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I have been to a good many stadiums in the USA (Philly, Phoenix, Giants, Yankees, Tigers, Diamondbacks, Ford, etc.) and to even more in Europe (Ibrox, Porkhead, Anfield, Goodison, Old Trafford, Man City - old and new -, Wembley, Murrayfield, Hampden, Wankdorf, Lyon, etc. etc.).
In terms of facilities, US stadiums beat European ones by a long way. They are more comfortable for the spectator, they have far better catering and access tends to be easier. European teams seem to take fans for granted and, mostly, the facilities on offer are considerably more rudimentary compared to the USA.
In terms of atmosphere, US stadiums just don't cut it. While college seems to be better than pro sports, US fans seem to lack passion and organization. This leads to the use of pre-programmed 'prompts' by the PA systems to try to get the fans going. I went to a Mexico v USA soccer match at Giants Stadium and the Mexican fans gave the US ones a lesson in how to support their team. There is very little collective singing or chanting and even less spontaneity about US fans.
The other problem for pro sports in the USA , at least in terms of atmosphere, is that ordinary fans are increasingly getting priced out of games. So you get more 'corporate' seats with people that don't really have much of an emotional attachment to their team. In Europe, sport is still very affordable for ordinary people.
I went to a Mexico v USA soccer match at Giants Stadium and the Mexican fans gave the US ones a lesson in how to support their team. There is very little collective singing or chanting and even less spontaneity about US fans.
its important to compare apples to apples. soccer is a much bigger deal in mexico than the u.s.
i'm not saying that american stadiums are better or worse than european, because I haven't visited a european stadium. however, if you want to compare in terms of atmosphere, you definitely have to compare the right sporting events. The best sports atmopshere in america is at a college football game -- particularly the bigger schools in the SEC, Big 12, or the Big Ten.
PA systems to try to get the fans going. I went to a Mexico v USA soccer match at Giants Stadium and the Mexican fans gave the US ones a lesson in how to support their team. There is very little collective singing or chanting and even less spontaneity about US fans.
I went to the US vs. Jamaica soccer game in KC last weekend and I have never seen so much flag waving, patriotism, and overall tomfoolery at a sporting event. My throat was killing me from yelling chants the whole game. I didn't even know we had them prior to going to that game. The main difference I can see is that this game was at a soccer-specific stadium over around 20k people and not a football behemoth like your experience.
In terms of atmosphere, US stadiums just don't cut it. While college seems to be better than pro sports, US fans seem to lack passion and organization. This leads to the use of pre-programmed 'prompts' by the PA systems to try to get the fans going. I went to a Mexico v USA soccer match at Giants Stadium and the Mexican fans gave the US ones a lesson in how to support their team. There is very little collective singing or chanting and even less spontaneity about US fans.
No we sure don't go around singing songs here and you would probably get laughed at doing so...
Its something you do at College games
its important to compare apples to apples. soccer is a much bigger deal in mexico than the u.s.
i'm not saying that american stadiums are better or worse than european, because I haven't visited a european stadium. however, if you want to compare in terms of atmosphere, you definitely have to compare the right sporting events. The best sports atmopshere in america is at a college football game -- particularly the bigger schools in the SEC, Big 12, or the Big Ten.
The US has a great and passionate fan and sports culture, but it's just so different from Europe. You could say that in America the fans goes to watch the show, in Europe they make the show.
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