shopkeeper confirmed big named artists, such as DeadMau5, have performed there, which is awesome. [Disclaimer: This history bit is from memory; go Wiki it if you really want. =P]
Last night we went to Chanon Thai, which was pretty good and family-owned. Grandma was taking a break and walking the baby when we left, so you know the food is legit. You’ll need to drive there from downtown (bit of a far walk, for me at least, lol), but at least it’s open on Sunday nights. We had tom yum soup (one of my favorites), egg rolls, chicken pad Thai, and green beef curry. For those unfamiliar with Thai food, the last two items are hallmarks of the cuisine. If the pad Thai or the green curry is not good, then it is not a good Thai place.
I should note of all cities, Salt Lake City has had the most amount of commoners (as I call them lol) discuss soccer with us. We went to dinner at a Belgian place on Friday night that serves lamb sausage and the best french fries in Utah (Bruges Waffles & Frites). The guy at first thought we were representing Chicago Fire and said he “would’ve thrown you out” (LOL!!!), but on second thought realized RSL didn’t have a game that night. We had a lively 20-minute discussion, and it was good. On Saturday, during our walk to Bourbon House, we were stopped by a police officer who also wished to discuss soccer. We learned the SLC police were at the Cuban hotel babysitting, in case a Cuban defected. I am not sure what the legalities are (because if you’re asking for asylum, don’t Americans have to oblige?), but it was interesting. We probably talked for about 20-30 minutes. It’s nice to visit a city who is educated about soccer.
This morning David and I split because Southwest Airlines was cheaper for him from Salt Lake City to Hartfort, CT (connect through Baltimore-BWI) versus United. I used 25,000 miles today to fly into BDL, which was nice. One of the perks of traveling SO MUCH for work is keeping all my car rental points, hotel rewards, and airline miles.
So, I am off to join AO Hartford at their night before party. I am really looking forward to it, as the chapter as done an EXCELLENT job of tweeting/Facebooking information and (most important) replying! Ciao for now!
Sunday, July 14, 2013
USMNT Gold Cup: Portland
Since my last post, I had a terrible experience with Virgin America on Monday night. I was all set and packed, ready to go, when I received a WorldMate flight delay notification. I was flying from SAN-SFO-PDX. My SAN-SFO flight was delayed over an hour so that I'd miss my SFO-PDX flight. I called Virgin America, and it turns out there is only one daily flight from SFO-PDX. The airline refused to book on another airline or provide a hotel in SFO for the night, so the only choice was to re-book the next day (on game day).
I mulled over this for an hour and thought, "What if I don't make it on game day either?" Then I'd be REALLY screwed. Furthermore, arriving on game day meant a 5PM arrival time into Portland, which was cutting it close to kickoff. I decided right then and there to book a Southwest Airlines flight from SAN-LAS-PDX, which meant I departed SAN around 5PM and arrived in PDX around 10PM. Booking a new flight cost an extra $236, which isn't bad considering I booked the flight four hours prior to departure. In hindsight, I'm glad I did it because I would've been even more stressed leaving on game day. I have learned my lesson and WILL NEVER book Virgin America again, especially since they refused to give a refund. They blamed the delay on the Asiana Airlines accident, but if that was the case, why wasn't my SFO-PDX flight delayed too?
Changing flights suddenly involves more than just the flights. I had to book a new shuttle from Pacific Beach to the airport, and I had to figure out how to get from PDX to the hotel. Originally I had planned to take public transportation in Portland, but being a single female, it's generally unsafe to use public transportation that late at night. So, I booked a Hertz rental car. I thought it would cost me $45 (thanks to rental car points) according to the preliminary figure given online. Upon checkout, the rental car cost less than $4 from Monday night to Wednesday morning! What a steal!
I missed the official night before party in Portland because the bar closed at 11PM (early!!!), and Hertz unfortunately took an hour to get a car when I arrived at the airport (obviously overbooked). I made it to the after-party at Kells Irish Pub, but the bar had stopped serving. Someone suggested going to a strip club called Mary's, and desperate for at least one drink, I agreed. It was the smallest strip club I've ever been in with the most bored stripper ever. I noticed even the guys were just on their phones or talking to each other, not paying attention to her. I downed my long island, and we left. That was my participation in the night before activities in Portland.
We weren't sure about the parking situation at the stadium, so we decided to take public transportation the next day. The Doubletree hotel downtown ($65/night & 32,000 points) was RIGHT next to the train station, which was very convenient! Since the game was fairly late, we decided to explore Chinatown. WORST idea ever! I've decided Portland Chinese people are not ambitious at all, as all the restaurants were closed on a Tuesday late morning/near lunch time. I didn't see any bakeries or grocery stores. There was a homeless tent city RIGHT next to the Chinatown gate, which was awful. I am not sure why homeless people set up in Chinatown though, since Chinese people tend to be unsympathetic to the homeless. If you want to see the ghetto of Portland, go to Chinatown. I would rather run away next time!
The game day bar in Portland was the Cheerful Bullpen. I liked the set up because the back patio was underneath HUGE trees! I tried a Stella Hard Cider for the first time, and it was pretty good. Unfortunately, the bar only had about 6 of them and sold out quickly. Hard cider by a local brewery was on tap, but it wasn't as good. Oh well.
Being seasoned travelers, the only other people we initially recognized was from AO national. Gold Cup games tend to have more local people versus world cup qualifiers. Later, Chris from Alaska showed, as well as some AO Phoenix members. It was good seeing a few familiar faces.
We went into the stadium when the gates open. We chose the seats that would get the shade first (smart thinking on Chris' part). The first game (Cuba versus Costa Rica) was nothing to write home about. Our game, was interesting, as we creamed Belize by 5 goals. The section was loud and rocking, but my biggest criticism is that we pretty much did all Timbers Army chants. We did two capo-led American Outlaws chants in the first half, and two in the second half. Any other chants that were done were started by people in the section because we were there for the USA/American Outlaws, not Timbers FC.
Timbers Army gets away with a LOT of stuff, more than other supporters groups in MLS, and I am not sure why. They have a great relationship with their front office, so they let off smoke bombs galore, but MLS never seems to come down on them. For example, "Let's go fucking mental!" is a standard chant for Timbers Army, but Real Salt Lake isn't allowed to say, "You suck asshole!" It irks me very much that MLS has a double standard. Either make demands on EVERY team in the league or none at all. It is quite unfair for MLS to single out one team, in my opinion.
Anyway, back to the game. Post-game, David and I have started a tradition of going to a restaurant for a solid meal. Although we like the bar scene, often returning to the night before party bar has become a bit repetitive. That, and post-game, we really want a good meal (which most bars cannot provide). I found a restaurant along the train called Luc Lac Restaurant, and it was delicious. I highly recommend the spot, which also has a full bar.
The next day was uneventful, as we headed back to San Diego. I am not used to flying Southwest Airlines (decided to take the same flights as David, since it's easier), but I can see why people like them. They're pretty much on time, boards and takes off quickly, and provides friendly service. My biggest issue is that you have to board with your boarding group to get a good seat (since unassigned), and for work, I am sometimes barely making it to a flight.
So, that's Portland...I'll write about Salt Lake City tomorrow!
