Have you ever walked somewhere that has never existed or that you have never been to before and felt right at home? That is how Sunday felt walking through tailgates at the BattleHawks game. Walking through downtown St. Louis with only two things your mind, “KaKaw” and “beer”, is a refreshing feeling to say the least.
Not even 24-hours before the game, a majority of the city of St. Louis was not even 3 miles south of The Dome partying their asses off during Mardi Gras. Yet, that did not stop this city from rising up to the occasion to rally and do it again the very next day. The atmosphere in downtown St. Louis on Sunday afternoon was one that has rarely been alive for a sporting event in these winter months, other than the Winter Classic, as long as I can remember. Even while the Rams were here, for the majority of their stint in town, it was never quite as electric as we felt on the home opener for the BattleHawks. Noticing drinking games, backyard games, and barbecuing taking place in every direction you looked, felt like a college football tailgate. To walk around parking lots seeing American flags, the St. Louis city flag, and BattleHawk flags waving proudly through the air, was quite a sight to behold.
As the time winded down towards kick-off, everyone started filing into the stadium in a mass of blue attempting to get through the gates. While the wait took quite some time, you would have never met a happier bunch to sit in line for what seemed like an eternity. Road sodees were being finished and chants of all sorts were being belted across the entrance with one in particular being repeated a numerous amount of times, “Kroenke sucks.” Eventually the fans began to bypass security and file into the stadium welcomed by a host of fans chanting that have already been in for who knows how long.
Once in The Dome and made the way through the concourse, I walked through the tunnel to one of the most beautiful sites I have ever seen in my life. The entire lower bowl of the dome, standing on their feet waving the rally towels, as if it were a game 7 of a championship series. The atmosphere in the stadium felt even more so like a college experience. The first time the, “<—Battle…. Hawk—>,” chant was in full effect it was instant chills. KaKaws flying around every which ways, “BOOM” every time Marquette King bombed a punt in the air, and the ever famous “Kroenke sucks” chat filling the echoing dome was the best experience I have ever felt at that stadium.
Football is back in St. Louis, and it is better than ever with fan support across the country. On Sunday, that was showcased in full effect as fans from all over partied in St. Louis in anticipation of the first home game for the BattleHawks. Hopefully this is just the start of what is to come in this magnificent sports town that is eager to take on any doubter of our fandom. I am proud to call this place home and the past Sunday just solidified my love for the city and people all around it. Thank you St. Louis for the best football experience I have ever felt in my life.
Cracked Pavement Sports 