I had a great assignment to cover a Mexico versus Columbia soccer game played in Dallas, Texas. The stadium filled with fans sporting green jerseys for Mexico and yellow for Columbia. The game was played second to the FC-Dallas soccer game. No fans came to see the local team. The Mexico-Columbia game meant little in terms of rankings, although pride was obviously at stake. I have been to soccer games in Latin America before and expected the craziness. I must say, though, I was somewhat disappointed…I expected smoke bombs and fights and only witnessed cursing and threats. One guy taunted at me for crossing his path and another flipped me off for photographing Columbia fans before him. It was all in good fun, and I can only assume these were gestures of friendliness.
This game was all an attempt to lure Hispanic and Latino fans to sporting events in the US. There was even a carnival set up outside in the Cotton Bowl Stadium parking lot with McDonald’s hosted children’s basketball games, Home Depot poster painting sessions, and Norteño music concerts sponsored by Jeep. It seems like professional sporting organizations (and corporations) in the US are late to realize the rising buying potential of the rising the Hispanic population within sports. The story, written by Wall Street Journal reporter Ana Campoy, also mentions the rise in popularity for Nascar racing. I would have loved to shoot that as well. How fun would Lucha Libre be on the race track?
Be sure to check out the online slideshow as well. Oh…Columbia won the game 2-1.
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