I mulled over this for an hour and thought, "What if I don't make it on game day either?" Then I'd be REALLY screwed. Furthermore, arriving on game day meant a 5PM arrival time into Portland, which was cutting it close to kickoff. I decided right then and there to book a Southwest Airlines flight from SAN-LAS-PDX, which meant I departed SAN around 5PM and arrived in PDX around 10PM. Booking a new flight cost an extra $236, which isn't bad considering I booked the flight four hours prior to departure. In hindsight, I'm glad I did it because I would've been even more stressed leaving on game day. I have learned my lesson and WILL NEVER book Virgin America again, especially since they refused to give a refund. They blamed the delay on the Asiana Airlines accident, but if that was the case, why wasn't my SFO-PDX flight delayed too?
Changing flights suddenly involves more than just the flights. I had to book a new shuttle from Pacific Beach to the airport, and I had to figure out how to get from PDX to the hotel. Originally I had planned to take public transportation in Portland, but being a single female, it's generally unsafe to use public transportation that late at night. So, I booked a Hertz rental car. I thought it would cost me $45 (thanks to rental car points) according to the preliminary figure given online. Upon checkout, the rental car cost less than $4 from Monday night to Wednesday morning! What a steal!
I missed the official night before party in Portland because the bar closed at 11PM (early!!!), and Hertz unfortunately took an hour to get a car when I arrived at the airport (obviously overbooked). I made it to the after-party at Kells Irish Pub, but the bar had stopped serving. Someone suggested going to a strip club called Mary's, and desperate for at least one drink, I agreed. It was the smallest strip club I've ever been in with the most bored stripper ever. I noticed even the guys were just on their phones or talking to each other, not paying attention to her. I downed my long island, and we left. That was my participation in the night before activities in Portland.
We weren't sure about the parking situation at the stadium, so we decided to take public transportation the next day. The Doubletree hotel downtown ($65/night & 32,000 points) was RIGHT next to the train station, which was very convenient! Since the game was fairly late, we decided to explore Chinatown. WORST idea ever! I've decided Portland Chinese people are not ambitious at all, as all the restaurants were closed on a Tuesday late morning/near lunch time. I didn't see any bakeries or grocery stores. There was a homeless tent city RIGHT next to the Chinatown gate, which was awful. I am not sure why homeless people set up in Chinatown though, since Chinese people tend to be unsympathetic to the homeless. If you want to see the ghetto of Portland, go to Chinatown. I would rather run away next time!
The game day bar in Portland was the Cheerful Bullpen. I liked the set up because the back patio was underneath HUGE trees! I tried a Stella Hard Cider for the first time, and it was pretty good. Unfortunately, the bar only had about 6 of them and sold out quickly. Hard cider by a local brewery was on tap, but it wasn't as good. Oh well.
Being seasoned travelers, the only other people we initially recognized was from AO national. Gold Cup games tend to have more local people versus world cup qualifiers. Later, Chris from Alaska showed, as well as some AO Phoenix members. It was good seeing a few familiar faces.
We went into the stadium when the gates open. We chose the seats that would get the shade first (smart thinking on Chris' part). The first game (Cuba versus Costa Rica) was nothing to write home about. Our game, was interesting, as we creamed Belize by 5 goals. The section was loud and rocking, but my biggest criticism is that we pretty much did all Timbers Army chants. We did two capo-led American Outlaws chants in the first half, and two in the second half. Any other chants that were done were started by people in the section because we were there for the USA/American Outlaws, not Timbers FC.
Timbers Army gets away with a LOT of stuff, more than other supporters groups in MLS, and I am not sure why. They have a great relationship with their front office, so they let off smoke bombs galore, but MLS never seems to come down on them. For example, "Let's go fucking mental!" is a standard chant for Timbers Army, but Real Salt Lake isn't allowed to say, "You suck asshole!" It irks me very much that MLS has a double standard. Either make demands on EVERY team in the league or none at all. It is quite unfair for MLS to single out one team, in my opinion.
Anyway, back to the game. Post-game, David and I have started a tradition of going to a restaurant for a solid meal. Although we like the bar scene, often returning to the night before party bar has become a bit repetitive. That, and post-game, we really want a good meal (which most bars cannot provide). I found a restaurant along the train called Luc Lac Restaurant, and it was delicious. I highly recommend the spot, which also has a full bar.
The next day was uneventful, as we headed back to San Diego. I am not used to flying Southwest Airlines (decided to take the same flights as David, since it's easier), but I can see why people like them. They're pretty much on time, boards and takes off quickly, and provides friendly service. My biggest issue is that you have to board with your boarding group to get a good seat (since unassigned), and for work, I am sometimes barely making it to a flight.
So, that's Portland...I'll write about Salt Lake City tomorrow!
Monday, July 8, 2013
USMNT: Seattle, Salt Lake, & San Diego
When I last wrote, it was all about Dynamo, but after the Columbus game, I've been focusing on USMNT. I'm very fortunate that I can follow both!
I have to admit I had a hard time enjoying myself in Seattle for the main reason that my luggage was lost. It was also a point in my travels (leisure and work) where I was wearing out. To give you an idea of my travels that week alone, I flew: Houston-Miami-Houston (2hr layover)-Seattle-Pittsburgh-Jacksonville-Houston. When I was in Miami, I decided to check my bags all the way through to Seattle so that I wouldn't have to collect my bags and re-check back in during the 2-hour layover. BAD IDEA. My Miami flight was an American Airlines flight, and my Houston flight was a United flight. Although American Airlines tagged the bag correctly, the bag did not get transferred in Houston. I had to find a new Adidas outfit ($20 cab ride to the university area from downtown, spent $130 on a new outfit) during the game day party once I learned I was not going to receive my luggage. I arrived at the hotel post-game, and the front desk said, "Hey, by the way, your luggage is here!" It's a good thing I had warned them because I didn't receive a call from anyone stating it had been delivered! It was nice to have luggage less than 12 hours before departing the next day!
The set up for Seattle was pretty intense, and Shawn (the AO president of their chapter) did an outstanding job with organization. The night before party was held at Golazo headquarters, which is basically a warehouse. There were video games, basketball hoops, a photo station, and bartenders. I arrived after midnight, so I was pretty tired, but I made it! Afterwards, I used Yelp (a godsend - download the app if you don't have it!) to find a pizza place. We entered a pizza bar with about 20 people. I'm sure the bar was overwhelmed, but pizza hit the spot. I should also note another useful app while traveling is Taxi Magic, which I used in Seattle. You can order a cab at a particular time, utilize a GPS tracking feature, and pay via the app or cash.
As for the game itself, it was also highly organized. There were capos equipped with microphones and speakers, so the sections were cohesive. My only two complaints are that the capos weren't that familiar with American Outlaws chants, and there were too many club chants done. I am a firm, strong believer in separation of club and country. American Outlaws has enough chants that you don't have to do club chants. "Dale dale dale USA" irks me to say the least because I will sing it Dynamo style. A guy behind me was singing it LA style. I also don't like the use of Spanish chants for the USA, even if they've been adapted into English. Maybe that's just me, but I think the English language has enough lyrics and songs on its own that we shouldn't have to rely on other countries' languages and songs.
For a hotel in Seattle, we were lucky. I had a voucher for one free night at any Best Western, so we stayed at the Best Western Pioneer Square, only a few blocks from the game day party and Occidental Park (where the march started). The AAA rate for rooms were $200/night, but this is typical of Seattle downtown. Even when I visit for work, I'm constantly having to justify why the hotel room rate is so high. The American Outlaws room rate was $175/night at the Roosevelt hotel. From the airport to hotel and vice versa, I cabbed it; it's a $40 flat rate from downtown hotels to the airport. Cheaper options include a shuttle or public transportation if you prefer.
