The Sports Fan Project

Event 24 – Why a Trip to the Bottom of the World was a Real Kick

^{Tim and I immediately after Argentina defeated Venezuela, 3-0, in Buenos Aires.}

Doug and Tim at Mas Monumental — ^{Tim and I immediately after Argentina defeated Venezuela, 3-0, in Buenos Aires.}

The Written Word

Don’t Cry for Us Argentina; We had a Blast

Still Photos

My home for a pair of matches in soccer-crazed Argentina.

Before spectating, first we eat!

Our octet prior to the River Plate-San Martin match.

El Cuartito is a bit of a shrine to Argentine soccer.

Diego Maradona is still much beloved.

Cerveza anyone?

Tim, Ali, and I pre-match at Mas Monumental.

The River Plate fans are amped up.

Pre-match fireworks created quite a haze early on.

A River Plate and San Martin player battle for the ball.

Juan Quintero takes a corner kick.

Marcelo Salas celebrates his goal.

A throw in by Sebastian Gonzalez.

I’m ready for the Argentine match.

The view of the buses from our cab.

This random piece of art was spotted during our walk to the stadium.

These youngsters are ready for the match.

As the sun fades, fans stream into Mas Monumental.

The crest of Club Atletico River Plate.

Several clay courts are visible near Mas Monumental.

Dorms for the River Plate club players.

The view of the Venezuela section.

This was the scene approximately two hours prior to the match.

Approximately 90 minutes pre-match.

Approximately 60 minutes pre-match.

Approximately 45 minutes pre-match.

The aisles upstairs were clogged with fans who had nowhere to sit.

Action on the field.

Fireworks are seen behind the stands following Argentina’s victory.

The final score.

Street vendors hawk their wares post-match.

People are seen everywhere leaving the match.

The next day’s headlines. Translation: “Don’t go champion.”

And the other paper … same headline!

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Video

^{Fireworks prior to the River Plate-San Martin match.}

^{River Plate corner kick.}

^{River Plate fans cheer at halftime.}

^{My walk into Mas Monumental.}

^{Messi arrives at Mas Monumental.}

^{Argentina takes the field.}

^{Venezuela takes the field.}

^{Team walk pre-match walk in.}

^{The Argentine National Anthem.}

^{Lionel Messi’s introduction.}

^{Messi’s scores his second goal.}

^{Players and fans celebrate the win.}

Audio

^{Argentine English-language podcaster Sam Kelly talks about the hold the sport has on the nation.}

^{Traveling partner Tim Parker and I reflect on our experience at a pair of Argentine soccer matches.}

Fun Facts

Traveling Party – Doug and his friend, Tim
Last Time Visited – Neither had been to Buenos Aires, Argentina, previously nor had they attended a South American soccer match.
Soccer-crazed Nation – It’s hard to quantify how passionate the Argentinian fans are for the sport of soccer. Obviously we were able to see it at a pair of matches, but more over it was readily visible the afternoon of the Argentinian National Team match when we visited the La Boca Barrio. Beyond it’s colorful buildings that are an Instagrammers paradise, there was La Bombonera (English translation, The Chocolate Box), home of the famed Boca Juniors soccer club. La Bombonera was the home for a couple seasons to famed Argentine player, Diego Maradona, before moved on to play in Spain and Italy. It was only somewhat surprising then to see the number of soccer pilgrims from throughout the country who were spending part of match day visiting the neighborhood, the Boca Juniors Museu, and touring the stadium.
Bringing Smoking Back – After sitting in front of a pair of chain-smoking women during the River Plate match, I began to notice the number of cigarette smokers as we walked around Buenos Aires. They. Were. Plentiful. Then I began to notice the lack of e-cigarettes or vaping. Thanks to an Internet search, I discovered e-cigarettes have been banned in Argentina since 2011. Though an underground market exists, I don’t recall witnessing any use during our week in the country.
The Vendor Problem – I’m all for vendors to work the grandstands at sporting events. It’s a convenience many fans have enjoyed dating back decades. However, the vendors at Mas Monumental – especially in the upper level – were an irritant. As noted in the Written Word, the aisles and rows were more than overcrowded so when someone hawking potato chips, popcorn, and candy bars decides to walk down your row while you and others are trying to watch one of the world’s greatest soccer players in history, well, that’s not a welcome convenience.
Running List of States Traveled To/Through (25 total) – Alabama, Alaska, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, & Wyoming
Running List of Countries Traveled To/Through (8 total) – Argentina, Canada (Ontario & Quebec), England, Japan, Korea, Scotland, United States, & Wales
Distance Traveled – 5,609 miles one way from DTW to EZE, plus 112 miles roundtrip from my home to DTW for a total 11,330 miles roundtrip.
Cumulative Distance Traveled After 24 Events – 66,218 miles
Up Next: A day on the 2025 Ryder Cup grounds at Bethpage Black Golf Course

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