European soccer and Hawkeye football aren’t as different as you might think

Followers create their very own gentle present at FC Barcelona’s Camp Nou Stadium on Aug. 24 throughout that group’s match in opposition to Manchester Metropolis. (Mike Hlas/The Gazette)

There I used to be 4,580 miles from residence, surrounded by derisive whistles and joyful chants, cheering for targets scored by athletes I didn’t know.

OK, this isn’t a what-I-did-on-my-summer-vacation factor. Nobody cares and nobody ought to. Inform me about your fishing journey to Ontario and my eyes get extra glazed than something on the market at Donutland.

Secondly, yeah, I do know it’s the primary actual week of school soccer and a few suppose each inch of copy on this week’s sports activities part ought to be soccer, soccer, soccer. We’ll get there on this piece. Type of.

Anyway, I’m virtually all the time on the skin wanting inward. Which is nice if it’s a zoo or a smoking lounge or another person’s household. At sporting occasions, although, you who’re within the crowd are having a much better time than we media mopes who observe you.

Final Wednesday, I received to be a full-blown fan at Camp Nou, a 99,354-seat stadium in Barcelona. FC Barcelona played a friendly against Manchester City.

A pleasant, for the uninitiated like I used to be not way back, mainly means an exhibition sport. This one was a profit for analysis into amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Since Man Metropolis and Barcelona are fabled franchises, the occasion drew over 91,000 folks for a 9:30 p.m. begin on a weeknight.

Now right here’s the place I lamely attempt to make this native and drop within the identify “Kinnick Stadium,” the place the considered a 9:30 p.m. kickoff would make college and native law-enforcement officers tremble in terror.

Like 93-year-old Kinnick, 65-year-old Camp Nou is on the sting of a residential space. It’s a brief stroll from quite a lot of neighborhood locations to eat and drink. Kinnick is a brief stroll from Stella restaurant, which certainly will wish to supply me a cheeseburger in trade for this nice plug.

Nobody exterior Camp Nou performs cornhole or no matter you wish to name that beanbag exercise that has change into a university soccer tailgating fixture. Why would they contemplate a sport that requires utilizing your fingers relatively than your toes?

The seating at Camp Nou is healthier and roomier than Kinnick’s (who’s isn’t?), however Kinnick’s video boards in its two finish zones are bigger and clearer.

Each stadiums favor American rock, pop and hip-hop music over Spanish hits. The official identify of Barcelona’s stadium, in any case, is Spotify Camp Nou.

When evening video games are held at each venues, followers use the flashlights or particular apps on their telephones’ flashlights to make it appear like fireflies are populating the stands. It’s a small world in any case.

Kinnick is the one one of many two stadiums that sells alcohol. That in all probability contributed to the actual fact I noticed nobody behave badly among the many 91,000 at Camp Nou earlier than, throughout, or after the sport.

In truth, it was a household ambiance. A lady and her two younger daughters sat instantly to our proper. The ladies had been very within the sport.

A row in entrance of us, a middle-aged lady carrying a Barcelona jersey appeared to reside and die with every motion of the ball, overlaying her mouth in nervousness when Man Metropolis threatened to attain.

Most journey guides to Barcelona point out the Camp Nou stadium tour. It’s a very good moneymaker for the group. Which it wants, since it’s hemorrhaging money. It spent at least 153 million Euros in the summer transfer window, worldwide soccer’s model of participant free company.

FC Barcelona has stars from Poland, France and Brazil. But, its followers establish with them. Which shouldn’t appear unusual, since key Iowa gamers are from Illinois, California and Australia.

I’ve come to love soccer greater than soccer. The video games are simply two hours lengthy and so they don’t interrupt play for commercials a dozen occasions. Extra importantly, if I’m at a soccer sport it in all probability means I’m on trip.

Nonetheless, vacation is over and soccer season is right here. For those who see me within the Kinnick parking heaps Saturday, be happy to supply me a few of Spain’s unbelievable Iberico ham. However I wouldn’t flip down a cheeseburger.

Feedback: (319) 398-8440; mike.hlas@thegazette.com