From Seattle, the next World Cup qualifier was in Salt Lake City. I chose the Doubletree hotel downtown, as it was only $10 more per night than the Hampton Inn room block I set up (more bonus points are given when staying at Doubletrees). The Doubletree is nice in that it used to be an Embassy Suites (free breakfast/wifi/parking) and has a free shuttle to/from airport & within downtown. They'll also pick you up whenever you need, so they picked me up at Bourbon House after I was done at the night before party. By the way, if you're looking for Bourbon House, they're located in the basement of a building right next to the FedEx office. On game day, they had $3 tacos, which were pretty tasty.
On game day, we were awake at a decent time, so I suggested we head to the conference center. During my flight into Salt Lake, some locals recommended going there because the rooftop has a garden and gives a good view of the city. So, we went. We entered the conference center, and an elderly lady approached us. I asked about the roof, and she began talking to us. We followed her, thinking she was just going to escort us to the roof, and realized she was giving us a tour. We had no clue! So, for about 1.5 hours, we took a free, educated tour of the conference center, which was awesome! The tour included the auditorium where the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sings every Christmas - it was huge! So, if you're in Salt Lake City and looking for something relatively quick and easy to do, go to the conference center (no appointment needed).
Afterwards, we walked through Temple Square and went back to Bourbon House. We hung out with friends and took public transportation to the stadium (about 30+ minutes from downtown and ~20 minutes walk to the tailgate). TRAX is the name of Salt Lake City's transportation system. It cost $15 for four people to ride all day, which isn't bad. Once you get off of the light rail, there are gas stations on the way to the tailgate if you need supplies. Thankfully we were with someone from Salt Lake City because we would've never found the tailgate. It's actually down a dirt road with some gravel, next to an Asian supermarket (think it's called Ocean City). Lots aren't numbered, so it was tricky for those who drove. We tailgated RIGHT next to Hondurans, and given the heat, I felt like we were in Honduras.
The game itself was messy. We ended up winning, but the team didn't seem cohesive to me. If we continue to play like we did in Salt Lake, we won't make it to the World Cup. Passing seemed to be difficult. There were seemingly communication barriers amongst teammates. It was a complete 180 turnaround from the Seattle game. In Seattle, I felt like we had it together, and we played well. In Salt Lake, I did not feel like that at all, despite the win.
The American Outlaws sections in Salt Lake City were a failure. There were no drummers from Salt Lake City. All we had were two travelers with drums, so their drums were small. They were also to the side of the section, so there's no way another section could hear the drums. I tweeted to the chapter last week to ask if they've an extra bass drum and mallets; no reply has been received. I realize Salt Lake City as a chapter has had to recently rebuild, but I am still quite appalled at the fact we had no drums.
Some people in the American Outlaws section complained that we were chanting. A guy who was a season ticket holder for club games (and said "I've been an American Outlaws member for a long time") insisted on having HIS seat for the WCQ and then brought another 6-7 of his buddies to crowd the row during the second half of the game. Based on this, I've decide I don't like Salt Lake City season ticket holders. A country game is different than a club game-it's why we have different seats for different events. If you're late to a general admission section, that's your fault. Unfortunately, there was nothing we could do since they weren't starting fights, but having about 10 obnoxious guys standing RIGHT behind you does not make for a pleasant experience. Obviously chapter members weren't told to be good hosts. We have to return next week, and frankly, I am not looking forward to it. Hands down, Salt Lake City has been my worst section experience ever, and I've only missed 3 USMNT domestic games since last year.
This month so far I've attended the San Diego friendly, which was last week. I arrived on the morning of Independence Day, thanks to a free United flight. To get from the airport to Pacific Beach is $18 round trip, which is a steal. A cab would've cost $30 each way. I managed to attend training, and it was one of the best trainings I've attended in a while. The team really worked on set pieces, corner kicks, free kicks, etc. We happened to be on the endline where everything was happening. I ran into Stu Holden afterwards, and we took a goofy picture together, which landed on ASN. I couldn't figure out how to work my self-shot camera option, so I kept turning the camera, and Stu kept turning his head to match the camera. I regret not snapping a photo quickly enough when we were both sticking out our tongues!
Given the San Diego chapter had less than a month's notice to put together everything, I'd say they did a good job. The night before party was intimate, as it was Independence Day, but it was good to finally meet people, as I'm close with the AO San Diego president (David). The tailgate was awesome, with LOTS of canopies - probably the most canopies I've ever seen clumped together at a AO tailgate. [Kansas City had a huge tent, roped into the gravel lot last year.] David's dad has an RV, thankfully, as there weren't port-a-potties nearby. Since the air conditioning was running, it was also an escape from the heat.
I went into the section right when the gates open to guard the drums, as being a bass drummer was my role. It turned out LA lost a drummer, so I volunteered to drum and ended up being the only bass drummer who drummed the full 90. I realize in the beginning it sounded messy, but trying to coordinator all four sections (especially in a NFL stadium) is harder than it looks. I ensured the main capo stayed near me, which helped. I watched the replay of the game, and it's amazing how much you can hear the drums, especially since I didn't see a suspended mic or mic attached to the railing.
San Diego hasn't had a USMNT game in decades, and this was evident. When I first got into the section, I worked on bandaging my hands, making sure the drumsticks/mallets were in place, etc. I was constantly asked what "GA" meant on the ticket, and I also had to explain to security what it meant. I found it amusing. San Diego has one of our largest chapters, with over 300 members, but the poor chapter can't get a game. Attendance was about 25,000, not bad for a non-MLS market and little notice.
I'm still in San Diego because luckily when the rumor was announced in May that San Diego would have a friendly, I hadn't booked my Portland flights. It made sense to go from San Diego to Portland instead of going home to Houston. My ticket on Virgin America (only flown once, but great experience) from San Diego to Portland was only $112. My ticket from Portland back to San Diego on Southwest was much higher (about $200 I think), but I wanted to make sure I'm on the same flights as David. So, that's been the last three USMNT games so far. I'm off to Portland today!
I have to admit I had a hard time enjoying myself in Seattle for the main reason that my luggage was lost. It was also a point in my travels (leisure and work) where I was wearing out. To give you an idea of my travels that week alone, I flew: Houston-Miami-Houston (2hr layover)-Seattle-Pittsburgh-Jacksonville-Houston. When I was in Miami, I decided to check my bags all the way through to Seattle so that I wouldn't have to collect my bags and re-check back in during the 2-hour layover. BAD IDEA. My Miami flight was an American Airlines flight, and my Houston flight was a United flight. Although American Airlines tagged the bag correctly, the bag did not get transferred in Houston. I had to find a new Adidas outfit ($20 cab ride to the university area from downtown, spent $130 on a new outfit) during the game day party once I learned I was not going to receive my luggage. I arrived at the hotel post-game, and the front desk said, "Hey, by the way, your luggage is here!" It's a good thing I had warned them because I didn't receive a call from anyone stating it had been delivered! It was nice to have luggage less than 12 hours before departing the next day!
The set up for Seattle was pretty intense, and Shawn (the AO president of their chapter) did an outstanding job with organization. The night before party was held at Golazo headquarters, which is basically a warehouse. There were video games, basketball hoops, a photo station, and bartenders. I arrived after midnight, so I was pretty tired, but I made it! Afterwards, I used Yelp (a godsend - download the app if you don't have it!) to find a pizza place. We entered a pizza bar with about 20 people. I'm sure the bar was overwhelmed, but pizza hit the spot. I should also note another useful app while traveling is Taxi Magic, which I used in Seattle. You can order a cab at a particular time, utilize a GPS tracking feature, and pay via the app or cash.
