International Champions Cup: Was The Game At Autzen Stadium A Success?

On Sunday afternoon at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, the field was transformed for soccer as Inter Milan and Paris Saint-Germain played a Friendly at the Home of the Oregon Ducks, but was the game a success?

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As I arrived the parking lot was pretty much an empty wasteland. Albeit was about two hours before the game, but if it were a football game, the sound of music and kids tossing around the football along with tailgates galore would have likely greeted me. The game itself, well, it was a soccer game.

If your not into soccer, it could be seen as boring. Now if you are hardcore into soccer, trying to breakdown the tactics of each team, and you have players that you have cheered for forever that are playing or if you just simply like a player because he has ONE name, well that works too.

By game time, over 24,000+ found their seats at Autzen to watch Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan go into halftime tied at 1, PSG would pull away in the end for the International Champions Cup win. The post game press conference was a bit entertaining in its own right.

With French and Italian teams playing, quite a few of the questions were asked in both languages and translated. Paris Saint-Germain Head Coach Unai Emory heard pleasantries from his home country Media that were similar to, “Nice to See You Coach and Thanks For Answering My Question(s)” It was an odd politeness that we don’t see here in the United States very often.

From my personal experience on Sunday, I would say that Soccer at Autzen Stadium was a success, but they probably won’t do it again for a long time. For the fans that were there to have their own experience, and knowing that more fans may have come down from Portland for the match if the Stars were Larger(or of the Timbers did not have a game the night before) did factor into my thought process.

Comparison shot between Soccer and Football at Autzen Stadium.Justin Phillips/KPNW Sports /

Not to mention it is the middle of the Summer in Eugene and many are vacationing at either the Coast or the Mountains.

For me, it was the first Soccer game I have not only ever attended, but also ever covered. From the Press Box at Autzen Stadium, it had the mid week at the Race Track kind of feel, where there may be one moderate race with several lower level races around it. Earlier I used the word boring. What I should have said was Lackluster.

The attendance reflected that as well. I realize the promoter Relevant Sports did their best with what they were given, but when the contract was signed Paris Saint-Germain had a Star in Zlatan Ibrahimovic who would have been on the field and likely brought more fans to town. However he got caught up in the Business of Sports and signed with Manchester United.

The build-up was actually the best part. Watching Autzen Stadium be transformed with REAL Grass and no goalposts(not to mention corner kicks from areas about as wide as a small kitchen table) was pretty entertaining and a kick to see.(pun intended)

Was the event a Success? Yes, it was. Will we see Soccer again anytime soon in Eugene?

Probably Not.

(Feel Free To Share Your Thoughts Below – keep it Family Friendly please)