Los Angeles Expatriates Unite!
By: jen | March 23rd, 2008
It’s a slow Easter weekend in MLS so I thought I’d regale you with a brief history of my Galaxy fan-ness (as opposed to finesse, of which I have none).
I was living in Pasadena, just two miles from the Rose Bowl, when MLS began. That first season I learned of the Galaxy’s existence because of the traffic. Traffic jams, traffic rerouting. I could smell the hodas and hear the fireworks on the fourth. That season I caught a few games toward the end of the season and was addicted.
The next year I used some of my student loan (I was limping through grad school — and shh, don’t tell the government) to purchase season tickets. My tickets were behind the Galaxy bench, about fifteen rows up, and I believe were in the $350 range. If anyone is sitting in similar seats at the HDC, I’d love to know what the season ticket price is now.
And so for the next several years I had fifteenth row tickets to the best game in town. I saw some great and some not-so-great soccer. I saw Dan Calichman break his leg, and I got to chip the ball into the giant inflated Kellogg’s cereal bowl during the halftime festivities. (I missed off the rim. I blamed it on my running shoes. If I had only been wearing my turf shoes . . . I’ll never know the freedom of a year’s worth of free cereal.) And I used to have a running joke, albeit in my head, with Mauricio Cienfuegos. He was “allowed” to make only 5 mistakes per game. He was usually under that.
I got married, had my first daughter, and the Galaxy moved to the HDC. With a baby and the distance I couldn’t justify season tickets anymore. Then I moved to Virginia — the land of four seasons and affordable housing. I’ve lived here five years now and have followed the Galaxy each year via satellite and internet.
So I want to know — who else is not local to LA but loves/follows the Galaxy? What’s your story?
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Thats a great story. My sister used to watch the Gals play at the Rose Bowl before she moved out of LA too. She used to get tickets for $6. Those were the days… eh?
Oh and prepare to feel my wrath come April 3rd. Let the rivalry recommense! I didn’t get it together in time to plan a trip to the HDC but I’ll be watching from a bar somewhere in the SF Bay for sure.
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I actually hope for a good season for San Jose this year — just not as good as our season. I’ll have to come up with some creative ways to lovingly talk smack to you this season.
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I lived in South Carolina when MLS began. I got really excited about it during the first season and DC United was my team. I didn’t put all my heart and soul into the team, but they were the ones I cheered for. I even cheered against the Galaxy in the first MLS Cup. After the second season my interest subsided and by the third season I had pretty much ignored the league. I eventually moved to LA (where I had lived before moving to South Carolina). I still pretty much ignored the league. It wasn’t until World Cup 2006 that I was reacquainted with my love of soccer. After that, I slowly got into more, and went head first into MLS after watching the end of the 2006 MLS Cup. When the 2007 season started I became fully immersed. Since I was now based in LA, though going to college on the central coast, I decided to have the Galaxy as my team. Any loyalty to DC United had been forgotten in the 10 year period during which I ignore the league. It also helped that my cousin is a huge Galaxy fan. After finishing college last year I got a job in the Bay Area. My exile isn’t as dramatic as Jen or Laurie, but it still makes it impossible to regularly attend home games. Luckily, my soccer loving cousin has moved to the Bay Area for grad school.
Melissa, what part of the Bay Area will you be at for the April 3rd game? I’m looking for a good place to watch it.
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jen: Word. Smack talk is my middle name. Bring it.
CACuzcatlan: I’m in Oakland but my car is dead so, anywhere I go, I’m a slave to public transportation. I was just talking to a friend today about maybe meeting up somewhere to watch the game. Can you make it to Oakland or SF next Thursday?
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That’s a nice story, Jen. I did wonder about how you, as an east coaster, were a Galaxy fan. I figured you had some ties to LA.
I grew up in Pasadena but I have not lived in the LA area since 1985. I moved to San Francisco for about 8 years, then Portland OR for about 8 years , and now I’m living in Cambria near Hearst Castle (the last 7 years). I will move again probably up to northern Calif. or maybe back up to OR or WA someday. I’m a Galaxy fan because they were the first team to capture my allegiance and the fact that I had grown up in LA obviously helped. To be totally honest, I love the Galaxy but I prefer the cooler climate and atmosphere of northern Cal & the Bay Area (plus, that is where most of my friends are living). Here in Cambria, I’m 240 miles away from LA and 240 miles away from San Francisco. I guess you could say I’m halfway home in the geographical sense. Last but not least…I hope we have a wonderful season. It has been awhile hasn’t it?
