Soccer in Ottawa - Atlético Ottawa
/KITC would like to welcome back guest blogger, Stephen Johnson. Stephen Johnson is an Ottawa writer who loves to write about family travel. During the summer, you will most likely find him and his family at a local fair or festival. During a non-pandemic winter, a beach in Mexico is a likely bet.
One of the best feelings in the world for our family is the atmosphere prior to the start of a live sporting event. Of course, it has been well over a year since we had that feeling. Thankfully, our family had that it again when we attended the most recent Atletico Ottawa soccer match.
The Atlético Ottawa match was the first outdoor professional sports event in Ottawa in over a year and a half. They were facing the Halifax Wanderers.
Approaching TD Place, it almost felt normal. Fans were wearing Atlético Ottawa jerseys. Families were enjoying a pre-game meal. The only difference was that almost everyone was wearing a mask.
To gain admittance into the game, it was necessary to wear a mask. People were expected to wear their masks at all times except when consuming food or drink.
We arrived early just to take in the atmosphere. There was a large crowd as Atlético Ottawa instituted a pay what you can model for the first game. All proceeds from ticket sales went to the Youth Services Bureau.
When player introductions were started, everyone started cheering. It felt like the entire stadium had been waiting for this moment. Live sports were back in Ottawa. Once O Canada had been sung, it was hard to hear yourself.
Halifax jumped out to an early 1-0 lead. This did not dampen the enthusiasm of the Ottawa fans. One of the most fun aspects of the game was watching the Ottawa supporters section. They can be described as super fans. They were chanting and singing throughout the course of the entire game. The Ottawa supporters also were very family-friendly in that their chants and behaviour were always respectful of all fans in attendance.
When Ottawa scored their first goal, the supporter section and everyone in attendance erupted. It was a beautiful header that I am sure made the sports highlight reels. By halftime, the score was 1-1.
I’ll be honest, this is usually the time our son, David, is ready to head to the exits. He likes live soccer but 45 minutes is usually enough. I said out of habit, “So buddy, do you want to head home.” I was surprised when I got, “No, let’s stay for the whole game.” In shock, I did not question this newfound appreciation for soccer.
In the second half, Ottawa carried most of the play but did not manage to score a goal early on. I thought it was going to be a draw when Ottawa squeezed a goal by the Halifax goaltender in the 87th minute. David, Sandy and I leapt out of our seats. We were satisfied to see Ottawa notch their first victory at home.
For more information about tickets and schedule for Atlético Ottawa, visit https://www.atleticoottawa.canpl.ca.
Stephen and his family received their tickets free, but the opinions expressed in this post are his own.
