Match day eighteen and final regular season home game. The Crew were up against a weak DC United looking to make the playoffs with a win. Crew fans looking forward to this match up at home not only for a push to the playoffs but even more reason as their goalkeeper from the previous season is the starting goalkeeper for DC United. It was a beautiful day with temperatures around high 60's. I arrived at the stadium and headed into the office to meet with the other interns. We held our opening meeting and they said that we should have full stadium tonight with the circumstances of the game. We were given our tasks for the game and got to work. My group and I had to set up the Gaming Zone and Create a Sign Station. We set up the Gaming Zone by setting up the TV and Xbox for fans to play Fifa. We then went and grabbed a tent and table and the poster supplies for the other station. After setting up these two stations we put flags throughout the stands for the fans to wave during the game. Once this was all finished we had a bit of time to eat before the gates opened. Once the gates opened my tasks for this game was to pass out programs and help direct fans coming into the stadium, and put the Mapfre sponsor banner on the field and take it off before the first half. During the second half and after the game, I was working with fan engagement in the player tunnel to the locker rooms. Fans can get a chance to meet players and get autographs, this can get crazy sometimes. Many fans want to see specific players but not every player my come out for this. Keeping this organized and professional as possible is difficult but manageable. Once the players returned to the locker room I met up with the rest of the group for closing meeting. This being the final home game they talked to us saying it may be last time we have to work unless the Crew get a home playoff bid. This will be announced at the end of October. They then thanked us and told to to keep watching our emails and then dismissed us.
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Match day seventeen as the Crew are scheduled to play the New York Red Bulls. Kick off set for 7:30pm for another Crew night game. It was a nice day, but it was hot with a high of 91 degrees Fahrenheit. As the day went on it cooled down, but set up was hot. We all got together and had a meeting on what our tasks and jobs were for this particular match. There were no special events going on this game, but a bigger crowd was expected because the Crew are making a push for the playoffs. My group and I began plaza set up, the interactions we had to set up were the DJ booth, player development, and the kids turf field. Once set up was completed we ate dinner then headed out to work our assignments as the gates were about to open. The first half I was assigned to manage a set of streamer canons for the first half, but before that had to pass out programs at one of the gates. Right before kick off I headed up to my canons. Once the first half was over I went down to the plaza and began plaza tear down once it cleared when the second half began. A few of us finished plaza tear down then watched the rest of the game. When the game was over and the stadium cleared out a bit we finished taking down the last of the interactions. When that was completed we had our closing meeting and were dismissed.
Match day sixteen Columbus Crew are playing Sporting KC, kick off was set for 1pm so we had to be there early in the morning. We all met up and briefed over the the specific tasks for this match. For this match specifically is was bring your dog to the game. We had a specific area marked off for all the dogs and they had their own section for seating. Each person who brought their dog had to have a special ticket and had to enter through gate 6. Each person received a doggy bag which included Crew dog treats and a Crew dog bandanna. We then all broke down into our teams and started set up. My team and I had the task of setting up gate 6 and organizing and managing the gate as well. We had to take the boxes of gift bags over along with programs. We then had to set up two tents on the grass area of the plaza, where the dogs specific area was, so the dogs could have some shade later in the day. Once our tasks were finished we went and assisted the other groups in setting up their interactions. Once everything was ready for the match we ate lunch and waited for the gates to open. Before the gates opened me and the other two interns in my group headed over to gate 6 to oversee that gate and make sure everyone got a doggy bag. We were managing activity at gate 6 until halftime when the gates closed. We did not run into any issues and it was fun seeing all the different dogs come into the stadium. Once gate 6 closed we started putting away the extra doggy bags and cleaning up the gate. Once gate 6 was all picked up and back to normal we helped other with plaza tear down as the game concluded. Once all interactions were put away and cleaned up we briefed about the match. They said it went really well for a day when a lot could go wrong with all the dogs at the stadium. After out meeting we were dismissed. It ended in a tie 1-1 as playoffs were soon approaching and the Crew needed points to get into a playoff position.
It was the day before the match and seven of us arrived to do pre match day set up. We arrived and met with our supervisor and she instructed us what to do. He had many tasks to complete. First we started folding t shirts and filling t shirt bags. After folding t shirts and filling bags we moved onto filling streamer canon bags. After that we took one of the streamer cannon backpacks with us and went and set up the five streamer canons, four on the upper deck and the one in front of the main fan section, Nordeck section. While setting those up we filled them for the game so they were ready to go. After setting up the canons we placed tables and cinder blocks at the location of each interaction. The seven of us then moved a goal out to plaza for the Boyd's Tire Kick interaction. The last thing we had to do was to set up soccer billiard's on the main stage. Once we completed our tasks we went and saw, Leigh Ann, and she walked through and checked everything we did and we were then dismissed for the day until tomorrow.
Match day fifteen the Crew were going up against FC Dallas. The weather was fair a good day for a soccer game. We all met up and had our opening meeting and went over the specifics for the day. One important thing was that it was the Manager's wife's birthday. So a few of us had a special task for this occasion. My set up tasks were to distribute programs to each gate and make sure there were enough bags prepared for streamer canons and t-shirt toss. Once the gates opened I helped pass out programs until kick off. During the first half my job was to manage streamer canons. There we no issues with canons during the first half luckily. During the second half I was with the mascot walking around and engaging with fans. During the 55th minute we had to go up to the Manager's suite box and present his wife with flowers and her gift as she was turning 55. A couple other interns helped with this as well. She was very happy that her husband had us do that. The mascot and I then continued our route around the stadium and then ended at the tunnel for the end of the game to sign autographs with players after the match. This was a great experience making people smile and engaging with the fans and players as well. I then joined up with the other interns and we had our closing meeting. Once the meeting concluded we were dismissed.
