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If you follow me on twitter you probably already know what happened to me and my two friends yesterday at the US send off game vs Turkey.
The day started out like any other pre game. We were tailgating at Lincoln Financial Field and having a great time. I was very excited for the game because unlike the other US games I had been to, this one was going to be full of US fans and that got me even more pumped for the game. At about 12:30 we started cleaning up the tailgate to head in to the game. The American Outlaw section is general admission, so we were heading in early to get a good spot.
Once in the stadium we head down and get a good spot in the section right behind the goal and on the first row. People were slowly coming in and the team came on to do their pre game warm up, etc. People were already chanting and getting pumped for the game. The game was still over 30 minutes away from starting and a guy behind us decided to light some kind of smoke bomb. He lights it and stands there holding it above his head in a Statue of Liberty type manner. He then drops it. Meanwhile security is yelling at him to put it out, then yelling for it to be tossed out of the section so they can take care of it. Since it is behind us, my friend turns around and attempts to pick it up to give to security. It is too hot for her to pick up so she turns back to security and tells them it is too hot. Someone uses their scarf and drops it over the wall toward the security guys. We go on cheering and ask one of the kids on the field to take a picture of us (the one at the top of this post). As he is handing the camera back to my friend a security guard on the field who hadn't been there earlier comes walking toward us and points to the 3 of us. "You. You. You. You're gone!" We look around wondering if he is talking to us. We were very confused. Then we hear someone say "smoke bomb". So now we are more confused...because we didn't have anything to do with the smoke bomb, in fact we tried to help the security guy out by giving it to them.
So we walk up to the concourse and are continuing to ask what we did, what is going on. And they are replying back with you're going to be removed from the stadium, etc. We are freaking out. We traveled all this way JUST FOR THIS GAME and before it even starts we are being kicked out. We ask to speak to the person who decided to throw us out and he comes up and would not listen to us. He cuts us off whenever we try to ask him what we are being thrown out for, etc. He tells the other security guards to take us to holding down below the stadium and take us out.
We are escorted below the stadium with about 5 security dressed all in black and combat boots, etc. The 3 of us to continue to ask what is happening, etc. They take us below where we are asked for our drivers licences and tickets. They make copies of this and then start filling out some kind of paper work. Meanwhile I just take a seat on the floor and cry. We can hear all the pregame festivities taking place. We even see the officiating crew walk out and go onto the field. The Star Spangled Banner Starts playing and at that point I am sobbing. Tears streaming down my face because I am missing all of this.
They finish up the paper work and then ask us to stand in front of the wall so they can take our pictures. I go first. Even though I have been sobbing and am so unbelievably sad/pissed/dejected/confused, I put on the biggest smile I can for the picture. After we all have our pictures taken, the two security guards that have stuck around the whole time then proceed to escort us from the stadium.
That was my experience for the US vs Turkey game. Not one I will ever forget, but for all the wrong reasons.