As for the game itself, it was also highly organized. There were capos equipped with microphones and speakers, so the sections were cohesive. My only two complaints are that the capos weren't that familiar with American Outlaws chants, and there were too many club chants done. I am a firm, strong believer in separation of club and country. American Outlaws has enough chants that you don't have to do club chants. "Dale dale dale USA" irks me to say the least because I will sing it Dynamo style. A guy behind me was singing it LA style. I also don't like the use of Spanish chants for the USA, even if they've been adapted into English. Maybe that's just me, but I think the English language has enough lyrics and songs on its own that we shouldn't have to rely on other countries' languages and songs.
For a hotel in Seattle, we were lucky. I had a voucher for one free night at any Best Western, so we stayed at the Best Western Pioneer Square, only a few blocks from the game day party and Occidental Park (where the march started). The AAA rate for rooms were $200/night, but this is typical of Seattle downtown. Even when I visit for work, I'm constantly having to justify why the hotel room rate is so high. The American Outlaws room rate was $175/night at the Roosevelt hotel. From the airport to hotel and vice versa, I cabbed it; it's a $40 flat rate from downtown hotels to the airport. Cheaper options include a shuttle or public transportation if you prefer.
From Seattle, the next World Cup qualifier was in Salt Lake City. I chose the Doubletree hotel downtown, as it was only $10 more per night than the Hampton Inn room block I set up (more bonus points are given when staying at Doubletrees). The Doubletree is nice in that it used to be an Embassy Suites (free breakfast/wifi/parking) and has a free shuttle to/from airport & within downtown. They'll also pick you up whenever you need, so they picked me up at Bourbon House after I was done at the night before party. By the way, if you're looking for Bourbon House, they're located in the basement of a building right next to the FedEx office. On game day, they had $3 tacos, which were pretty tasty.
On game day, we were awake at a decent time, so I suggested we head to the conference center. During my flight into Salt Lake, some locals recommended going there because the rooftop has a garden and gives a good view of the city. So, we went. We entered the conference center, and an elderly lady approached us. I asked about the roof, and she began talking to us. We followed her, thinking she was just going to escort us to the roof, and realized she was giving us a tour. We had no clue! So, for about 1.5 hours, we took a free, educated tour of the conference center, which was awesome! The tour included the auditorium where the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sings every Christmas - it was huge! So, if you're in Salt Lake City and looking for something relatively quick and easy to do, go to the conference center (no appointment needed).
Afterwards, we walked through Temple Square and went back to Bourbon House. We hung out with friends and took public transportation to the stadium (about 30+ minutes from downtown and ~20 minutes walk to the tailgate). TRAX is the name of Salt Lake City's transportation system. It cost $15 for four people to ride all day, which isn't bad. Once you get off of the light rail, there are gas stations on the way to the tailgate if you need supplies. Thankfully we were with someone from Salt Lake City because we would've never found the tailgate. It's actually down a dirt road with some gravel, next to an Asian supermarket (think it's called Ocean City). Lots aren't numbered, so it was tricky for those who drove. We tailgated RIGHT next to Hondurans, and given the heat, I felt like we were in Honduras.
The game itself was messy. We ended up winning, but the team didn't seem cohesive to me. If we continue to play like we did in Salt Lake, we won't make it to the World Cup. Passing seemed to be difficult. There were seemingly communication barriers amongst teammates. It was a complete 180 turnaround from the Seattle game. In Seattle, I felt like we had it together, and we played well. In Salt Lake, I did not feel like that at all, despite the win.
The American Outlaws sections in Salt Lake City were a failure. There were no drummers from Salt Lake City. All we had were two travelers with drums, so their drums were small. They were also to the side of the section, so there's no way another section could hear the drums. I tweeted to the chapter last week to ask if they've an extra bass drum and mallets; no reply has been received. I realize Salt Lake City as a chapter has had to recently rebuild, but I am still quite appalled at the fact we had no drums.
Some people in the American Outlaws section complained that we were chanting. A guy who was a season ticket holder for club games (and said "I've been an American Outlaws member for a long time") insisted on having HIS seat for the WCQ and then brought another 6-7 of his buddies to crowd the row during the second half of the game. Based on this, I've decide I don't like Salt Lake City season ticket holders. A country game is different than a club game-it's why we have different seats for different events. If you're late to a general admission section, that's your fault. Unfortunately, there was nothing we could do since they weren't starting fights, but having about 10 obnoxious guys standing RIGHT behind you does not make for a pleasant experience. Obviously chapter members weren't told to be good hosts. We have to return next week, and frankly, I am not looking forward to it. Hands down, Salt Lake City has been my worst section experience ever, and I've only missed 3 USMNT domestic games since last year.
This month so far I've attended the San Diego friendly, which was last week. I arrived on the morning of Independence Day, thanks to a free United flight. To get from the airport to Pacific Beach is $18 round trip, which is a steal. A cab would've cost $30 each way. I managed to attend training, and it was one of the best trainings I've attended in a while. The team really worked on set pieces, corner kicks, free kicks, etc. We happened to be on the endline where everything was happening. I ran into Stu Holden afterwards, and we took a goofy picture together, which landed on ASN. I couldn't figure out how to work my self-shot camera option, so I kept turning the camera, and Stu kept turning his head to match the camera. I regret not snapping a photo quickly enough when we were both sticking out our tongues!
Given the San Diego chapter had less than a month's notice to put together everything, I'd say they did a good job. The night before party was intimate, as it was Independence Day, but it was good to finally meet people, as I'm close with the AO San Diego president (David). The tailgate was awesome, with LOTS of canopies - probably the most canopies I've ever seen clumped together at a AO tailgate. [Kansas City had a huge tent, roped into the gravel lot last year.] David's dad has an RV, thankfully, as there weren't port-a-potties nearby. Since the air conditioning was running, it was also an escape from the heat.
I went into the section right when the gates open to guard the drums, as being a bass drummer was my role. It turned out LA lost a drummer, so I volunteered to drum and ended up being the only bass drummer who drummed the full 90. I realize in the beginning it sounded messy, but trying to coordinator all four sections (especially in a NFL stadium) is harder than it looks. I ensured the main capo stayed near me, which helped. I watched the replay of the game, and it's amazing how much you can hear the drums, especially since I didn't see a suspended mic or mic attached to the railing.
San Diego hasn't had a USMNT game in decades, and this was evident. When I first got into the section, I worked on bandaging my hands, making sure the drumsticks/mallets were in place, etc. I was constantly asked what "GA" meant on the ticket, and I also had to explain to security what it meant. I found it amusing. San Diego has one of our largest chapters, with over 300 members, but the poor chapter can't get a game. Attendance was about 25,000, not bad for a non-MLS market and little notice.
I'm still in San Diego because luckily when the rumor was announced in May that San Diego would have a friendly, I hadn't booked my Portland flights. It made sense to go from San Diego to Portland instead of going home to Houston. My ticket on Virgin America (only flown once, but great experience) from San Diego to Portland was only $112. My ticket from Portland back to San Diego on Southwest was much higher (about $200 I think), but I wanted to make sure I'm on the same flights as David. So, that's been the last three USMNT games so far. I'm off to Portland today!
