And what a great trip it was too. Not only did I get to see two more NFL cities but also a great college game, my first ever baseball game and a visit to a former US president’s library and museum as well.
The trip started off in Austin, Texas. A city on the rise, both Tesla and Apple have set up multi-billion dollar facilities in Austin this past year alone. It has no shortage of culture either and lives by its slogan “keep Austin weird.” It’s also one of the music capitals of the world, thanks to its festivals such as the music TV show Austin city limits. It’s also considered one of the great food cities of America too with food trucks all over the city serving up things like BBQ, Tex-Mex and tacos.
But it was sport I was there for and what a game it was last Saturday between Alabama and Texas. I think I’m still coming down from both the heat and the atmosphere. A sweltering day in downtown Austin this was one hell of a contest. Alabama, the number one ranked team in the country, really struggled to get on top of a resilient Texas team despite being a strong 20 point favourites on the road. Save for a late Alabama field goal to win the game 20-19, this game really should have went the way of the home side. With not an empty seat in the house or many voices left after the game, this truly was a thunderbolt of a college football experience. Air-con never felt so soothing when we finally got out of the midday heat!
I say we because it was in fact a tandem for this trip with my old poker buddy and now Texas native Gordon Hanlon showing me around for the majority of the trip. An excellent cinematographer, Gordon kept me in check that I was here not only to enjoy the trip but also to document it too! He done a great job of cameraman throughout the journey.
Following an afternoon/evening in downtown Austin checking out sixth street, rainy street and some local BBQ, the trip moved apace to Dallas the following day for some NFL week one action between the Dallas Cowboys and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
I wasn’t expecting to see Tom Brady again, especially after he retried this summer! But see him again I did and he looked as imperious as ever as he led his travelling Buccaneers to a very resolute albeit largely uneventful 19-3 road win. The cowboys stadium was a wonderful place to watch a game almost like an IMAX cinema of an experience. Perfect wifi, unlimited concourse, perfectly air conditioned throughout, this was a very different experience to the previous day’s game. But well worth it and a fabulously perfect environment to watch the game. It was just a shame the home team were really never in it.
Getting to visit the Cowboys practice facility, the George Bush presidential museum and a Rangers baseball game over the next few days was a lovely end to my stay in Texas. Not as hectic as hurried as the game days, it was a welcome change of gear to the trip.
The ham and cheese toasties in the Dallas arts district were a far cry from the toasties myself and Gordon would have grew up on in the Jackers all those years ago, that’s for sure. And don’t get me started on the pineapple cider!
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After that it was onwards to Kansas City and my last stop of the trip. This was quite a different city than both Austin and Dallas. Having gone from skyscrapers galore this was very much a city on the ground, with little to be daunted by. It also had that Midwest charm. I felt very much at home in Kansas City. It felt like a place that you wouldn’t be long getting to know both the town and the people. A very manageable city with a chilled out nature to it.
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And the best part about it is the wonderful team this city now boasts. The Chiefs have been the stars of the NFL show for what seems like the past four or so years since Patrick Mahomes became their starting quarterback. They’re the most electric team in football and Arrowhead stadium certainly reflected that. One of the best overall game days I’ve had, the Chiefs experience really didn’t disappoint. With the exception of Buffalo, I think this was one of the best NFL atmospheres I’ve seen. I suppose it does help when you’ve a team that’s on fire like this one.
The game itself was good too and certainly hard fought. The Chargers were worthy of their place in it and took the game to the Chiefs throughout before finally succumbing to a 27-24 loss. I left thinking this is a match up we could see again in the AFC playoffs.
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So overall a very enjoyable trip back to the home of American football and another two teams off my NFL list. I’m not sure if I’ll get to any more this season but like I said in my last blog before the pandemic I’m in no rush. I’ll let them come to me as the opportunity allows it. Goodness knows these last few years have proved that.
But it was sport I was there for and what a game it was last Saturday between Alabama and Texas. I think I’m still coming down from both the heat and the atmosphere. A sweltering day in downtown Austin this was one hell of a contest. Alabama, the number one ranked team in the country, really struggled to get on top of a resilient Texas team despite being a strong 20 point favourites on the road. Save for a late Alabama field goal to win the game 20-19, this game really should have went the way of the home side. With not an empty seat in the house or many voices left after the game, this truly was a thunderbolt of a college football experience. Air-con never felt so soothing when we finally got out of the midday heat!
I say we because it was in fact a tandem for this trip with my old poker buddy and now Texas native Gordon Hanlon showing me around for the majority of the trip. An excellent cinematographer, Gordon kept me in check that I was here not only to enjoy the trip but also to document it too! He done a great job of cameraman throughout the journey.
Following an afternoon/evening in downtown Austin checking out sixth street, rainy street and some local BBQ, the trip moved apace to Dallas the following day for some NFL week one action between the Dallas Cowboys and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
I wasn’t expecting to see Tom Brady again, especially after he retried this summer! But see him again I did and he looked as imperious as ever as he led his travelling Buccaneers to a very resolute albeit largely uneventful 19-3 road win. The cowboys stadium was a wonderful place to watch a game almost like an IMAX cinema of an experience. Perfect wifi, unlimited concourse, perfectly air conditioned throughout, this was a very different experience to the previous day’s game. But well worth it and a fabulously perfect environment to watch the game. It was just a shame the home team were really never in it.
Getting to visit the Cowboys practice facility, the George Bush presidential museum and a Rangers baseball game over the next few days was a lovely end to my stay in Texas. Not as hectic as hurried as the game days, it was a welcome change of gear to the trip.
The ham and cheese toasties in the Dallas arts district were a far cry from the toasties myself and Gordon would have grew up on in the Jackers all those years ago, that’s for sure. And don’t get me started on the pineapple cider!
.jpeg)
After that it was onwards to Kansas City and my last stop of the trip. This was quite a different city than both Austin and Dallas. Having gone from skyscrapers galore this was very much a city on the ground, with little to be daunted by. It also had that Midwest charm. I felt very much at home in Kansas City. It felt like a place that you wouldn’t be long getting to know both the town and the people. A very manageable city with a chilled out nature to it.
.jpeg)
And the best part about it is the wonderful team this city now boasts. The Chiefs have been the stars of the NFL show for what seems like the past four or so years since Patrick Mahomes became their starting quarterback. They’re the most electric team in football and Arrowhead stadium certainly reflected that. One of the best overall game days I’ve had, the Chiefs experience really didn’t disappoint. With the exception of Buffalo, I think this was one of the best NFL atmospheres I’ve seen. I suppose it does help when you’ve a team that’s on fire like this one.
The game itself was good too and certainly hard fought. The Chargers were worthy of their place in it and took the game to the Chiefs throughout before finally succumbing to a 27-24 loss. I left thinking this is a match up we could see again in the AFC playoffs.
.jpeg)
So overall a very enjoyable trip back to the home of American football and another two teams off my NFL list. I’m not sure if I’ll get to any more this season but like I said in my last blog before the pandemic I’m in no rush. I’ll let them come to me as the opportunity allows it. Goodness knows these last few years have proved that.
