The Happening in the Harbor

Have you caught your breath yet?  Have you digested the fact that France and Italy are going home, and the US is still in biggest, most watched, sports tournament in the world?

Most importantly, DO YOU NOW REALIZE JUST HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE INTO THIS?

As part of Team Terry’s field visit yesterday, I spent a lot of time observing how intent President Bill Clinton was on the match in Pretoria.  Not only did he cheer himself hoarse right up through the 91st minute, but he changed his travel plans to stay through the weekend for the next round, and spent the rest of the evening schmoozing FIFA officials to select US for the 2018 or 2022 World Cup.

While we are watching the World Cup, we should remember that there are others watching us, seeing what kind of enthusiasm Americans have for the sport and the World Cup series.  Here in Maryland, we are particularly cognizant of this audition process, because we are angling to be one of the regions selected as hosts if the US is successful.  We want our energy to be palpable.  We want our setting to be classic.

Yes, we can whoop and howl in our favorite watering holes just like the best of them.  There are plenty of videos on YouTube of places much like our haunt beyond center field where fans in face paint and jerseys hop up and down and blow pseudo vuvuzelas.  But here in Baltimore we have the opportunity to stage something truly spectacular — a waterfront watch party with a super screen TV overlooking the harbor, with a festival and beer garden.  For a Sunday in July, how much more fun could you have? 

(Dancing in the nearby Sondheim fountain comes to mind.  Of course, if it were up to me, the screen would be on the Domino board, but no one asked.)

The festival, which is sponsored by the Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore, and the Maryland Office of Sports Marketing, is being organized by ASG Events, who promoted the very successful outdoor festival in Towson for the US-England match.  The event will run from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and will include appearances from members of the Baltimore Blast, Crystal Palace Baltimore, and D.C. United.

Game time for the final match is 2:30, giving families a full day of fun and excitement in the Inner Harbor.

While the benefit for the Waterfront Partnership is meritous in itself, this celebration is also the opportunity for Team Terry and the Merry Marketeers to make an additional pitch for soccer-philes to sign the online petition supporting our region as a host site.  And it is also a promotion for the upcoming Man City-Inter Milan match coming to M&T Bank stadium later than month.

So plan to be a part of the happening.  Frolic in the fountain, enjoy a brewski, and watch the sun set over the harbor as the world celebrates the most popular sport on the planet.

Go USA!!

No, the Fourth of July didn’t come early this year; all of the Red, White, and Blue that you saw in Towson this weekend was excited celebrations for the U.S’ kick off in the World Cup games.

Patriot Square in front of the Courthouse in Towson was booming on Saturday afternoon, as many soccer fans came out for a World Cup viewing party.  Hosted by Baltimore County and WNST radio, the event was a huge success! WNST’s Nestor, and County Executive Jim Smith were pumping up the crowd in anticipation.

 There were soccer themed moon bounces for the kids, face painting, and even Red, White and Blue snowballs. USA Soccer fever has set in.   At approximately 2:25 all of the walking around seized, everyone grabbed their lawn chairs, and buckled down around the massive television for a very exciting game one.

 With the odds favored so heavily against the U.S. tying the game up was almost as exciting as a win! At least that’s the way it sounded in the roaring crowd!

Did you see how much fun those crazy horn blower’s were having?? That could be us! Don’t forget to sign the petition to get the 2018/2022 FIFA World Cup here in Maryland!
vote at:  www.gousabid.com/baltimore

Game On!!! in Frederick, too

Terry reminded us yesterday that the Frederick Indoor Sports Complex was having their own family fun event this Saturday, centered by the big screen broadcast of the USA-England World Cup match.

This impressive facility was part of Team Terry’s visit to Capital Region Maryland a few weeks ago, where he learned that several hundred of their faithful are expected to drop in for the festivities.

The Frederick region has a dynamic youth sports network (hockey is also big there, as is swimming) and they are building the facilities to support it. Terry said the Indoor Sports Complex is a major hub of this year round activity.

So if you’re in Capital Region Maryland and want a day of family fun with fellow soccer-philes, check out the Indoor Sports Complex.  Directions available by clicking the link above.

REMEMBER TO SIGN THAT ONLINE PETITION TO BRING THE WORLD CUP HERE !!!

Soccer Shoutout to Southern Maryland

Terry and I attended the Crystal Palace vs. Crystal Palace friendly at the Regency Furniture Stadium in Waldorf last year.  It was impressive to see how many junior soccer-philes and their families appreciate the game and took advantage of the opportunity to see a member of the Premiere League barnstorming with their farm team in the colonies.

So it isn’t surprising that the Blue Crabs are tapping into this enthusiasm again by holding a World Cup FanFest to watch the US take on England this Saturday.

The Fan Fest will include the live television broadcast of theWorld Cup match beginning at 2:30 p.m., special guest appearances by current and former pro soccer players, including A.J. DeLaGarza of the Los Angeles Galaxy, and specialty soccer memorabilia raffle.

(DeLaGarza, who is a Maryland native, played his college soccer at University of Maryland from 2005-2008.)

There will also be mini-clinics and skill challenges for younger players on the field, face painting, and more family activities.

The gates at Regency Furniture Stadium will open for this event at noon, and admission is $5.00. Children under five will be admitted free. All fans are encouraged to show their team spirit by wearing their favorite soccer jersey.

You can read more about the FanFest here