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Dynamo: LA, KC, & Columbus
Wow, it has been quite a while since I've updated this blog. I apologize, as with all my work travels, my life has been crazy. To give you an idea, I was last in the office on 29Apr2013, and I didn't return to the office until 24Jun2013! I was pretty much on daily travel, including weekends and away Dynamo games!
The match against LA the first Saturday in May was good. We had about 30 people in our Dynamo away section. It should be noted that since this was a MLS regular season game, our section was pretty chill. For example, we sat the whole time because there were people behind us. One of my friends noted the atmosphere was quite different, as it was her first time at a non-playoff game. It started sprinkling during the game, and I've never seen a crowd leave so quickly, as if they'd melt. I'd definitely consider LA full of fair weather fans. I should also mention Angel City Brigade, a few sections over, allowed us to tailgate with them; we also tend to sing similar chants.
I should note the night before the game we decided to go to Laguna Beach. We met with the American Outlaws national Chapter Chairman/Travel Manager, Brian. We went to Club Bounce and had a good time. Laguna Beach is about an hour with no traffic from Torrance, CA (where the stadium is located), so I can see why he doesn't attend LA MLS games. We also hopped around the strip, and it was a good time. It was a bit chilly, and one of the restaurants gave us blankets while on the rooftop. The view was spectacular.
Logistically, this trip was cheap for me. Work paid for my flights and rental car (since I had to be in Torrance for work the Friday before the game anyway, then Sacramento the following Tuesday). I used hotel points at the Hampton Inn off of Albertoni street. It's not the Ritz Carlton, but it's a cheap hotel (12,500 points/night vs. the usual 25,000) that is RIGHT off of the freeway. I have learned that this is a must, especially in LA when you're constantly driving. Some friends were staying at the Marriott Torrance (where the team stayed), but the Marriott was about 20 minutes from the freeway. LA sprawls, so it's best to minimize the amount of driving time when possible by staying closer to the freeway. I've always had great service at this Hampton Inn (stayed three times now) despite the fact it's run by Asians. There's free breakfast, wi-fi, and parking.
Within the same month, I went to Kansas City during Memorial Weekend for the Dynamo game. This time I road-tripped it with KH & MF. It's about a 12-hour drive (including stops). We rode in MF's SUV, and we probably filled up for gas about 3 times during the trip. Each tank cost about $40-$50, but it's still cheaper than flying if you consider the aggregate total we would've spent on flights. The most memorable part of the drive was driving through Moore, OK where the tornados had recently hit. The amount of destruction can't be explained well using words. It was strange that an entire subdivision was demolished, but a subdivision next door was fine. It's definitely a sight you won't forget.
We stayed at the Best Western - Kansas City Inn for a total of $210.44 for two nights. I had reserved the room back in January when the MLS schedule was first released. I think others may have paid more as the date approached. We had stayed at this Best Western last year, and they provided shuttle service to the power and light district. This year, they did not provide shuttle service due to new management. Therefore, I no longer recommend staying at this hotel.
Saturday night (before game day) we hung out with a few Cauldron people at Johnny's Tavern (also the American Outlaws KC chapter's bar). If you've never been to Johnny's, you should go. Service and prices are decent. It's also located in a courtyard of bars called "KC Live," which is a great setup. The courtyard, surrounded by bars, has couches, a fountain, and a big screen tv. It's where events are shown, e.g. the World Cup or NCAA final four tournament. There is no cover past 8pm or 9pm. Often, if you enter the front door of Johnny's (no cover), you can exit through the back, get your hand stamped, and enter the courtyard. You can also bring your drink from bar to bar, as long as it's not in a glass container. [Johnny's will provide plastic cups upon exit.]
I have to admit the game isn't very memorable to me because I was drumming. Whenever I drum for the games, I don't really get to watch. I was the only drummer (had a bass drum). Logistically, things went smoothly. It's funny how security gently shook the drum to ensure I wasn't sneaking anything in. Frankly, I wouldn't have even thought of opening the drum to put contraband!
After the game, we went to the members bar, which is very cool. It is the one thing I wish BBVA Compass Stadium has, but that's okay because we have air conditioned bathrooms (a must in Houston!). Apparently during games, prices at the members bar in Sporting KC's stadium are very cheap. I've heard you can get $3 hamburgers, etc., but I can promise you the hard liquor drinks are very pricey! From the members bar, we went to Johnny's again, and had a good time. The drive back from KC was nothing memorable, which in some ways is a blessing, considering last year's fiasco.
Within the same week, I followed the Dynamo to Columbus on 01Jun2013. Since I had to be in Columbus for work the following Monday, I might as well go to the game! Columbus has been the hardest stadium to obtain a ticket, in my opinion. I had my eye on Columbus for a few months prior to the game. You can't buy a single game ticket online, and when you use the automated system, you get re-directed to a ticket master agent who won't know anything about the stadium. I lied through the automated prompts, finally got someone who works for Crew, and he was able to give me a great seat for less than $30 - four rows up from the field, right next to where the Dynamo warm up. Emailing does not work, as there is no general email address for ticket sales; individual reps' email addresses are listed online. So, you have to call.
Since I went solo, I was surrounded by Crew fans (not supporters) who were mostly families, so I didn't have any trouble. There were a handful of Dynamo guys one section over, but I didn't know who they were. We tied the game, and we were both lucky. Crew had lost their greatest player due to injury; the Dynamo only had 2-3 of their usual starters due to injury. It's just that time in the season when players' bodies are wearing out, understandably.
The next morning I went to the reserves game. We won 1-0. For the most part, I stood at the top, hiding in the shade (I'm a wuss, what can I say), but for the last 15 minutes, I managed to gather some courage and sit with the Dynamo players. I'm typically not a shy person, but I always am around players because I don't want to invade their personal space. I'm glad I went.
From the reserves game, I went to the Fourth Street Bar & Grill to watch the USMNT vs Germany friendly in DC with fellow American Outlaws. Oddly, the bar was not packed at all, and I was surprised. I was there last year during the Jamaican WCQ, so I've been shoulder to shoulder there. I still had a good time. I've learned whenever you buy beer for people, people greet you with open arms.
Columbus was cheap for me because I'd just flown from Evansville, IN. It was $600 cheaper for me to flying directly from IN (including another night's hotel and car rental) versus going home from IN and flying back up to OH. I stayed at a Hilton Garden Inn near OSU. It was my first time staying in this area (have stayed downtown, near the airport, and who knows where else), and I liked it. The service was great, and there was coin laundry (a must for me, as I had been on the road for a while). The OSU area is a great, cheaper alternative to staying downtown. It's only about 10 minutes from the stadium and about 10 minutes from the AO bar. It's also easier to run errands, e.g. grocery shop or go to the liquor store, versus downtown because you don't have to worry about street or paid parking.
So, those are the last three Dynamo away games I've been to. I will write about the June USMNT home WCQs next!
The match against LA the first Saturday in May was good. We had about 30 people in our Dynamo away section. It should be noted that since this was a MLS regular season game, our section was pretty chill. For example, we sat the whole time because there were people behind us. One of my friends noted the atmosphere was quite different, as it was her first time at a non-playoff game. It started sprinkling during the game, and I've never seen a crowd leave so quickly, as if they'd melt. I'd definitely consider LA full of fair weather fans. I should also mention Angel City Brigade, a few sections over, allowed us to tailgate with them; we also tend to sing similar chants.