Pre-match day set up for FC Dallas was the day before the game. There were five of us that came for set up. We did not have a lot to do for this pre-match set up, we started out by taking tables and cinder blocks out to the where each interaction was located. We all then cleaned out the storage unit completely and reorganized it to fit in the new order of attire and soccer balls. After reorganizing the storage unit we set up the streamer canons that hang off the upper level and the canons that shoot into the Nordeck section, where the main supporters sit. We then filled backpacks with streamers and canon caps for the game the next day. As well as folded t-shirts and filled the t-shirt toss backpacks. We met up with our supervisor and she said that was all that needed done and were dismissed.
Match day fourteen as the crew take on LA Galaxy. The weather was nice, breezy the temperature around seventy five degrees. Kick off was at 7:30pm like most Crew games. We all met up and had our opening meeting. There were no extra interactions or events this game. Plaza set up began and I had to set up Boyd's Tire kick and the Ohio Health kick, which are the two most difficult set ups. My team and I grabbed what we need to set up these two interactions. Blowing up the Ohio Health kick is most difficult because it is about twenty feet tall and top heavy. It takes about six people to do it and we only had four people. We got it set up pretty easy luckily it was not too windy so that made it a little easier. We then moved the goal for the Boyd's Tire kick and moved the tires that fans must kick a soccer ball through to win a prize. After setting up these two interactions we went and set flags in the stands for fans. We then had a break till the gates opened. My jobs for the first half was to work the gaming zone and play FIFA with any fans who wanted too. Once the game kicked off we started tearing down the interactions on the plaza that we were able too. During the second half I had to put the banner on the field and then remove it before the half started. After the banner I had to manage a set of streamer canons the entire half. Once the final whistle blew and the fans cleared around me a bit I took my two canons down and put them away and then went and helped with plaza break down. Once everything was put away we had closing meeting and were dismissed.
Match day Thirteen the Crew were up against a tough eastern conference opponent The Chicago Fire. Kick off was set for 7:30pm. It was a hot day with a high temperature around eight degrees with little wind and no clouds. As the night went on and the sun dropped it cooled down a bit, but during set up it was hot. We all met as a group and had our opening meeting and talked about specific things that needed done for this match. This match there was no ISnap interaction, and there was an extra t shirt toss. We began plaza set up, the interactions i had to set up were the DJ booth, player development, and the kids turf field. After setting up my interactions I went and helped set up Crew fan flags in the east stands. Once set up was completed we ate dinner then headed out to work our assignments as the gates were about to open. The first half I was assigned to manage a set of streamer canons for the first half, but before that had to pass out programs at one of the gates. Right before kick off I headed up to my canons, but they did not go off at the start of kick off like they were supposed to. I double check it and the person who set it up did not open the air compressor valve. I opened the valve and then they went off the next time after we scored. Once the first half was over I went down to the plaza and began plaza tear down once it cleared when the second half began. A few of us finished plaza tear down then watched the rest of the game. When the game was over and the stadium cleared out a bit we finished taking down the last of the interactions. When that was completed we had our closing meeting and were dismissed.
Match day twelve the Crew were up against their rival The Philadelphia Union. I arrived at the stadium and it was a stormy, rainy day. Luckily there was no lightning so we were able to set up the plaza. Plaza set up was not enjoyable because it was raining, to our benefit it was off and on and not a down poor. This match I had to set up the gaming zone and player development interaction. The gaming zone is a Fifa 17 station where fans can play Fifa on the xbox, and player development is a tent where kids can sign up to join the crew youth teams. My tasks during the game were to pass out programs before kick off. While passing out programs we ran out of programs at the gate I was at, so I went over to another entrance gate and got some of their programs. After passing out programs my job during the first half was to manage and oversee the streamer canons in the Nordecke section, but because of the off and on rain streamer canons are not used. The reason they are not used is because no one really wants to be covered in paper streamers while its rainy. So instead during the first half I helped people take down a couple of the interactions. Since we had extra people to help in doing this it went a lot faster. For the rest of the half we got to watch the game, the crew scored in the first half, which would be the only goal of the game. During the second half my duties were to watch over the mini turf field where kids are allowed to play soccer, but this interaction ends with about fifteen minutes left in the game then I had to pass out promo items since the Crew won. After the stadium cleared out we finished taking down the interactions on the plaza and had our closing meeting. After the meeting we were dismissed.
Match day eleven and the crew have a scheduled international friendly against a Germany Bundesliga side, Eintracht Frankfurt. This match being a friendly there was not as many interactions. Boyd's tire did not come so that was even one less fan interaction we had to set up. We did not have to set up soccer billiards either. I had no interactions to manage this match as only a few were set up. My only job was banner for the second half and plaza break down. I got to watch a majority of the match and it was fun to see a German club play. The Crew went on to beat Frankfurt 1-0. Plaza break down did not take long because there were many of us to help because of the few amount of interactions. Once we completed plaza break down we had our closing meeting and were then dismissed.
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