WTI Magazine #50    2014 December, 26
Author : Matthew Lofstrom      Translation by:

When we arrived in Rome, our professor had us write down three goals we wanted to accomplish during our semester in Italy. My number one goal was to get to Stadio Olimpico to watch A.S. Roma play. This past week on December 10, I saw Roma play Manchester City in a Champions League match and the atmosphere was like nothing I have ever seen before.

Back in the United States, soccer is one of the less popular sports. Fortunately, my friends and I share a common interest in following various European soccer leagues and teams. For me, the team that I have followed for the last couple years has been A.S. Roma. Following the players and the team is something I enjoy and take a lot of pride in. Also, this made the experience of seeing Roma play all the more meaningful and exciting.

When we walked up the stairs and gazed upon the field for the first time, I remember that my heart was racing and I was awestruck as I saw the thousands of fans anxiously awaiting the start of the match. I could not believe that I was at the Stadio Olimpico. With the stadium able to seat 72,000 people, the amount of Roma supporters was mind-blowing to me. I have never seen that many supporters for a single sports team in my life!

Shortly after we got to our seats, the fans began singing "Roma, Roma, Roma", the song that is sung before every game. The sound of thousands of voices singing that song was very moving and the amount of pride that people take in this team was eye opening to me. Also, hearing the names of the players shouted by the crowd was very powerful and for the Manchester City fans, I can imagine it was quite intimidating.

While it's true that some fans can get wild at these events, I think the crowd and the atmosphere were the most memorable parts of the experience. The banners, the incredible amount of Roma scarves, and the amount of lights and flares that were lit, all to encourage the squad on that field, was remarkable.

There is clearly a relationship that exists between the team on that field and supporters in those stands. For Americans, we have all endured an obnoxious fan at a sporting event. However, I think many people are quick to misinterpret the enthusiasm of the fans. There are certainly some fans that are more intense than others, but on the whole, we were all there to simply cheer on the team that bears this city's name. That night, I saw a group of people who took an intense pride in their team, and even more pride in where they come from.

The fact that Roma lost the match was the least of my concerns. I lived my dream by getting to see them play and the environment that I found myself in was more powerful than anything I have ever seen. Once again, this city and its people have left me with an experience I will never forget.