I should note the night before the game we decided to go to Laguna Beach. We met with the American Outlaws national Chapter Chairman/Travel Manager, Brian. We went to Club Bounce and had a good time. Laguna Beach is about an hour with no traffic from Torrance, CA (where the stadium is located), so I can see why he doesn't attend LA MLS games. We also hopped around the strip, and it was a good time. It was a bit chilly, and one of the restaurants gave us blankets while on the rooftop. The view was spectacular.
Logistically, this trip was cheap for me. Work paid for my flights and rental car (since I had to be in Torrance for work the Friday before the game anyway, then Sacramento the following Tuesday). I used hotel points at the Hampton Inn off of Albertoni street. It's not the Ritz Carlton, but it's a cheap hotel (12,500 points/night vs. the usual 25,000) that is RIGHT off of the freeway. I have learned that this is a must, especially in LA when you're constantly driving. Some friends were staying at the Marriott Torrance (where the team stayed), but the Marriott was about 20 minutes from the freeway. LA sprawls, so it's best to minimize the amount of driving time when possible by staying closer to the freeway. I've always had great service at this Hampton Inn (stayed three times now) despite the fact it's run by Asians. There's free breakfast, wi-fi, and parking.
Within the same month, I went to Kansas City during Memorial Weekend for the Dynamo game. This time I road-tripped it with KH & MF. It's about a 12-hour drive (including stops). We rode in MF's SUV, and we probably filled up for gas about 3 times during the trip. Each tank cost about $40-$50, but it's still cheaper than flying if you consider the aggregate total we would've spent on flights. The most memorable part of the drive was driving through Moore, OK where the tornados had recently hit. The amount of destruction can't be explained well using words. It was strange that an entire subdivision was demolished, but a subdivision next door was fine. It's definitely a sight you won't forget.
We stayed at the Best Western - Kansas City Inn for a total of $210.44 for two nights. I had reserved the room back in January when the MLS schedule was first released. I think others may have paid more as the date approached. We had stayed at this Best Western last year, and they provided shuttle service to the power and light district. This year, they did not provide shuttle service due to new management. Therefore, I no longer recommend staying at this hotel.
Saturday night (before game day) we hung out with a few Cauldron people at Johnny's Tavern (also the American Outlaws KC chapter's bar). If you've never been to Johnny's, you should go. Service and prices are decent. It's also located in a courtyard of bars called "KC Live," which is a great setup. The courtyard, surrounded by bars, has couches, a fountain, and a big screen tv. It's where events are shown, e.g. the World Cup or NCAA final four tournament. There is no cover past 8pm or 9pm. Often, if you enter the front door of Johnny's (no cover), you can exit through the back, get your hand stamped, and enter the courtyard. You can also bring your drink from bar to bar, as long as it's not in a glass container. [Johnny's will provide plastic cups upon exit.]
I have to admit the game isn't very memorable to me because I was drumming. Whenever I drum for the games, I don't really get to watch. I was the only drummer (had a bass drum). Logistically, things went smoothly. It's funny how security gently shook the drum to ensure I wasn't sneaking anything in. Frankly, I wouldn't have even thought of opening the drum to put contraband!
After the game, we went to the members bar, which is very cool. It is the one thing I wish BBVA Compass Stadium has, but that's okay because we have air conditioned bathrooms (a must in Houston!). Apparently during games, prices at the members bar in Sporting KC's stadium are very cheap. I've heard you can get $3 hamburgers, etc., but I can promise you the hard liquor drinks are very pricey! From the members bar, we went to Johnny's again, and had a good time. The drive back from KC was nothing memorable, which in some ways is a blessing, considering last year's fiasco.
Within the same week, I followed the Dynamo to Columbus on 01Jun2013. Since I had to be in Columbus for work the following Monday, I might as well go to the game! Columbus has been the hardest stadium to obtain a ticket, in my opinion. I had my eye on Columbus for a few months prior to the game. You can't buy a single game ticket online, and when you use the automated system, you get re-directed to a ticket master agent who won't know anything about the stadium. I lied through the automated prompts, finally got someone who works for Crew, and he was able to give me a great seat for less than $30 - four rows up from the field, right next to where the Dynamo warm up. Emailing does not work, as there is no general email address for ticket sales; individual reps' email addresses are listed online. So, you have to call.
Since I went solo, I was surrounded by Crew fans (not supporters) who were mostly families, so I didn't have any trouble. There were a handful of Dynamo guys one section over, but I didn't know who they were. We tied the game, and we were both lucky. Crew had lost their greatest player due to injury; the Dynamo only had 2-3 of their usual starters due to injury. It's just that time in the season when players' bodies are wearing out, understandably.
The next morning I went to the reserves game. We won 1-0. For the most part, I stood at the top, hiding in the shade (I'm a wuss, what can I say), but for the last 15 minutes, I managed to gather some courage and sit with the Dynamo players. I'm typically not a shy person, but I always am around players because I don't want to invade their personal space. I'm glad I went.
From the reserves game, I went to the Fourth Street Bar & Grill to watch the USMNT vs Germany friendly in DC with fellow American Outlaws. Oddly, the bar was not packed at all, and I was surprised. I was there last year during the Jamaican WCQ, so I've been shoulder to shoulder there. I still had a good time. I've learned whenever you buy beer for people, people greet you with open arms.
Columbus was cheap for me because I'd just flown from Evansville, IN. It was $600 cheaper for me to flying directly from IN (including another night's hotel and car rental) versus going home from IN and flying back up to OH. I stayed at a Hilton Garden Inn near OSU. It was my first time staying in this area (have stayed downtown, near the airport, and who knows where else), and I liked it. The service was great, and there was coin laundry (a must for me, as I had been on the road for a while). The OSU area is a great, cheaper alternative to staying downtown. It's only about 10 minutes from the stadium and about 10 minutes from the AO bar. It's also easier to run errands, e.g. grocery shop or go to the liquor store, versus downtown because you don't have to worry about street or paid parking.
So, those are the last three Dynamo away games I've been to. I will write about the June USMNT home WCQs next!
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Houston Dynamo Away Trips
Now that I've got two caps under my belt this year for Dynamo away games (Charleston and Dallas, although the latter is arguably really a home game), it's time to start looking ahead at the MLS schedule more closely. Every year when the MLS reschedule is released, I sit and plan. Admittedly, I am focusing more on USMNT this year versus Dynamo mainly because the USMNT don't play much every year, so might as well take advantage this year. I've also pretty much depleted all my free United miles on world cup qualifiers and Gold Cup (spent 97,500 miles), so this means I'll need to penny-pinch like a normal person (for once) when it comes to club games.
May 5th in LA - This will be my next Dynamo game, as I was able to schedule a site visit in Torrance, CA. [Conveniently, I have a site near Home Depot Center!] Thus, my flights and car rental are paid. However, I did have to scrounge for two nights of hotel (since understandably work will not pay for the extra nights I want to stay), so I used points for a free room at the Hampton right next to the stadium. It's the same hotel we used during MLS cup. Hamptons are probably on the lowest on the totem pole of the Hilton chain, but they have free breakfast and wifi. This particular hotel also only costs 12,500 points/night as opposed to the usual 25K, which helps immensely. I'll be hanging out with KH & MF; David will also drive from San Diego as well.
