We got lucky the other day when we learned the hometown AFC Ajax would be playing at home on the only day we were in Amsterdam. So, we shifted our schedule a bit, and attended our 3rd soccer match on the trip, Ajax vs. Go Ahead Eagles.
Here are some impressions:
- The acoustics seemed different in Johan Cruyff Arena. The crowd seemed louder, even though I know the Dortmund crowd was louder.
- The atmosphere was much more like a giant backyard BBQ than a soccer match. Which fit in perfectly given the Sunday afternoon start!
- I just realized that at neither of the three matches were national anthems performed. And you know what, the game still happened, people still enjoyed it, and nobody called the other unpatriotic. What a thought!
- I also realized that soccer chants are kind of indistinguishable from just muffled yelling. Especially when you don’t know the language! 😂
- In most American sports complexes, a fan can enter any gate and walk to their section. Not so with Ajax. We were given a gate to walk in, and it led straight to a staircase, and directly to a specific 5-section area where here we could roam. That’s it, though.
- On top of that, they had digital kiosks for ordering food and/or drink. And they asked you when you wanted it, now or halftime. And when it was supposed to be ready, they had a ticketing system. Very organized. Very process-driven. Very Dutch.
- I loved that they had a smaller screen on the backside of the large LED scoreboard screens so the fans who had seats behind them could still see a scoreboard.
- ESPN really does cover everything. I saw a guy right on the sidelines filming the whole match.
- During a VAR overturn, the guys behind us jumped up so fast, and I guess just lost hold of their beer. An entire cup was spilled on Brian and I. He got the worst of it, I’m afraid.
- Rarely have I see the visiting supporter sections be surrounded by a literal net. They take their football seriously! (Also, I don’t think that visual would fly here in the States…then again, these days, maybe it would.)
- Final Score:
