How do we get the finale at MetLife and how do we get tickets?
Going only on memory for 1994 World Cup ... I recall an opportunity to enter a lottery or list for tickets. People had to buy the entire slate of tickets for a given stadium. I was living in NorCal and got tickets to the Stanford Stadium matches - three or four group stage games (Brazil was in two or three), a Round of 16 match (which turned out to be USA-Brazil on July 4th) and a Quarterfinal match. The ticket prices were really expensive. I expect ticket prices to be astronomical.
I'm sure a lot of RU fans will have memories of the 94 World Cup and Italy matches at the Giants Stadium. I had moved to California almost decade prior, so watched the matches at Stanford Stadium. A much different experience than the Meadowlands because Stanford Stadium is a short walk to downtown Palo Alto.
I have some great memories from that WC, especially the first Stanford Stadium match - Brazil-Russia. I went with a buddy, arrive over three hours early on Caltrain. We immediately went to a bar (it was around 10 AM) to see part of the Ireland-Mexico match. Just started to figure out what we were in for when the bar was so packed full of fans, that many were standing and dancing on the tables and chairs. We left for a nearby grocery store to buy some beer. The place was packed full of exuberant Brazilian fans, including a cadre of models/cheerleaders, a couple of guys smashing bongos who were cheered on by a pack of drooling Brazilian dudes who I suspect hadn't slept in three days. Every cash register had a line that went to the back of the store - the store was almost as packed in as the bar. We picked up a six pack (It was about 11 AM by this point) and we stood in line for a while and the line DID NOT MOVE. We drank all the beers, but line still DID NOT MOVE. It was no problem, because the Brazilian fans were so full of infectious joy. By 11:30, we had downed the beers and said, eff it, and left the store.
We arrived at the stadium shortly after. Clarence Clemmons, Bill Weir and Carlos Santana all performed before the match. The game was kind of boring - Brazil just toyed with Russia the entire time. However, the 40 or 50,000 Brazil fans were in ecstasy. A great atmosphere that was like seeing your favorite band play.
After the match, we headed back to University Avenue for a lot of partying. My last recollection was riding Caltrain back to San Francisco and joining a multi-car conga line of Brazilian fans keeping up the celebration.
