{"id":34476,"date":"2021-06-29T16:36:33","date_gmt":"2021-06-29T20:36:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/soccer\/?p=34476"},"modified":"2021-06-29T19:10:27","modified_gmt":"2021-06-29T23:10:27","slug":"revelry-over-rivalry-a-view-from-the-stands","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/soccer\/2021\/06\/29\/revelry-over-rivalry-a-view-from-the-stands\/","title":{"rendered":"Revelry over Rivalry – A View from the Stands"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s Monday night, a full 24-hours since the end of the Austin FC<\/a> v Columbus Crew<\/a> match, and my ears are still ringing. Genuinely. How did this come about?<\/p>\n

I picked this game for a switch, foregoing my seat in the press box for a spot on the stands. I selected this particular match because of its heightened significance. Much has been made in the week leading up to the first meeting of Austin FC and Columbus Crew of the supposed rivalry that exists between the two clubs. There is undoubtedly and understandably animosity between the two franchises for historical reasons that I don\u2019t need to delve into here. If any fan of either team is unfamiliar with the story at this point, Google is your friend.<\/p>\n

So, does a rivalry exist or not?<\/p>\n

In a press conference earlier in the game week, Austin FC Head Coach Josh Wolff largely dismissed any special significance to the match. When asked about Columbus, Wolff pointed out that he had spent the longest unbroken stretch of his career there, 5 years, as assistant coach to Greg Berhalter, and had nothing but good things to say about the city and the Ohio club. When pressed on whether conversations happen among ATX leadership regarding the feud, he essentially said no one pays it any mind.<\/p>\n

In regard to the match itself, Wolff said that \u201con-field rivalries aren\u2019t manufactured\u201d. Instead, \u201cthey develop organically\u201d. He pointed out that Austin already has two fierce in-state rivals in Dallas and Houston. Austin hasn\u2019t played either team in an MLS match yet, so a little at odds with his \u2018rivalries aren\u2019t manufactured\u2019 statement, but I get it. When LAFC showed up, they were immediately LA Galaxy\u2019s #1 rival. The same is true of NYCFC and New York Red Bulls.<\/p>\n

Columbus Head Coach, Caleb Porter took a slightly different tact during his midweek press conference<\/a>. “We try not to get caught up in the external storylines because every game is really the same in a lot of ways. But we’re fully aware of the games that mean a bit more \u2014 whether it’s a rivalry game \u2014 to our supporters. We’re not idiots. We know this is a game that our fans want to win. We know the supporters have it circled, and I had it circled twice because of that.\u201d<\/p>\n

So, as I climb the stairs at Q2 Stadium to Supporters Section 103 on Sunday evening, I was curious as to what I might see, hear and experience during the game?<\/p>\n

The moment the Crew players took to the field to warm up, the booing began. There were a few cries of \u2018Screw the Crew!\u2019 But much like the t-shirts bearing that chant, it didn\u2019t feel like anything more than good-natured ribbing. Legitimate animosity and anger appeared to be in short supply. More in evidence? Anxiety.<\/p>\n

Austin FC had failed to score in their home opener the previous weekend, leaving the door open to the possibility \u2013 the nauseating possibility for Verde fans \u2013 that Columbus Crew might be the first-ever team to score at Q2. From fans nearby, I heard, \u201cI want us to win, but if we don\u2019t win, we need to at least stop them from scoring!\u201d, and \u201cI could live with a 5-1 defeat, just as long as we score the 1 first!\u201d<\/p>\n

Austin FC fans did themselves proud with their pregame Pride Week celebration, raising large, colored pieces of card to spell our \u2018ATX\u2019 in rainbow<\/a>. It felt pretty amazing to be a part of that, stood there holding up my red card, considering the significance of the message we were helping to send out to the world. And then, the whistle blew, and the stands exploded into life!<\/p>\n

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\u2764\ufe0f\ud83e\udde1\ud83d\udc9b\ud83d\udc9a\ud83d\udc99\ud83d\udc9c pic.twitter.com\/6pzJomt6az<\/a><\/p>\n

— Q2 Stadium (@Q2Stadium) June 28, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n