May 26th in KC - I am driving with MF and KH; it's about a 10-12hr drive from Houston. Could I have flown? Yes, but I didn't want to. Had I tried to schedule flights around a site visit I would've technically been working on a Saturday and a holiday, which I didn't want to do. I can ask for compensation time everytime I work weekends, but asking for too much compensation time raises management's eyes, so it's best that I don't. I also think it will be a fun trip this year with people who are easy to travel with. This is key when taking a road trip. If something goes wrong (God forbid), you need to have adaptable companions with pleasant demeanors. To give an idea of how long ago I planned ahead, I reserved a Best Western that provides shuttle service to the power and light district on 12Jan2013 (about $105/night including taxes). I should note there's a difference between "reserving" and "booking" a room in my mind. The former means you pay at check-out, and the latter means you've paid in advance. I typically choose the former, as it's not that much more expensive to do.
Sept 1st in Chicago - On Tuesday, I found a United round trip IAH to ORD flight for $258.30 (travel on Saturday, return on Monday, so no vacation time used), which is a great deal. Some have advocated the use of Spirit Airlines ($220 round trip), but by the time you add the $35 carry-on luggage fee each way and pay for an assigned seat, it's about the same price as United (even if you paid a check-in luggage fee on United). I have flown Spirit once and will never again unless forced. They're quite unorganized; one passenger was moved seats five times (so don't choose a random seat)! I reserved a Best Western near Michigan Mile on 08Jan2013 for $166.57/night (including taxes). I doubt I'll have enough hotel points to even try to get a free room by then, but we'll see. I can always cancel the hotel. Chicago is one of the few cities where I will not book a rental car, as they have an excellent public transportation system that will take you easily to the airport and Toyota Park. I always chuckle because you take the orange line to Toyota Park.
Those are the only Dynamo trips I have set in stone so far. I really wanted to go to Columbus and NY in June, but at this point, I don't know what site visits I can schedule. I am 80% certain I can schedule site visits so that I can attend the Philly and Boston games in September, as well as the DC game in October. That would make a total of 8 regular season caps, which isn't bad. I believe this was my total number of Dynamo away games last year (although I don't really keep count). Hopefully we'll make MLS playoffs; of course I will attend as many of those games as possible.
If you're a Houston Dynamo fan, feel free to contact me if you'd like to meet on the road!
May 5th in LA - This will be my next Dynamo game, as I was able to schedule a site visit in Torrance, CA. [Conveniently, I have a site near Home Depot Center!] Thus, my flights and car rental are paid. However, I did have to scrounge for two nights of hotel (since understandably work will not pay for the extra nights I want to stay), so I used points for a free room at the Hampton right next to the stadium. It's the same hotel we used during MLS cup. Hamptons are probably on the lowest on the totem pole of the Hilton chain, but they have free breakfast and wifi. This particular hotel also only costs 12,500 points/night as opposed to the usual 25K, which helps immensely. I'll be hanging out with KH & MF; David will also drive from San Diego as well.
May 26th in KC - I am driving with MF and KH; it's about a 10-12hr drive from Houston. Could I have flown? Yes, but I didn't want to. Had I tried to schedule flights around a site visit I would've technically been working on a Saturday and a holiday, which I didn't want to do. I can ask for compensation time everytime I work weekends, but asking for too much compensation time raises management's eyes, so it's best that I don't. I also think it will be a fun trip this year with people who are easy to travel with. This is key when taking a road trip. If something goes wrong (God forbid), you need to have adaptable companions with pleasant demeanors. To give an idea of how long ago I planned ahead, I reserved a Best Western that provides shuttle service to the power and light district on 12Jan2013 (about $105/night including taxes). I should note there's a difference between "reserving" and "booking" a room in my mind. The former means you pay at check-out, and the latter means you've paid in advance. I typically choose the former, as it's not that much more expensive to do.
Sept 1st in Chicago - On Tuesday, I found a United round trip IAH to ORD flight for $258.30 (travel on Saturday, return on Monday, so no vacation time used), which is a great deal. Some have advocated the use of Spirit Airlines ($220 round trip), but by the time you add the $35 carry-on luggage fee each way and pay for an assigned seat, it's about the same price as United (even if you paid a check-in luggage fee on United). I have flown Spirit once and will never again unless forced. They're quite unorganized; one passenger was moved seats five times (so don't choose a random seat)! I reserved a Best Western near Michigan Mile on 08Jan2013 for $166.57/night (including taxes). I doubt I'll have enough hotel points to even try to get a free room by then, but we'll see. I can always cancel the hotel. Chicago is one of the few cities where I will not book a rental car, as they have an excellent public transportation system that will take you easily to the airport and Toyota Park. I always chuckle because you take the orange line to Toyota Park.
Those are the only Dynamo trips I have set in stone so far. I really wanted to go to Columbus and NY in June, but at this point, I don't know what site visits I can schedule. I am 80% certain I can schedule site visits so that I can attend the Philly and Boston games in September, as well as the DC game in October. That would make a total of 8 regular season caps, which isn't bad. I believe this was my total number of Dynamo away games last year (although I don't really keep count). Hopefully we'll make MLS playoffs; of course I will attend as many of those games as possible.
If you're a Houston Dynamo fan, feel free to contact me if you'd like to meet on the road!
Monday, April 1, 2013
USMNT Gold Cup Plans
Many have asked, "Why do Gold Cup? It doesn't count this year." My response: "Why not? I can afford it." Gold Cup is a tricky tournament for the traveler, with four games across the USA, a semi-final (for which we have to qualify), and a final (for which we have to qualify). I'll be traveling with David (American Outlaws San Diego President); having someone to share the bills definitely makes it easier, although I am lucky I can also schedule work in between as well!
July 9th Portland: I have scheduled a couple of site visits in Washington already, so I am fortunate in that work will pay for my inbound and outbound flights, as well as the rental car (cheaper to fly me to Portland and pay for rental car versus coming home). I still need to book a hotel, although I have my eye on a Doubletree hotel downtown. Once I get about 900 more Hilton points, I'll be able to book. [Trying to get those last few points is always the hardest!] There's currently a Living Social deal available today only - $99/night is not a bad rate, and the hotel's less than 2 miles from the stadium. You could always take a cab and party downtown; I'm sure it'd be cheaper than parking at the stadium.
July 13th Salt Lake City: It's funny how I've never been to Salt Lake City in my life, but within a month's time span, I will visit twice. I am not sure what SLC did to get two USMNT games, but they were sure lucky (not that I am jealous or anything LOL). A rental car was booked using points, my inbound flight's paid for by work, and my outbound flight was paid using miles. I've booked a Homewood Suites downtown; for some hotels, Hilton lets you book a partial rate and points, so our rate is $40/night. For those who are unfamiliar with Homewood Suites, they're pretty decent. You get free breakfast, free light dinner and alcohol Monday through Thursdays (pending state law), a fully equipped kitchen, big fridge, dishwasher, and most importantly for us - coin laundry. Since we'll be on the road for 16 days (according to Worldmate - wonderful travel app!), easily accessible laundry is a must. Homewood Suites tend to be reasonably priced. Had I paid, the cheapest rate available is $84/night - not bad at all! This hotel also puts us about 5 blocks from the AO bar.
July 16th Hartford: From Salt Lake we go to Hartford. Thankfully I had miles to use or else the United airfare would have cost around $500! We made the decision to stay in Salt Lake City longer and leave for Hartford on July 15th (instead of flying into Hartford on the 14th) mainly because the hotel was cheaper in Salt Lake. Ten minutes walking distance from the AO bar, the Hartford Homewood Suites downtown is about $300 (thank goodness for points)!
