The NFL Thread (with added College Football)

[cdbearsfan]

I thought that too. In fairness it was a "home" game for them and I think Brits appreciate the sacrifice they made in coming over for the second time in three years. Little things like giving everyone a Bucs flag might have swayed neutrals too. Also we went well ahead so many neutrals would've wanted them to score to make the game interesting. In terms of actual shirt-wearing fans I'd say Bears outnumbered them about ten to one. Certainly in the pub afterwards it was 90% Bears with communal singing of "Bear down, Chicago Bears" and loud booing every time Green Bay scored in the televised game. I can't remember the last time I enjoyed myself so much at Villa Park, sadly.

[Jon Crofts]

First time experience of attending a game, it was everything I'd hoped for and more........now saving up to go to Soldier Field one year. Was it just me though who thought that all the neutrals there wanted Chicago to lose !?

If you do decide to go to Soldier Field, number 1 buy ticket early, lowest price is around $75 and individual game tickets sell out quick esp when you only play 8 home games a season. 

Number 2, Soldier Field is alongside Lake Michigan, but you knew that,  November & December it's quite chilly, I watched the Bears December 09 in -16c with a wind chill of -35c, the snow comes in horizontally & the cold hurts so bad, so wear a vest & maybe some gloves.

[Somniloquism]

First time experience of attending a game, it was everything I'd hoped for and more........now saving up to go to Soldier Field one year. Was it just me though who thought that all the neutrals there wanted Chicago to lose !?

If you do decide to go to Soldier Field, number 1 buy ticket early, lowest price is around $75 and individual game tickets sell out quick esp when you only play 8 home games a season. 

Number 2, Soldier Field is alongside Lake Michigan, but you knew that,  November & December it's quite chilly, I watched the Bears December 09 in -16c with a wind chill of -35c, the snow comes in horizontally & the cold hurts so bad, so wear a vest & maybe some gloves.

How does it normally work for away games. Do they sell all tickets for home fans or are a certain number set aside for the diehards (the Bears equivalent of DCF and Pauline)? There were certainly several yanks in the crowd yesterday.

[Jon Crofts]

Away games in fact any games www.ticketstub.com used it for Yankees, Cubs & Redskins games in the past.

All the yanks near me and there were lots, we're all service men & women, probably thanks to Tickets For Troops.

[UK Redsox]

My sources for tickets to events Stateside are............

1) Direct from the clubs through MLB.com, NFL.com, NHL.com etc

2) www.stubhub.com

3) www.sportstravelandtours.com

[Guy M]

I was in Chicago weekend before last and guess I must have got pretty lucky then. Wandered down towards ground about 2 hours before kick-off. Ignored most of the scalpers until I was right by the ground. One I spoke to was offering $90 ticket for $150. Said I'd think about it. He said how about $125. I said I'd get back to him. He asked what was holding me back. I said the fact I'd got a ticket for Smashing Pumpkins for $40 when they were $60 face and asking $80 an hour earlier.

Glad I waited as walked towards the PROPER tailgate party, spotted a middle-aged woman holding one ticket aloft. Approached her, asked how much it was and she said $90. Said I wanted to buy, she wanted to sell, face value done simply in seconds. Awesome ticket as upper tier on about 40yard line and meant I could enjoy the hour plus before the match properly.

The fact the Bears then proceeded to go 16-0 up in the first quarter just made it even sweeter.

[pmarachi]

The squirrel was great entertainment.

Outside before the game it was typical piss-poor organisation at the "Tailgate". We arrived at one entrance just as they closed it and told to walk to another. As we approached, they closed that as well. A security guy (in a suit, so I assume that he was in charge), said that they were closing the Tailgate and people had to go into the stadium. This was 2 and a half hours before kick off.

We walked back to the first gate, where the security guy said that entrance had only been stopped temporarily. Then after using his radio, he said that the gates were shut permanently.

After walking up the stairs, we watched from outside the stadium as the tailgate gates were reopened.

This is the kind of poor organisation that I hope to see during the Olympics.

Just reading this made me sad.

No human being should ever be in a position to "close" or even regulate any aspect of a tailgate.

Some fat dude in a Giants sweatshirt and a beer helmet just died.  He will be buried tomorrow.  He will then roll over in his grave...

[ADVILLAFAN]

First time experience of attending a game, it was everything I'd hoped for and more........now saving up to go to Soldier Field one year. Was it just me though who thought that all the neutrals there wanted Chicago to lose !?

Pretty much the same for me. To be fair to the neutrals, we were ahead for most of the game and I'd guess that they wanted an exciting game/finish. I think Urlachers in the crowd outnumbered the Bucc's fans by about 5 to 1.

[CT]

Although a Cowboys fan since 1981, the two places I would just love to go and see a game are Soldier Field & Lambeau. The idea of watching a game on a snow covered pitch, freezing my nuts off really does appeal!

Interesting reading the comments on the Wembley game. We saw the Dolphins / Giants one in 2007 but haven't been tempted to go again since (despite the fact I love the NFL!)

[UK Redsox]

Soldier Field isn't the same since they landed a space ship inside it



I've never seen a game there but I have been kicked off the premises by security.

One of these days I'll make it to Lambeau. However, I'm thinking of a late summer Brewers, Packers and Badgers combo trip rather than a frozen tundra scenario.

[Brazilian Villain]

Cracking finish to the game with Ohio State v Wisconsin. Kept me out of the pub despite it being the "annual dress like a slut in public" night here aka Halloween.

[ADVILLAFAN]

Why do the Eagles have to start playing well before they face my Bears?

[Rotterdam]

I've been waiting awhile for this..............Go you 49'ers!

[UK Redsox]

"Suck for Luck"

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/7160063/breaking-suck-luck-campaign

[cheltenhamlion]

I don't keep a close eye on it. How are Chicago doing this season?