Comments on: Seeing an Italian Football Match at San Siro in Milan

By: Jessica

Jessica — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 17:49:23 +0000

Hopefully this article will help you:
http://travel.theoffside.com/italy/san-siro-stadio-giuseppe-meazza

I imagine that the easiest thing would be to take the train to Milan and then take the tram/bus to San Siro.

By: Derek

Derek — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 12:17:50 +0000

Jessica, I’m an American Soccer Fan traveling to Como in a couple weeks. Can you give me any advice on the most affordable way to get to the San Siro on game day, (if we are not already in Milan). We have tickets already to the Champions League match. Thanks

By: Jessica

Jessica — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 00:40:00 +0000

I’m pretty sure you’ll be able to take in your backpack – I’ve carried my purse in every time – but someone will look through it at the entrance. Just be sure you don’t have anything in it that you don’t mind losing if they decide it can’t come in – water bottles, keychain with a swiss army knife or laser pointer, etc. I don’t have a list of banned items, but I’d be very careful about what was in my bag if it were me…

By: Manuel

Manuel — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 14:35:33 +0000

Hi Jessica,

This is a really nice post. I just have an extra question: can I bring my backpack to San Siro in a match day? It’s a day backpack, just like a school one (not the big hiking travel packs).

Any ideas?

Thanks!

By: Jessica

Jessica — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 02:51:28 +0000

Hi, James – It’s interesting, I should probably go back and update this post now that I’m more familiar with Italian footy (and I usually do call it footy, even though it’s soccer here in the US!). The differences in American sports still stand out to me, but for different reasons now.

Generally, there’s more announcing going on during an American sporting event, but it’s not constant. There’s more than just player substitutions, however, which is essentially all the Italian announcers do at the stadiums. And we often have music going throughout a game, too, in the form of a band playing in the venue itself (more typical at college games) or someone playing “pump up the crowd” music on an organ or something. (As I’m writing this, I’m noticing how strange it sounds…)

American fans do cheer and yell and whatnot, but we don’t have the tradition of singing songs and chants throughout an entire game. The half-time “show” is really a noticeable difference in the U.S., though. In fact, during any time-out in a basketball or football game there can be something happening on the court/field – usually cheerleaders or dancers running out to do a 30-second routine before the game starts up again. Half-time can be a parade of events – cheerleaders, dancers, contests involving fans, marching bands… It depends on the sport and the level of importance of the game. For the pinnacle of half-time show craziness, the Super Bowl takes the cake.

And no, there isn’t any official segregation of fans in the U.S. – although in college games the “student sections” of a stadium often become something like a de facto “curva” in that those tickets are all purchased by students of the home team. It’s not enforced by any official mechanism, however.

As for what sports to watch here, I’m not the right person to ask, I think – my favorite sports are footy and cycling, neither of which is huge here! Of the ones you listed, I far prefer basketball (NBA) to American football or baseball, but American football is probably the most universally popular here. We also do have a growing soccer league, so if you happen to be in one of the MLS cities it might be fun to check out an MLS game, too – there are elements of American sports incorporated into the whole spectacle, even if the game itself is familiar.

If you find yourself in Portland, let me know – we’ve got an NBA team and (as of this year) an MLS team, so you can at least experience a couple different sports!

By: James

James — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 11:36:04 +0000

Great post, I found it especially interesting regarding the half-time entertainment and lack of information during the game. I’m a football (soccer to you probably) fan in England and go to watch my teams games and as in, probably, the rest of europe there isn’t any commentry during a game. It got me wondering what you get in America?

We go to football to sing, shout, and get entertained by the sport I’ve never considered a need to have extra information during the game as it’s unfolding in front of me.

To pick up another point, is there no segregation of fans at sports venues in the US? – I think it’s only football here due to the hooligan problems in the 70s/80s but I think that it adds to the atmosphere, I’ve been to watch rugby where everybody mixes and there isn’t the them and us feeling that you get/enjoy at football.

Anyways great post which has intrigued me about watching sports in different parts of the world. Next time I’m in the US what should I go to: NFL, NBA, or Baseball?

By: Jessica

Jessica — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 22:45:42 +0000

I’m much more of an avid fan now than I was when I went to my first game at San Siro…

On most of my Milan visits, I’m there long enough that I rent an apartment for a few weeks rather than a hotel room. If you’re looking for cheap accommodation in Milan, there are a few hostels in the city – two of which are semi-close to San Siro:
http://www.italylogue.com/featured-articles/finding-the-hostels-in-milan.html

You might also find this travel info for San Siro & soccer games in Milan useful:
http://travel.theoffside.com/italy/san-siro-stadio-giuseppe-meazza

By: Alan

Alan — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 13:55:45 +0000

Good read, Jessica, always interesting to get the objective viewpoint of somebody who isn’t an avid football fan. Quick question, I’m assuming you flew in from the States and rented a room, so how much did it cost per person approximately? I ask because I’m a cash-strapped student who desperately wants to watch Milan again but don’t have any clue as to how much I should carry with me for the trip and stay. Thanks in advance.

Oh, and I share your admiration for Andrea Pirlo, wonderful player.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 18:42:47 +0000

Oh, too bad, Amy! Well, you can always find a restaurant/bar with the game on TV & watch with the Italians – that’s fun, too.

By: Amy

Amy — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 06:43:41 +0000

Okay – strike that. I just searched and found my future landlady was wrong – that match is not at San Siro but in Germany!!!