The scene outside Dick’s Sporting Goods Park is a haven for the sports fanatic with a thin wallet where craft beer flows and hot pizza goes down easy for three hours before kickoff. Got 7 bucks and an empty stomach? Join the crazies from the Centennial 38 Supporters Group and tailgate like a king on a budget.
I did on Saturday for Rapids-Dynamo. A first-timer, to boot. And shortly after marveling at how two professional sports franchises — the Broncos and the Rapids — are so far separated in affordability, it began to all make sense why Major League Soccer fans in the state might require cheap inebriation.
Because then the game happened. It was … something. I think Jake Shapiro — our newly minted Rapids reporter — wrote it best: “Nobody around Dick’s Sporting Goods Park could remember a time they’ve seen any soccer team score on themselves twice in one game. If memory served the people of Colorado correct, they certainly had never seen the Rapids score on themselves twice in one half.”
A level-headed fan can achieve inner peace when capable of accepting a result without letting it ruin a good time. World class soccer hasn’t arrived in Denver. Saturday’s 4-1 loss was comical. But the dream of whatap taken place in Atlanta, Seattle and Los Angeles as MLS hotbeds shouldn’t be that far off.
There were 611,571 total people who filled the seats at Broncos Stadium over eight games to watch a sub-.500 team miss the playoffs for a second consecutive season. Those folks could use something to watch until the fall. Maybe a rising Rapids team could do the trick. It will surely take a winner.
For now, the novelty of pro soccer in our city relies on the kindness of tailgaters, an appreciation for the world’s game and a willingness to endure growing pains. I sat eight rows up Saturday night unencumbered by crowds and kept warm with extra layers and cheap pre-match brews. I was among only a few thousand left when Colorado forward Kei Kamara connected on a penalty kick in the final minutes to give fans one last thing to cheer about. Despite the Rapids’ 0-3-2 record, so many empty seats, and two own-goals Sunday, I’ll be back for at least one more match this season. Figure it could be fun to watch grow. And the bargain is hard to beat.
Whatap it like to watch the Rapids lose to themselves? More fun than you might think.
— , The Denver Post
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What’s on Tap?
- Rockies: At Tampa Bay Rays, 5:10 p.m. Tuesday, ATTRM |
- Avalanche: Edmonton Oilers, 7 p.m. Tuesday, ALT |
- Nuggets: At Golden State Warriors, 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, TNT |
TV/RADIO: Here’s what sports are airing today
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Scoreboard
MLB: Rays 7, Rockies 1
Full story |
NHL: Blues 3, Avalanche 2 (shootout)
Full story |
Must-Read
Kiszla: The Rockies’ $15 million problem? They can’t hide Ian Desmond’s deadwood in the batting order.
In a Colorado batting order surprisingly inept for a team that calls a hitter’s paradise its home, Ian Desmond has been a bust with the bat by any measure. Read more…
Vic Fangio looks to set the tone as Broncos offseason program kicks off
The Broncos are permitted to start their eight-week offseason program two weeks early because Fangio is a new coach. Tuesday will include introductions to new coordinators Rich Scangarello (offense) and Ed Donatell (defense) and the position coaches, a team meeting and weight room work, Ryan O’Halloran writes. Read more…
Nuggets are in an awful scoring slump at the worst possible time. First place is on the line.
Denver enters a Tuesday night tilt at Golden State just one game back from the Warriors for the Western Conference’s top playoff seed, but if the Nuggets’ recent inconsistencies persist, itap hard to imagine they’ll close the gap. Read more…
Quick Hits
+ Lunch Special recap: Should the Broncos use their first-round pick on need or best available?
+ Denver Broncos 7-round mock draft: Is Daniel Jones worth trading up for?
+ For those of you who enjoy a good southpaw matchup, today’s Rockies-Rays game is baseball nirvana.
+ Fifth-year senior Tim Lynott Jr. is now the veteran leader of the CU Buffs offensive line.
+ The women’s Final Four is set: UConn, Notre Dame, Baylor and Oregon.
+ WATCH: Wizards’ Bobby Portis and Jordan McRae argue with Nikola Jokic’s brothers after Sunday’s game.
+ CU Buffs guard McKinley Wright is set to go under the knife.
+ New York City police are investigating rape allegations against NBA star Kristaps Porzingis.
+ If you think Odell Beckham Jr. is lamenting his exile from the Big Apple, think again.
+ Jon Calipari continues to add to his fat stacks of cash.
Post Mailbag forms
+ Broncos Mailbag: Have a question about the team? .
+ Nuggets Mailbag: Have a question about the team? .
+ Avs Mailbag: Have a question about the team? .
+ Rockies Mailbag: Have a question about the team? .
By The Numbers
Twice
How many times the Rapids scored on themselves on Saturday. They need answers on defense, but don’t expect them soon. Read more…
Parting Shot
Kiz vs. Singer: How far must Nuggets go in playoffs for a successful year?
The Nuggets are going back to the NBA playoffs for the first time since 2013. And thatap way cool. Basketball is fun again in Denver. Whatap a reasonable definition of success for Denver in the 2019 postseason? Read more…
Get in Touch
If you see something thatap cause for question or have a comment, thought or suggestion, email me at dboniface@denverpost.com or tweet me .
