Indy - Pats vs. Colts

So, this is now our 9th away game, I think...  I have to write about it, but I am not sure what to write.  The trip was so epic, words cannot describe.  Also, it cannot be compared to any other football game experience either - because we had club AND suite tickets!  Not kidding. Actually, we had regular seats too - we sold those though.  Long story.

Normally I talk about the cleanliness of the stadium, the food they sold, the people and the intense harrassment of us in our Pats jerseys, but for this game we were swept away in a sea of amazingness, that I never really made it out to the regular seating area.  I'm ok with that, and did and will always treasure every moment.

We were going to go for the weekend, with friends and one thing led to another and the friend's dad was in town, and he had club seats - but then his friend was in town, and he had suite seats, and he wanted to share.  OK!

We let it slide when the catered tailgate had a deflated football cake (BTW - that was THE BEST cake I have ever eaten!); and Brady testifying cookies.  We stayed at the tailgate a long time, got to the stadium and the suite, and when we got there, most of the seats were taken. So, the suite owner GAVE US CLUB TICKETS.  Are you kidding?  That was enjoyable and we watched the first half of the game, where the Colts were doing better than we thought they would - from those seats.  It was awesome.

Second half back to the Suite. While I was chatting with Kim and explaining why teams generally do not go for it on 4th down, the Colts did, and it ended very, very poorly (now dubbed the punt).  The game went downhill for the Colts from there, but the Pats fans in the suite stayed on and boy did we have some fun.

The whole experience was really nice. We need to write some thank yous for sure. Joel husband had a lot of party and was a little roudy on the way home.  Some insights into our general time in Indy and the football fun we had:

1. The stadium is in an awesome location, very walkable from downtown and HUGE!  The retractable roof makes it temperate no matter what time of year. Everything seemed new and awesome, what a great place to watch a game!
2. All of the people in town seemed a little against us Pats people - but don't worry, they had a big mid-western smile for us too.  We ordered a cookie cake that said "Go Pats" and were told people almost weren't going to make it.  All in good fun, but seriously the Colts fans are fiercely loyal and also really, really think we are cheaters.
3. We did not get food or drink from the stadium as we came full, and the suite had food.  I am told there were local beers on tap, and the signature fried pork sandwich.  We may just need to go again!
4. Pats fans really brought it this trip, everyone on the plane ride down was quite vocal, and even running at 7am on Sunday morning I ran past a few fans who screamed "go pats" with me.  We did a good job representing!

Pats won.  

The remainder of the weekend was amazing.  Indy is an incredible city, totally walkable (or runable, as I did one 12 mile run and one 6 mile run, and what beautiful loops they were!).  The zoo is very nice, and two seconds from downtown; the museums are in a row and gorgeous, the Eiteljorg building itself is a marvel.  The canal walk has to be done, it is incredible to think a city was able to make something like that so beautiful and so clean and so welcoming for all.  And, there is a steakhouse on every corner.  We of course went to the famed St. Elmo's for a drink.  I want to go back to Indy again and again, what a treat!  I am so thankful we were able to go, and in such style, and do hope we can bring the kids again soon.

Vikings Game

Before children, each year Joel Husband and I would try to get at least one away game of the Patriots in…  This meant that I would get to enjoy my traveling, eating and visiting new places and he would get to see a Pats game, sometimes for a ton cheaper (in terms of actual seat price, obviously not when you add in airfare!).  This was a tradition we loved.  We have seen games in San Francisco, San Diego, Miami, Jacksonville, Nashville, and Atlanta.  Then we stopped…  It was only because my parents lived there - and my Dad worked very hard to get us awesome seats, that we added Chicago to the roster when I was pregnant with James.  Then we stopped again.

NOT anymore people!  We are back at it, and we have 23 more stadiums/teams to go.

This weekend we conquered seeing the Minnesota Vikings.  I haven't yet really set the rule, so this may or may not count.  I think the goal is to the Patriots play each NFL team, in their home court.  Which would make this weekend qualify, since we were in the Vikings home court.  Of course, it was not their stadium though as that is currently under construction.  We were at the U of M stadium, which was actually really nice. I was shocked.

