This seemed a petty strange as I watched a video of them managing to turn Seattle's CenturyLink Field from being fix to host MLS to NFL in a unmarried day only last calendar week (in addition to they really bother to paint out the differing champaign markings), just who am I to say the Colts how to work their stadium? So Carroll Stadium, on the campus of the confusingly named Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis, it was.
 |
| You tin see where Maidenhead United got their thought for the Alan Devonshire suite from. |
Carroll Stadium doesn't have a roof that could be shut. Or a roof of whatsoever sort. Or protection from any of the elements Mother Nature likes to cruelly throw at the man race. Or place-backs. Or anything. You tin can see why they left actually.
Since they don't actually do weather condition related postponements inward the U.S., unless in that location's a serious hazard of person getting struck by lightning or the stadium getting blown away, the chances of this game succumbing to the same fate every bit Nottingham Forest vs. Reading were very slim. A torrential downpour is no big bargain. Try telling a native nigh heavy pelting as well as you get funny looks as well as questions of "accept yous e'er seen pelting?".
 |
| A sign instructs the sellout crowd, using their cloaks of invisibility to proceed dry out, to 'brand or so noise'. |
It tin can't take been all bad though. The continuous downpour seemed to live plenty to proceed Elton John away for another few months, at least. Unfortunately it as well meant the populace stayed away from Carroll Stadium as well.
The optimistic forecasts that this game would sell out looked rather misguided when I trudged into the stadium to be greeted past the sight of soggy tumbleweed caught in the stiff winds. I idea I was early, simply as the clock ticked closer to kick off at that place was hardly long lines of people waiting to arrive. Did everyone become to Lucas Oil Stadium by mistake?
 |
| At to the lowest degree Victorio and Victoria could withal live bothered to present upwards (non that they had a option). |
I've been soaked at a game before. I went to the Reading 5 Oxford United game in 2000, dorsum when Tony Rougier (hello, he played inwards the moment tier of the U.S.A. also!) seemed similar a expert idea, inwards conditions resembling an Olympic swimming pool rather than a football game game (my wearing apparel notwithstanding haven't fully dried out), then I wasn't actually concerned well-nigh getting a lilliputian damp.
I was nonetheless, slightly concerned amongst the papier-mache program I was handed on my fashion into the venue. If yous're going to reach them out, attempt not to simply have them sitting in an open up cardboard box when standing under a waterfall. It'sec plenty to position the nigh ardent of programme collectors into cardiac arrest. But as it barely differed from the final one, at that place was no impairment, no foul.
 |
| A fleck more than rain power accept been useful to calm an over exuberant flare. |
Besides, it literally stopped raining 10 minutes after arriving. So the potential eve of misery beingness sat on an uncovered metal bench would now just live the responsibility of those on the pitch. No pressure, lads.
I take attended a lot of sporting events inward my life, but not one time take I ever been the only somebody inwards a department of a stand up (as well as I've been to a Reading Rockets game). Here I was, braving the elements (and the adventure of trench human foot from all the standing water) as I took my "balcony" place (the cheapest), only to observe non 1 other soul amongst me.
 |
| The empty seats in addition to refreshment portacabins gave the home a real not league feel. |
It felt like a infant Pumbaa minute. Were the other animals at this watering hole just avoiding me because I was so repulsive? Maybe. But virtually probable it was the fact that the bleachers inward this uncovered stand up were and so moisture, that those wildlife driven away past a fictional warthog could take institute them a suitably thirst quenching resources.
Empty stadiums do supply ane luxury, the take a chance to go elsewhere. Who needs to try thrills leaping out of an airplane at 13,000 when yous tin can sneak a home in a section that y'all didn't pay for? I'thousand certain this is what the 2022 FIFA World Cup will be like inwards Qatar, except there were women hither.
 |
| The official attendance was given every bit v,145. No. |
The smaller confines of Carroll Stadium actually provided a amend atmosphere than the cavernous Lucas Oil Stadium. Even the linguistic communication seemed a fiddling bluer than the last game, or peradventure it was merely because I could actually take heed the chants this time too they've always had potty mouths. Was I inwards England subsequently all?
All of this resulted in an about authentically non league football experience inwards America. The liberty to just roam aimlessly about the stadium with a beer inwards hand whilst at that place'second crap football game going on inwards the background (together with this game was definitely on the lower terminate of the amusement spectrum).
 |
| A marquee was set behind the goal to keep supporters dry and home any emergency weddings that power pause out. |
It finished one-0. If only I could accept seen a picayune more than pelting.
* it isn't.
Useless data nearly IU Michael A Carroll Track & Soccer Stadium
Address: 1001 West New York Street, Indianapolis, Indiana, 46202
Capacity: x,000
Pitch Type: Artificial
Ticket Price: $22
Program(me): Free, 28 pages