Melissa - I hope the Quakes have a wonderful season too, except when they play the Galaxy…so, let’s cry havoc and let slip the dogs of competitive soccer! Peace!
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Frank, Cambria is a beautiful area! My husband and I drove up that way during one of our few pre-children excursions.
And CACuzcatlan, neat story. I hope you can catch up with Melissa and see a game.
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OT - Here is the complete MLS 2008 TV broadcast schedule for all of you MLS aficiandos…
http://www.mlsnet.com/mls/schedule/2008/national_tv/
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oops! aficiandos = aficionados
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Thanks Frank! Damn, you are so full of useful information!!
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You’re welcome, Jen. I have a lot of free time at the moment and since the season starts this weekend I’ve been looking up info etc.
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I lived in Pasadena from 92 - 97. I used to frequent John Bull Pub on FairOaks for my soccer fix. The Rose Bowl was a venue for the World Cup in 94 and helped generate excitement for MLS’ debut. I, and a friend who drove up from San Diego, went to the first game that April against the NY/NJ Metrostars. I recall Vlade, with the Lakers at the time, sitting just a few rows away on the east side getting mobbed for signatures. The overall scene was pretty electric. I tried to go as often as I could including the playoffs. Despite moving back to NorCal in 97 I continued to go to games when down there. I even took my then girlfriend, and now wife, to LA for 4th of July weekends and to attend Galaxy games. Cinfuegas, besides Cobi, has to be my all time favorite Galaxy player. I am still a fan and follow closely thanks to the internet, MLS Direct Kick, and FSC. Those early days really cemented my loyalty and its been tough to watch this whole Beckham and Alexis mess but happy to see Gullit on board though I don’t think he will last long due to frustration over such a thin talent pool.
But such is the life of a fan. Always green and gold. okay and sometimes teal.
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Melissa, I can probably make it to SF. Not too sure about Oakland. Its further for me and I don’t know the area well. I was just at Kezar Pub in SF this weekend to watch some EPL games. I’ve only been a few times, but its a fun place to watch games. I’ve also heard that the “Mad Dog in the Fog” in lower Haight is very soccer friendly, but I’ve never been there.
I also have the issue of work. Being in software, I sometimes have to stay late. Be sure to post where you’ll be watching it and I’ll try to make it.
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CACuzcatlan: Are you in the South Bay? I bet there will be a viewing party at the Brit in downtown San Jose. Although you may be the only Galaxy fan in the room…
I was at the Mad Dog on Sunday with a friend and a few of us will be at Kezar on Saturday to watch MLS opening day. More info is here. If enough people A) show up and B) express interest in getting together somewhere next Thursday to watch the game, I bet we’ll figure out logisitcs at that point.
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I’m actually in the North Bay, so San Jose is bit too far for non-weekend games. Thanks for the info, I’m probably gonna go to Kezar for this Saturday’s games. My cousin and I were already thinking about going there if we couldn’t find any other place to watch the games. I guess I’ll see you there. I’ll be wearing a dark blue away Galaxy jersey and will probably be next to a guy wearing a home Galaxy jersey (my cousin).
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HaHa - I’ll look for the two guys wearing Galaxy gear. You two shoud be easy to spot. I haven’t been paying attention to the Gals pre-season so you can clue us all in on the new guys. I’m not as coordinated to know what I’ll be wearing on Saturday but I’ll likely be sitting with a dude wearing a SF Seals Jacket and/or scarf, and another guy and girl … at the back where all the tvs are.
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You and I must have been in the Rose Bowl for some of the same games, as I had Galaxy season tickets from their first season through 1998. As a So Cal native, I even had L.A. Aztecs season tix back in the day…
Now I’m living in Portland, Oregon and watch the Galaxy games on cable TV. Hope their thin roster makes it through this year without too many injuries.
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Bill - do you attend Timber games? That looks like a fun environment.
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