Eventually Chad called to see if the game was canceled. According to the receptionist for Rice-Eccles, the only time a game is canceled due to inclement weather is when there is lightening in the sky. She then surmised the entertainment value of a wagering system to determine which team got struck first. I think I'd put $20 on the one standing closest to the metal-framed goal posts.
But first, dinner. Our first choice, Chili's, was closed at 5pm on a Saturday for what the manager said was "facility issues". As in Taco Bell? Don't think I'll be going back there. So it was off to the Desert Edge Pub (known as just The Pub) for delicious POTD (pasta of the day).
A quick trip back in Brandon's Zoom-Zoom to pick up an orphaned rain slicker from my car, we were off to the game. We each had many layers of clothing in anticipation of the weather, all of which were being worn by the end of the night. In addition to rain coats, blankets, and underarmour, we relied on a little Irish courage to battle the elements:
The game was good, though perhaps unevenly matched. The New York Red Bulls seemed to out-do ReAL in most areas like head shots, shooting, and passing. However, we (ReAL) had the upper hand in cute shoes, most notably the halfback wearing pink cleats. If you're gonna wear 'em, wear 'em proudly sweetheart.
Craig, Chad, and Brandon
At half time as they do in Jazz games, the team support people threw small balls into the stands to get people excited. One foam soccer ball was thrown to our section just as Craig was upping the level of his "coffee", which enabled me to lean over and snatch it away. Here's how I caught it:
Finally, a picture of the stadium. You can see the snow-covered mountains in the background:
