Soccer Fan has arrived

[jpearl]

I won't apologize but I know this is an on-going saga regarding tickets for matches in Buenos Aires. I just arrived for three months and would like to attend a few games this summer/fall. There are many advertisements for escorted soccer tours but the price is quite high. Let me hear about the best ways to see games in the top tier as well as 'B' national level, too. Can you buy tickets around town at agencies or other venues? I am very glad to be in Buenos Aires and would appreciate hearing from those who have current information on this topic......thanks much

 

[ReemsterCARP]

Except for Boca matches, the best way to secure tickets is to simply go to the stadium a few days in advance and buy your tickets directly from the club itself. Usually the team's website announces when tickets go on sale. Sports daily Olé also has a section on its website on how to get tickets for the games.

Except on special occasions, tickets hardly sell out (except for Boca).

Ah, and it also depends on what kind of tickets you're looking for. Plateas (seated) have become rather expensive and are almost as expensive as tickets for European matches. Populares (standing section) are much cheaper but things can get rowdy there. Leave your expensive camera and watch at home

 

[Diskosis]

Another football journalist and I offer accompanied tours to matches for a reasonable fee (we think!). If you are here for three months you will probably be able to figure it out for yourself, but if you'd like us to worry about the getting the tickets and helping decide on the best game to attend etc, drop us a line: http://www.argentinafootballworld.com/features/123-argentina-soccer-tours.html

 

[Markgeezer]

Hi, Each clubs own website has the info on when and where the tickets go on sale. You can often buy on match day, but the queues can be long with people pushing in, people begging along the queue etc., so you might want to avoid that by buying in advance. You will be going in the home end, popular (standing) or platea (seated), as in Primera you mostly need to be a socio (member) to get away tickets, as very few are allocated. Note that away fans often receive rough treatment by police and officials, whereas home fans are respected and there are fewer security checks. In La B, there are no away supporters.... it got too violent. I would advise you not to go to any lower league matches than la B, unless you are going with a supporter you know well. I guess you are well clued up, but read this if you haven't already...
http://www.goal.com/en/news/585/arg...ial-the-essential-survival-guide-to-argentine Travel safely with plenty of time to get to matches, and to buy tickets (not wearing colours), plan well in advance. Trust you can speak some Spanish, right? Are you doing this on public transport, and alone. I am sure you'll have a great time ! Let us know how it goes. later, mark

 

[jpearl]

thanks, Mark. I will take your advise seriously

 

[sgarlow]

Thanks for the advice Mark. Do you have any thoughts on which teams/stadiums are the best to see, or does it not make that much difference? jpearl, did you get to any games yet?

 

[trennod]

I would agree with what Mark has said.

Depending on how much time you have, how many games you want to see, I would definitely try and make it to a Bocas and Rivers game (even though Rivers are playing in B division, Monumental Stadium is probably the best Argentina has). The tickets will be more expensive and as others have pointed out you may have difficulty getting to see Bocas buying tickets on your own, but I think it is still worth forking out the money anyway. I would check the fixtures and try and get tickets to see them play one of the bigger clubs.

I would probably avoid going to a home game in San Lorenzo, speaking from my experience a few weeks ago there with a friend from home, against the advice of my girlfriend and porteño friends. The ground is across the road from probably the worst villa (slum) in BsAs. The enjoyment of the game and she sheer craziness of the crowd etc was outweighed by the insecurity of being in and around the ground.

I would recommend sitting in the middle away from the hooligans (more expensive tickets, better view of the game, safer and you will still feel the atmosphere), but thats me.

All in all have fun it will be a great experience.

 

[Markgeezer]

In Cap Fed and GBA it makes a huge difference towards your enjoyment of the match as to the type and size of stadium and behaviour/ atmosphere with the fans, and how the police behave outside with the organisation, beside going to a decent match. Best fans and stadium for me is Racing Club at the Cilindro de Avellaneda by a long way. I have been to all the Primera team stadia and most of the B and some C and D in and around BA. Other stadiums that have been enjoyable for one reason or another (in particular the atmosphere) are the Ducó of Huracan, and that of Ferro in Caballito. I have good things to say about Lanus, Banfield, Quilmes and Tigre all with good atmospheres, but better to go with local supporters who invite you as they will know the ropes. I have always disliked the Bombonera as it feels pretty hostile in there (best to go with local supporters in a good platea) and its awful in the visitors end, the Monumental is reasonably good if you have good eyesight (River arent playing any big teams until they get promoted) as you are always far from the pitch so its almost a binocular job, Velez have a decent stadium but the police can be heavy handed outside (they clubbed a supporter to death last year), there is an awkward queing system and parking is a nightmare (as at many stadiums) and usually the exCombatientes have a walk about with their flag on the pitch before the match which for me has nothing to do with football, and lastly the Nuevo Gasometro of San Lorenzo... oh deary me, you have to drive through a very dangerous villa to get there, security seems weak, and again the police can be odd there. All the other stadia are mostly of smaller clubs and there is real danger unless you know exactly where you are going etc. I have nothing to say about Independiente. Hope this helps.

 

[Markgeezer]

If I didn't have much experience of going to football in Argentina and was in Bs As this weekend wanting to go to a match, first I would not go to a night game.'Looking at the fixture then for Primera and Nacional B, I would choose Huracan vs Quilmes at 16:00 on Saturday. It's a good venue, they are both fairly big clubs, it should be a safe and exciting match. I't is second division, but both teams recently went down and they both have lots of supporters making it a better atmosphere than some Primera fixtures.

 

[sgarlow]

Mark (or anyone else here), Could you recommend a game for one of the next two weekends. I don't need to see Boca -- just want to see a good match, enjoy the atmosphere, and feel relatively safe.

Thanks!