It’s Great To See You Again
The concourse at Commonwealth Stadium
On Friday, I and over 48 000 others attended the FIFA World Cup Qatar Qualifiers at Commonwealth Stadium here in Edmonton. Naturally, an outdoor event in Edmonton in early November is going to be dark and cold. I think when I left the house, it was around 2 degrees Celcius. I was fully layered up to insulate myself from the cold. Nevertheless, the streets were brightly lit and full of people looking forward to attending an event viewed worldwide. Most of us waited patiently outside the gates as security and event staff verified: Identification, proof of Vaccination, and tickets. Start to finish, the lineup probably took half an hour to go through.
When my friends and I reached our seats, I have to admit; I was unprepared for how moved I was seeing the stadium filled with people. Of course, seeing was one thing, but hearing thousands of voices cheer and sing together was incredible. I should also note here that I'm not a soccer fan, but I went because I knew this would be something great to experience along with the community. It certainly was.
Now, my basement is much more comfortable. The TV resolution is fantastic. My sound system is infinitely superior to the sound echoing broadcast equipment at Commonwealth Stadium. I'll also go out on a limb and suggest that my snacks would probably be better than what I bought at concessions. But, with all of that said, nothing, and I mean nothing, matches the experience of community. Cheering on your own in your basement is ok; but, standing on your feet to cheer along with 48 000 other fans is exhilarating.
With community, your worst days will never be as bad as they would be if you were alone. But, conversely, your best days will always be more significant in community than if you live in isolation. And even though I'm an introvert, I have to admit, I have missed the crowds. We've practiced social distance, we've supported the doctors and nurses, and we took the first vaccine that was available for us so that we could be together again. Yes, the soccer games have been a celebration of sports, but more than that, they are a celebration of community.
Community, it's great to see you again!
Edmonton, let’s do this again soon!