So, things I want to remember about my experiences in the games (and I wish I blogged about them sooner, may have to repeat previous visits!  though I think I did blog about Chicago!)- are the following:

1. Atmosphere and People. The people were really, really, really, really nice here.  Like so nice.  We walk around in our Pats jerseys and I have been assaulted in some places (Miami), made fun of in other places, and in general get small quips and comments here and there.  It is all part of the fun and I expect it.  I am kinda terrified when I go to a Raiders game, but for the most part everyone is just having a good time.  However, in Minnesota - they are so nice, they have no idea how to make fun of you.  I literally got a ton of: "Oh boy, the other team… (then quick look of sadness and need to apologize)… Thank you so much for coming to visit our city!"  No joke.  Everyone thanked us for visiting.  Multiple people commented on my Troy Brown jersey.  "What a great and classy player."  WOW, Minnesota, you guys are awesome.  (Maybe they felt the need to identify with my classy player as one of theirs, Adrian Peterson, was just caught beating his child…!)
2. Entertainment and Team Theme.  They are all viking here.  They have a Skol band, not to be confused with Skoal Band, which I did.  I was horrified when they started talking about the Skol band and assumed the team let dip fund some music.  Skol is a viking term, and this was a band of rhythm instruments that had side-line things happening and a 1/2 time bit.  It was very nice once you realized dip was not involved.  They also had a man blowing a large horn of some sort.  I didn't really pay attention to their song too much, I just remember thinking it was less annoying than Miami's, nothing is more annoying than Miami's.  In other news, their cheerleaders changed outfits 1/2 way through the game.  Does this happen everywhere? Joel Husband says he didn't notice, right.
3. Food and Drink.  Miller owned this place, and I couldn't really find too much local beer.  I really shouldn't comment here though because they are not in their stadium and are just guests in the U of M stadium.  Similarly, I was glad that I ate a ton before I showed up and did not feel the need to get food.  It looked like normal stadium fare though there were some "delicacy carts" with cheese curds and such for sale.  I love cheese curds.  They also had "Drew's Popcorn" - better believe I took that tub home.
4. Tailgating.  We totally missed this in favor of brunch.  Plus, not sure they really have any with the temporary Stadium setting, though I am sure they probably did.

Good times were had.  We went with friends who had never been to a football game before and they loved it and want to go back again and again.  Price was not cheap, $190 per seat!  And, we had to pay for James!  But he generally loved the game and had a great time.  

Pats won.  By a lot… It was kinda sad actually, and made it a bummer.  We like a good nail biter!  James also was swept away in the crowds response and sadness, and could have been heard chanting Minnesota, Minn-e-sottta!  Over and over again in the stands.  It was cute.  We almost bought him a Vikings jersey.  

Till next time!  I wonder what game we should hit next?!

First Patriots Game!

Today we took Joel Andrew to his first Patriots game, in Chicago! Each year Joel Husband and I take a trip to somewhere new to see an away football game. It is sort of our thing. We get to see the country, and the Patriots play! So far we have been to Nashville, Atlanta, Miami (twice), San Diego, San Francisco, Jacksonville and of course Gillette. Anyway, this year it was Chicago we finally crossed off our list (the last time the Pats played here they were redoing Solider Field), and the little guy got to come!
Grumpy scored perfect seats in the United Club. We were under an overhang so sheltered from the snow and wind. It was pretty cold, but we were prepared with thermal underwear and lots of layers. The little guy actually sat still on my lap for a while watching the game. He was having a great time!
Because we were in a Club, we got to go indoors and find a seat to enjoy a hot dog and some chips. He made fast friends. Another plus of having a baby at a football game, you get to use the guarded Family Restroom and not wait on the enormous line. We all just kept handing off the baby one by one and going into the family restroom!
At the end of the game, which we killed the Bears by the way, Joel Husband sat at the end of the aisle with Joel Andrew and Joel Andrew just waved at all the Bears fans as the left in disgrace. He high-fived all the Pats fans that were there! He did such a good job and had a great time. Grumpy did an excellent job planning the day and getting us such awesome, perfect seats! Nothing could have been better!
The walk home was a little tough, the Chicago police force needs to not block the roads to livery vehicles, but in true Joel-Husband fashion he got a cab out of nowhere and wisked the kiddo home to the apt. Where a very dirty diaper sat beneath eight layers of clothes. (yes, although we made frequent visits to the family restroom there was no way we were going spelunking under all those layers to get a new diaper on him at the stadium...).

A very happy first game indeed!