At this point in the trip, the question is, what do you do? The next game, the quarterfinal, is in Baltimore on July 21st, almost a week later. It seems silly while on the east coast, to go home to Houston or for my San Diego companion, all the way back to the west coast. So what did I do? Schedule a site visit in Boston. Boston is less than a two hour drive from Hartford. This means work will pay for the rental car in Hartford, hotel/meals/ground transportation in Boston, and my flight from Boston to DC. :-)
July 21st DC - From Boston to DC, it's pretty cheap to travel. A one-way, 1.5 hour flight on US airways is $81 between the two cities. You can take the train, but the train is only $10 cheaper and an eight hour journey. In addition, the rental car (paid by work) has been booked for pickup at DCA; rarely do train stations have rental car companies on site. The Baltimore stadium is about 45 minutes away from DC. One may ask why I decided to fly into DCA instead of BWI, and the simple answer is that we are staying with a friend. Thankfully she has agreed to put up with us for a weekend, as I'm out of hotel points at this stage. She'll also have a washer/dryer in her apartment, which is definitely a plus. We'll arrive on a Friday and leave on the Monday after game day; I look forward to exploring DC. It's actually one of my favorite cities with lots of cheap, free things to do (thanks to my tax dollars!). I used miles to book my flight to Houston, my home.
For David, things are a bit trickier living on the west coast. He'll book his flight after the quarterfinal in Baltimore. If the USA wins, he'll book a flight to Houston so he can stay with me for free. If the USA loses, he'll book a flight home to San Diego. While this may seem like we are cursing the USA or have little faith, keep in mind, we were at the Olympics' semi-final and final in KC last year when the USA did not qualify.
Should the USA qualify for the semi-final on July 24th, it's an easy drive to Dallas from Houston (about 4-5 hours). At this time, I have not decided if I myself will drive and stay overnight at a friend's place. I am also working on a charter bus trip for the AO Houston chapter, so this is another option as well.
The final is in Chicago on July 28th. I am currently awaiting work, but most likely I will be able to schedule a visit on July 29th (which means work would pay for hotel, flights, etc). I would fly early into Chicago on game day mainly because there is a Houston Dynamo game on July 27th. Ironically, the Dynamo play Chicago Fire in Houston on the 27th. Too bad the game isn't in Chicago or else we could've had a potential double-header (reminiscent of Chicago 2009 when there was a Dynamo game on a Friday night & USMNT WCQ game on a Saturday night). Often, I am asked if I am club over country or country over club, and the answer is that I am equally both. I am a season ticket holder for Houston Dynamo, and I attended all USA domestic home games last year except one (Brazil friendly in DC). My actions speak for themselves.
In a nutshell, those are my gold cup plans. I look forward to seeing you at the games!
July 9th Portland: I have scheduled a couple of site visits in Washington already, so I am fortunate in that work will pay for my inbound and outbound flights, as well as the rental car (cheaper to fly me to Portland and pay for rental car versus coming home). I still need to book a hotel, although I have my eye on a Doubletree hotel downtown. Once I get about 900 more Hilton points, I'll be able to book. [Trying to get those last few points is always the hardest!] There's currently a Living Social deal available today only - $99/night is not a bad rate, and the hotel's less than 2 miles from the stadium. You could always take a cab and party downtown; I'm sure it'd be cheaper than parking at the stadium.
July 13th Salt Lake City: It's funny how I've never been to Salt Lake City in my life, but within a month's time span, I will visit twice. I am not sure what SLC did to get two USMNT games, but they were sure lucky (not that I am jealous or anything LOL). A rental car was booked using points, my inbound flight's paid for by work, and my outbound flight was paid using miles. I've booked a Homewood Suites downtown; for some hotels, Hilton lets you book a partial rate and points, so our rate is $40/night. For those who are unfamiliar with Homewood Suites, they're pretty decent. You get free breakfast, free light dinner and alcohol Monday through Thursdays (pending state law), a fully equipped kitchen, big fridge, dishwasher, and most importantly for us - coin laundry. Since we'll be on the road for 16 days (according to Worldmate - wonderful travel app!), easily accessible laundry is a must. Homewood Suites tend to be reasonably priced. Had I paid, the cheapest rate available is $84/night - not bad at all! This hotel also puts us about 5 blocks from the AO bar.
July 16th Hartford: From Salt Lake we go to Hartford. Thankfully I had miles to use or else the United airfare would have cost around $500! We made the decision to stay in Salt Lake City longer and leave for Hartford on July 15th (instead of flying into Hartford on the 14th) mainly because the hotel was cheaper in Salt Lake. Ten minutes walking distance from the AO bar, the Hartford Homewood Suites downtown is about $300 (thank goodness for points)!
At this point in the trip, the question is, what do you do? The next game, the quarterfinal, is in Baltimore on July 21st, almost a week later. It seems silly while on the east coast, to go home to Houston or for my San Diego companion, all the way back to the west coast. So what did I do? Schedule a site visit in Boston. Boston is less than a two hour drive from Hartford. This means work will pay for the rental car in Hartford, hotel/meals/ground transportation in Boston, and my flight from Boston to DC. :-)
July 21st DC - From Boston to DC, it's pretty cheap to travel. A one-way, 1.5 hour flight on US airways is $81 between the two cities. You can take the train, but the train is only $10 cheaper and an eight hour journey. In addition, the rental car (paid by work) has been booked for pickup at DCA; rarely do train stations have rental car companies on site. The Baltimore stadium is about 45 minutes away from DC. One may ask why I decided to fly into DCA instead of BWI, and the simple answer is that we are staying with a friend. Thankfully she has agreed to put up with us for a weekend, as I'm out of hotel points at this stage. She'll also have a washer/dryer in her apartment, which is definitely a plus. We'll arrive on a Friday and leave on the Monday after game day; I look forward to exploring DC. It's actually one of my favorite cities with lots of cheap, free things to do (thanks to my tax dollars!). I used miles to book my flight to Houston, my home.
For David, things are a bit trickier living on the west coast. He'll book his flight after the quarterfinal in Baltimore. If the USA wins, he'll book a flight to Houston so he can stay with me for free. If the USA loses, he'll book a flight home to San Diego. While this may seem like we are cursing the USA or have little faith, keep in mind, we were at the Olympics' semi-final and final in KC last year when the USA did not qualify.
Should the USA qualify for the semi-final on July 24th, it's an easy drive to Dallas from Houston (about 4-5 hours). At this time, I have not decided if I myself will drive and stay overnight at a friend's place. I am also working on a charter bus trip for the AO Houston chapter, so this is another option as well.
The final is in Chicago on July 28th. I am currently awaiting work, but most likely I will be able to schedule a visit on July 29th (which means work would pay for hotel, flights, etc). I would fly early into Chicago on game day mainly because there is a Houston Dynamo game on July 27th. Ironically, the Dynamo play Chicago Fire in Houston on the 27th. Too bad the game isn't in Chicago or else we could've had a potential double-header (reminiscent of Chicago 2009 when there was a Dynamo game on a Friday night & USMNT WCQ game on a Saturday night). Often, I am asked if I am club over country or country over club, and the answer is that I am equally both. I am a season ticket holder for Houston Dynamo, and I attended all USA domestic home games last year except one (Brazil friendly in DC). My actions speak for themselves.
In a nutshell, those are my gold cup plans. I look forward to seeing you at the games!
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