I Heart Football Season…

This year I received an invitation to attend a Redskins game on September 18^th. I was very excited as this was my first non-Solider Field NFL game and possibly will be my only pro football game for the entire 2011 season.

Since graduating college I have made it a mission to go to at least one Chicago Bears game per year. Last year when living in DC I thought that it would be the first year that I would miss one but then I received an invite from the cousins for the day after Christmas game. I therefore willingly paid the $150 plane transfer fee to attend that game. So, that is my basis for comparison.

The Redskins you say… I’ll start with the stadium; I rode the Metro out there. To get to FedEx Field you have to find your way to the Blue Line Morgan Boulevard Metro Stop. A very crowded train on game day, I might add. From there it is about a mile walk to the stadium but it is very easy to find as you have with the entire packed train to guide you. The actual stadium is ok. It ain’t no Solider Field. The colors from the outside…FedEx colors, purple, orange and green…are not that appealing—just my opinion. Further the colors kind of clash with the fans’ uniforms and Redskins logos on the building. Sorry, done with the aesthetics.

For this particular game, I sat in the fancy seats—the club level. Indoors it felt like a hotel lobby with stadium concessions oddly placed on the perimeter. There were flat screen televisions throughout and leather chairs. I have a feeling that unlike my Bears adventures, I wouldn’t have to leave the game to go to the bathroom for the only purpose of simply standing under the small heat fan for 5 minutes so that I could feel my hands again. But being indoors was not necessary at this game as it was the perfect weather to be sitting outside.

The sideline entertainment is also quite different. Unlike the Bears who got rid of their cheerleaders, the Honey Bears, in 1985, the Redskins had a lot of very scantily clad ladies with pom poms rooting them on. The ladies even changed in to less clothing with white cowboy boots for the second half. In addition to the cheerleaders, there also was a full band playing in the stands. In general the sideline entertainment was great to see as all we, Chicago fans get is a Bear dressed-up like a pimp…I still don’t understand how that is “family friendly” and the cheerleaders were not.

One note, if the other team aka Larry Fitzgerald of the Arizona Cardinals has a great long pass and runs in for a touchdown, do not cheer very loudly. I had to throw in a “sorry fantasy” after voicing my excitement and luckily the Redskins won so this one little touchdown didn’t affect the outcome of the game.

It is truly hard to compare the seats and crowd to my experiences at Solider Field as it may have just been the fancy seats that brought about a very civilized crowd and comfort level. Even when I was cheering for Larry Fitzgerald, all I received were a few dirty looks.

Best part was that while we walked back to the Metro I was talking very loudly about how bummed I was that I didn’t get inside early enough to get the awesome white sunglasses giveaway. A guy heard this remark and removed the sunglasses from his head and gave them to me. It made my day. Thank you again, sir! 

Overall, it was a great game and a perfect day to be out watching football. The Redskins game just cannot compare to a day at Solider Field with the fans, “Bear Down” and the announcer asking us about the location of the flag—“On  the field!” But, with all that said, I truly enjoyed myself and I am excited to head back to FedEx Field for the Notre Dame vs. Maryland game in November. I heart football season…