I checked the club's website and tickets looked expensive and in poor seats. I checked StubHub and they were even more scarce and expensive. I finally checked their fan site at blackandredunited.com and asked about the best way for a newbie to get tickets. They were very helpful and friendly and happy that a Timbers fan was going to be joining them in cheering them on.
The game day experience is very different here than in Portland. There are at least three fan groups that sell tickets directly for their sections, and at a discount over the face value! By the photo, you can see I bought tickets with the Screaming Eagles who occupy section 134. Picking up the ticket takes place in the parking lot, where they have a fine tradition of letting people roam freely, drink in hand, getting ready for the game. This is important as RFK stadium is in a commercial void, with no watering holes to speak of. I paid $12 for the Screaming Eagle tailgate, but they had run out of both food and beer by the time I arrived, so they were kind enough to refund my money so I could acquire my own. Luckily for me, there was delicious pie. I had the S.M.O.G. which I ate on the grass and then headed into the stadium.
Let me say here that RFK stadium is OLD and DECREPIT. That said, aside from the urban wasteland vibe of the whole place, it works really well for a match de futbol. The entire upper deck is closed, leaving the lower bowl and its ~20k seats open for seating. You enter between the 200 section and the 300 section. I grabbed a Boddington's and a seat in the 300 section and waited for the clock t get closer to game time. Since I had a ticket with the supporters group, and since that's where all the fun takes place, I moved up to 133 before kickoff. Another difference between D.C. and Portland is that the United games don't normally sell out, so I found myself a seat six rows from the front. And! The supporters occupy midfield, not behind the goal, so I'm six rows up at midfield, normally a very desirable and expensive ticket. Good job D.C.!
Five minutes before kickoff and the place seemed deserted. The fans kept a coming though and by the time the anthem was played, the place was packed. Side note on the anthem - they take it very serious here, being the home of not only our government, but also so many offices of our armed forces. So attention dingleberries, stand up and take off your damn hats when the anthem plays!
I mentioned previous that United has at least three supporters groups. Well, they sit adjacent to each other and do not coordinate their chants. It's a little disorganized feeling, although they seem to be fine with it, so I'll let them keep it that way. As it turned out, I grabbed a seat with La Barra Brava. I had the capo two rows up, so I could more or less mouth along with the chants in Spanish that I was unfamiliar with. I stood and sang for the full 90 which I was glad to do. It got cold so I had my jacket on and unfortunately had to cover up my Timbers kit, but I got kudos for being there by a few blokes, so I was glad I wore it. I also posed in a mock fight with a Sounders customer for the Screaming Eagles. I hope to find the pic out there in the blogosphere sometime in the future.
The game. The game? A nil-nil draw, which is the most depressing score in sports, but United got a point so nobody went home too unhappy. I thought United played a decent game and Nick DeLeon is a fantastic player. DeRosario was pretty useless for the match - especially his free kicks. Substitute Chris Pontius didn't contribute anything much except maybe a glow in the hearts of the supporters for his contributions in years past. United's designated player Hamdi Salihi seemed slow and not too energetic. He either got out-muscled or outrun for every ball that came his way. I think that would be a bit troubling and apparently, the fans seem to think so too. Fredy Montero was completely contained. Osvaldo Alonso for Seattle was their best player that night. I may have given it to Fernandez, but he falls over too easily and had as many tantrums as good touches on the ball. I never realized how big center backs are until you get closer to the pitch. Seattle's and D.C.'s are massive guys. They all did a good job. Man of the match for me goes to DeLeon. His creativity, pace and work ethic is something to build on.
Last notes: You can smoke in RFK stadium. And people do. Cigars too. I don't care for it, but I'm the outsider. It's seems a weird holdover from a bygone era coming from Portland, where it's illegal to smoke in your car and your house (not really). As you can see, I also bought a Screaming Eagles scarf. They sell them in traditional polyester make your neck sweat winter versions and a weird lightweight summer version. I went traditional. Nice design with the D.C. flag on the ends there. D.C. has a nice flag.
