Jump to content

WCQ Away Game Travel


Recommended Posts

3 hours ago, Shway said:

Is it safe to assume that was prearranged  due to the group size?

@dyslexic namI feel like anywhere you go as a tourist you can be tried by anyone. I’ve had experiences in each of my travels (Panama, Mexico, and Jamaica) of almost being “mugged” even by police in Mexico. ( true story, A cop told me to blow into his bowled hands, and said I had 3 beers - I kid you not.)

I figure vacationing as a tourist and vacationing as a supporter might be two separate beasts that require different precautions. 

I feel like if I’m going to go to Jamaica away in an unorganized trip, I would have to buy my uncles and cousins tickets. 

100% organized. But to be fair I joined late and so the morning of the game I had to go to the stadium by myself and while the streets were already packed near the stadium I felt safe! Just lots of eyeballs looking at me in my Impact shirt haha

Link to comment
Share on other sites

6 hours ago, DontPanic said:

Lol. Was more of a reminiscence of last trip than a recommendation of the next one. 
 

Costa Rica would be the best choice in my opinion. combination of destination, safety, winnable game, tourism infrastructure, schedule (enough time in advance to plan and organize ) ease of travel time etc etc 

 

Are you out of the travel business these days?  (Well, I guess everyone is effectively out of the travel business in 2020/21, but you know what I mean...) 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

7 hours ago, TGAA_Star said:

Canada/USA I think is the game everyone wants to go to especially if it is away on the road or if it is Canada/Mexico in Mexico...mainly because of the weather it is always hot in Mexico

Ironically, Mexico is likely to be our coldest away match...which unfortunately for you, makes your post look that much more ignorant.

Likely under 18°C by kickoff time.

In the last few years, Mexico have played their home matches in Mexico City and nearby Toluca respectively. The altitude makes for some lovely mild weather.

The USA, even Ohio or New Jersey could end up being hotter in early September than Mexico City will be in October.

If you are looking for heat, both figuratively and literally, San Pedro Sula is the place to go my friend. ;)

Nothing like a good ol' tres de la fucking tarde

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

7 hours ago, TGAA_Star said:

Yeah Jamaica, Costa Rica and Panama have great weather but so does Mexico and that is my damn point. The point being that who wouldn't want to go to a Canada/Mexico game not just because of the weather but also because of the God damn atmosphere. SMH at most of you like don't get me fuckin upset today please.

What happens when you get upset? Do you start making sense or something?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

47 minutes ago, Olympique_de_Marseille said:

Ironically, Mexico is likely to be our coldest away match...which unfortunately for you, makes your post look that much more ignorant.

Likely under 18°C by kickoff time.

In the last few years, Mexico have played their home matches in Mexico City and nearby Toluca respectively. The altitude makes for some lovely mild weather.

The USA, even Ohio or New Jersey could end up being hotter in early September than Mexico City will be in October.

If you are looking for heat, both figuratively and literally, San Pedro Sula is the place to go my friend. ;)

Nothing like a good ol' tres de la fucking tarde

 

Even if mild weather it is not that cold like come on

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm definitely in for Jamaica.  Already booked the vacation time from work!  I recall for San Pedro Sula there were only five or six of us there and we all made our own travel and hotel arrangements, and Morgan Quarry got us our tickets.  It was much the same for Belize.  Would we work it the same way now, or are we thinking of making some kind of group arrangement?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

32 minutes ago, Olympique_de_Marseille said:

Can you tell us more about the logistics regarding gameday in Mexico.

The seperate section + police van exist. Who set that up?

I can't speak to the logistics/behind the scenes regarding our section but everything was organized for us ahead of time.

The riot van/armed escort home happened on the fly, completely spontaneous. There was a mix-up with the police and our security as to where our bus was parked.

We were escorted out of the stadium to the wrong area and into a sea of Mexican supporters. It would have been impossible to get through the crowds to our bus, so kudos to the Mexican police for not leaving us there on our own. They quickly decided that the safest way out would be via their riot vans, and took us straight to our hotel.

Just a wild experience. 

 

Edited by ESG Shawn
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I should also be clear, Mexico City was an incredible away trip. The city itself was amazing, the food was top notch and we had too much fun enjoying the nightlife. Like any cosmopolitan major city, there are places you avoid, and you'll find an entire spectrum of people from friendly to not-so-friendly. 

A bunch of us were regularly out and about into the wee hours of the night (morning) and never felt unsafe (I guess I should caveat that I am of the melanated persuasion and never felt unsafe, I won't speak on behalf of our "gringo" V's, haha).

Matchday was also an incredible experience. The vast majority of Mexican supporters were welcoming and surprised to see a contingent of Canadian away supporters. I've had the privilege of watching football in stadiums across the globe and Azteca is still near the top of my list of matchdays.

I can't wait to go back there again. Unfortunately, the timing for the WCQ isn't going to work for me, but I'd highly recommend it for an away trip.

