2. Bears play the Colts in their new Stadium

So I parked up on some grass verge for $30, didn't have time to look for other spaces and it was right by the brand spanking new Lucas Oil stadium. I got out and made friends with some Bears fans who had travelled won from chicago in their R.V. I'm thinking now I want one of those! Whenever I see a Bears fan, I always think: "that's my crew",so I chatted with them for a while and they took the picture of me with my banner and some other fans.

I was really surprised to see that many Bears fans and although I wanted to hang out with those guys, really I was there to see the colts fans and be a Colts fan for the night. When I met the 2 Michelles last week they had told me that on their trip last year to every Dolphins away game they mingled with the home crowd, and they even suggested I not root for the Colts tonight so as to see how they felt as away fans last year. Although I still want to root for the Colts we will see once the game starts.

I rushed over to the hotel to get my ticket and then walked with the crowd to the stadium. It looks like I had missed alot of the tailgating, but I managed to speak to some fans about the Colts. Alot of Colts fans were mingling with Bears fans. In fact I saw quite a few people wearing both Colts and Bears merchandise. I had my Bears wrist band on that I wear to every game, so I need to find a random piece of memorabilia.

I bought the Lucas Oil programme for 20 bucks, but it was not a programme it was picture journey of the new stadium, still pretty cool. I had my sign with me this time, and I had it folded to not get in anyone's way, but to be honest I think my signs I got printed are too large and I can see myself pissing people off. 

I made my way, way, way up to my seat. Lucas Oil stadium is magnificent but there are no stairsyou have to walk up a not so steep ramp to the top, took me about 20 minutes to get up there. Sadly when I did get to my spot I was ina section under the commentary box, so a huge bit of concrete was abovve me. There are tVs in the wall so we can see, but at this point it was showing baseball. Only until did people compain after 20 minutes did they switch it to the game on the turf. My sign was cumbersome and everytime people stood up I couldn't see anything.

Still the people around me were having a good time and there was a lot of Bears fans just below me, which did not help me root for the Colts.

After the first quarter I left my seat, and went to the Bud light zone, which above one of the endzones, and you can basically just stand there watching the game. People get seated tickets but stand up there anyways. Great idea especially when your seat is under a concrete slab. I boughta Colts coffee mug, which I thought was pretty cool.

Up here is where I met a family of Colts fans and people were really friendly, and they all checked out my schedule on the back of my shirt. Some were saying that because of Peyton Manning is what has brought alot more following of the team. It is unique to me that one player can bring in so many fans. In the premiership at home I dn't think one player could do that. Still the vibe up in this zone was great, and the fans were not "shutting me up" when I was talking to them. Which is what is so perfect about this sport, with all the stoppages you can chill out, meet people, and even dance if you want. It really is like a big  party. People mingle and chat, but still they do not loose the passion for the game. I then tried to get lower down to get my sign noticed, but it didn't. The Bears were winning and I was quite shocked at just how poorly the Colts had played. As I was kind of rooting for both teams, I guess a tie would have been perfect, only I'm sure 70,000 fans would not have wanted to see a tie. I just kept going for anyone who scored and no one seemed to mind, it was a good game and I think we were all a little shocked that the Bears were winning...Hang ona minute the Bears are beating the Colts at their new stadium! Go Bears!

After McGie had scored witha few minutes to go the Colts fans fled. So I went further down the stadium to see if I could get my banner on the big screen. This is where I met Colts Extreme Fan: Horse Shoe Warrior, who goes to every Colts game and lives in Nevada, what a great guy!

After the game I was too busy snapping the celebrating Bears fans and players to notice the fireworks outside. I also hung around the front of the stadium where there was a press conference going on and I tried to get in the background...yes, yes I have turned into one of those fans already! After the game I walked around town and took some more snaps and took it all in. I would have liked to have stayed but I have to drive to Green Bay in the morning so if I can do some of that 400 mile journey now it will help!

 Only problem was that I could not find my car, I knew it was on grass somewhere. This happened to me and my Dad when he took me to my first NFL game back 1990 and we lost the car then (http://www.adamsfootballtrip.com/blogs/wembley-game-1990.htm)

Pre-game

The second game takes me to the new Indianapolis Colts stadium: Lucas Oil Stadium. This is the same matchup from the Superbowl 2 seasons ago, when the Colts beat the Bears. It will be great to be part of the game at the opening of this new stadium. The Bears will obviously want to win this away game to take revenge on the Colts on their Superbowl loss.

The game will be fascinating for me, as well as difficult. As I am lifelong bears fan, but for this trip I have decided to root for each home team I visit. So rooting for the Colts against my beloved Bears will be difficult, especially so early on in the trip. Though I picked this game because of the potential added atmosphere in the new stadium.