Easy 10
Brain dead MUG SHEEP
I've just returned from a rather marvellous hectic 11-day round trip of the USA, taking in New York, Minneapolis and Chicago. I had the pleasure of visiting Citifield to see the New York Mets chasing their wildcard slot, beating the Minnesota Twins 3-2. Then in Minneapolis, I took in 2 games at Target Field, the 40,000 capacity home of the Minnesota Twins. Lost both games against the Detroit Tigers, naturally (the Twins are utterly hopeless this year), but oh my LIFE what a stadium. And I do not say this lightly, but the concourse and catering facilities there put the Amex to shame.
As you can see, the variety of food options around the multiple outlets are utterly MINDBOGGLING. Service is swift, courteous and professional. They all speak english. And there are 7 bars all in full view of the pitch serving a huge variety of beers to choose from, and you can stand there and watch the game from that bar, with a beer, from any one of those 7 bars, or just take it back to your seat. OK, I fully accept the pathetic laws in this country prohibit this small pleasure, but it was just wonderful to be treated as an adult at a sports event and have that freedom. Thats not the Albons fault.
But as I left that stadium, I wondered what an american fan would make of the miserable, poorly served crud on offer at the Amex, with the infinite queues for the crappy burgers and hotdogs (ok, the pies are alright...mostly). Also there are other factors, in that a game of baseball plays out across about 3 hours, whereas with football you get half that time period, and a couple of service-intensive periods before kickoff and at half time. And on my first game there, the crowd was only 24k, so the place was almost half empty (its the fag-end of a terrible season with nothing to play for). But with the sheer volume of outlets and options for everyone, you'd have no problem getting served somewhere very, very quickly being as we were strolling right up.
My point is...I know its different sports, different countries, different laws. And I know almost none of you give a toss about baseball. But when I hear about the "matchday experience" over here, it doesn't even come CLOSE to what they have laid on for the fans at Target Field, Minnesota. It absolutely pisses on any football ground I've ever been to in this country in terms of choice, value, service, spectacle, and all-round experience. Wembley, by direct comparison to the stuff laid on there for the fans, is a SHOCKING rip-off.
If anyone finds themselves in the USA in the vicinity of an MLB game, I just cannot recommend it highly enough. THATS a matchday experience.
As you can see, the variety of food options around the multiple outlets are utterly MINDBOGGLING. Service is swift, courteous and professional. They all speak english. And there are 7 bars all in full view of the pitch serving a huge variety of beers to choose from, and you can stand there and watch the game from that bar, with a beer, from any one of those 7 bars, or just take it back to your seat. OK, I fully accept the pathetic laws in this country prohibit this small pleasure, but it was just wonderful to be treated as an adult at a sports event and have that freedom. Thats not the Albons fault.
But as I left that stadium, I wondered what an american fan would make of the miserable, poorly served crud on offer at the Amex, with the infinite queues for the crappy burgers and hotdogs (ok, the pies are alright...mostly). Also there are other factors, in that a game of baseball plays out across about 3 hours, whereas with football you get half that time period, and a couple of service-intensive periods before kickoff and at half time. And on my first game there, the crowd was only 24k, so the place was almost half empty (its the fag-end of a terrible season with nothing to play for). But with the sheer volume of outlets and options for everyone, you'd have no problem getting served somewhere very, very quickly being as we were strolling right up.
My point is...I know its different sports, different countries, different laws. And I know almost none of you give a toss about baseball. But when I hear about the "matchday experience" over here, it doesn't even come CLOSE to what they have laid on for the fans at Target Field, Minnesota. It absolutely pisses on any football ground I've ever been to in this country in terms of choice, value, service, spectacle, and all-round experience. Wembley, by direct comparison to the stuff laid on there for the fans, is a SHOCKING rip-off.
If anyone finds themselves in the USA in the vicinity of an MLB game, I just cannot recommend it highly enough. THATS a matchday experience.