Happy to share some of the finer details/recommendations via PM if anyone is considering it. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The Mexico trip (as well as the Cuba trip the previous cycle and the Belize trip)  were organized by Jamie and myself in conjunction with a local supplier. In all three cases it allowed us to block hotel space to ensure we could be together, take deposits so people could hold space and pay in stages and set up things like…
Airfare add one from across Canada. side trip to Mexican “small person”wrestling night. Tequila tour. Day trip to pyramids or the aztecs stadium tour in Mexico. Plus arrange the transport to/from the hotel. To/from the game. Set up meeting room. Have drinks night. Have breakfast included etc. Get travel insurance (medical) included. 

jamie was heavily involved to set up tickets w the csa to ensure we sat in a decent section together and they were great. by working with them the Mexican fa knew we were coming and it smoothed out some of the logistics. 

the whole section was surrounded by police w riot shields (most fans were pretty good but a few bottles etc were thrown out way) 

the police around the section is pretty standard from the local stadium/organizers when there is an “official” group of supporters  

the riot police bus was a happy ending after they messed up by trying to exit us with the Canadian embassy staff  we were supposed to wait in the stadium but an over eager staff pushed us out early  Jamie and I had a tense moment over that with the head of security and they fixed the mistake 

 

I’m proud of the job we did and wish more people could have joined us. But it was a lot (a LOT) of behind the scenes work. The result was amazing and unforgettable though. Cheers to everyone that went. 
 

t
 

Edited by DontPanic
Link to comment
Share on other sites

12 hours ago, Unnamed Trialist said:

Just want to clarify as I posted on this above: Miami is a slightly shorter flight flying from San Salvador than Austin or anywhere in Texas. And slightly shorter to go from Miami to Honduras.

I also do not think there are regular direct flights El Salvador/Honduras to Austin. And Austin does not have as many direct flights in general, in case they thought of setting up base there before their away trip to El Salvador.

I think it is going to come down to Orlando, Miami, Houston or Dallas. In all cases that gives us from TO or Mtl a similar travel as they have going to Central America and back, so we are not going to be at any disadvatage. We should not even have to miss a day's training with max 3 hour flights.

Edit: Re: US flies charter and Austin has a really nice executive airport now. 

I really need to read entire threads before hitting reply. 

I do agree with your options but would not rule out Austin either. I predict Austin or Miami. 

Edited by apbsmith
Repeat information
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for going through all that, Trevor. Sounds like a lot of behind the scenes work that made it a great trip for everyone involved. I wasn’t in Mexico but I still have fond memories of Cuba. 
 

Was sad to find today that The Supporters’ Section website is no longer a thing. 
 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, dyslexic nam said:

The other thing I was wondering is the possibility of finding out where the team will be staying when they travel so that supporter’s could stay at the same hotel. We did this by luck in Orlando and it was amazing to see them at the bar and wandering around the lobby.  

In Central America, I don't want our team staying anywhere near where tourists would be staying.  They should be somewhere inconvenient and out of town and far away from Panamanian supporters. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

14 minutes ago, sstackho said:

In Central America, I don't want our team staying anywhere near where tourists would be staying.  They should be somewhere inconvenient and out of town and far away from Panamanian supporters. 

In Costa Rica (the away trip most realistic for me) I would still be interested in knowing where they are staying.  We would only be spending time in San Jose to attend the game - the rest of the trip would be spent elsewhere in the country.  Thus it would be cool to know their hotel because I would just be looking for one or two nights so it might as well be there.  
 

The other thing I need to consider is what it would be like to take kids to an away game like this.  I would have the fam with me on this trip so would likely be trying to get them to see the game as well.   Curious if anyone has done something like this with kids in the picture or if it has solely been an adult activity.  I know there were kids in the Canadian section of the Orlando game but CR may be a slightly different equation.  Having said that, it seems like a pretty kid friendly destination so it may not be a big issue.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

19 hours ago, ESG Shawn said:

I should also be clear, Mexico City was an incredible away trip. The city itself was amazing, the food was top notch and we had too much fun enjoying the nightlife. Like any cosmopolitan major city, there are places you avoid, and you'll find an entire spectrum of people from friendly to not-so-friendly. 

A bunch of us were regularly out and about into the wee hours of the night (morning) and never felt unsafe (I guess I should caveat that I am of the melanated persuasion and never felt unsafe, I won't speak on behalf of our "gringo" V's, haha).

Matchday was also an incredible experience. The vast majority of Mexican supporters were welcoming and surprised to see a contingent of Canadian away supporters. I've had the privilege of watching football in stadiums across the globe and Azteca is still near the top of my list of matchdays.

I can't wait to go back there again. Unfortunately, the timing for the WCQ isn't going to work for me, but I'd highly recommend it for an away trip.

Happy to share some of the finer details/recommendations via PM if anyone is considering it. 

The 2016 Mexico trip was awesome indeed. Very well organized. I'd do it again in a heartbeat. I'm so proud to say that I saw the MNT play at Azteca, that I walked on the field, visited the dressing room, etc., etc. We were also a very nice group of people. I hope to make it to an away game in the next phase but I'm undecided yet on which one.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now

×
×
  • Create New...