Andrew Szunyog – GW at the 2018 World Cup

About Andrew Szunyog

I am the Assistant Coach for the GW Men's Golf Team and a 2nd year MBA Candidate with concentrations in Sports Management. I am originally from Central Florida and prior to moving to D.C., I lived in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

A time for reflection…

Andrew SzunyogJune 28, 2018Leave a comment

It’s 2:30 am and I’m sitting in Penn Station in NYC waiting for the train to DC so I can complete the final leg of my journey home. I figure the best way to wrap up what has been two weeks of self-discovery and enlightenment is to go through the past two weeks and offer my personal conclusions.

I’ll start with the easiest, my favorite game of the four I attended was Mexico v. Germany. It was one of the biggest World Cup victories in Mexico’s history and it was so wonderful to see all the Mexican fans that traveled so far to support their team be rewarded by their teams guts and grit to take down one of the best teams in the world. This was also the best live sporting event I have ever seen.

My favorite speaker we meet with was Sunil Gulati, former President of US Soccer. His quick, sharp wit kept all of us on our toes (or at least the ones that got his jokes) and he really challenged us with some tough, thought-provoking ethical questions. We even discussed some recent sports related controversies ranging from equal pay to equal rights to kneeling during the anthem. He provided great insight into how to handle these situations as a manager that I for sure will take with me.

My favorite cultural experience was our walking tour of the area around the Red Square and the Kremlin. I learned so much about the history of the Russian people and appreciated some of the newer initiatives to turn the area into a cultural center with a large park, amphitheater and performing arts center.

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The best fan base to experience during the World Cup was Argentina. The Mexicans were amazing and the pregame cheering of the Polish was pretty impressive (note I said pregame as during the game they all but disappeared). But these two do not compare to Argentina. I’ve seen Argentina play on TV but nothing compares to nearly 50,000 of their fans singing in unison so loudly you cannot hear yourself think. It was incredible. Also, the bare chested shirt waving of men of all age was a site to behold.

My biggest disappointment was none to be honest. And if there was, it has been forgotten because of the following.

My biggest surprise was the Russian people and culture. The metro was hyper efficient, easy to navigate, and breathtakingly gorgeous with chandeliers, statues and mosaics at every stop. I was struck by how hard the younger generation of Russians (18-40) are working to fight off the stigmas and stereotypes assigned to them by our own biases and media. I was told many times by the Russian people that we are friends, not enemies and we must work together to overcome differences and make the world better. Any Russian we met that could speak English was so eager to strike up a conversation and I welcomed the opportunity to engage with them. Not once did I feel unsafe the entire trip (well, except for that one uber ride in rush hour Moscow traffic). Expenses were pretty cheap, from uber rides to food to beer to souvenirs, it was a very affordable trip. Lastly, a craft beer enthusiast, the young and impressive craft beer culture that is coming up in Russia will easily rival our ingenuity and creativity in no time and is easily a reason to visit Russia.

I will finish with this. I would encourage anyone to visit Russia and I hope to go back someday. I made some friends that I hope will come visit in me in the US and I hope to return with my significant other to show her how wonderful the country is. This has been the trip of a lifetime and I cannot wait to see what’s next.

Friends for life…

Andrew SzunyogJune 26, 2018Leave a comment

When I decided to come to Russia for the 2018 World Cup, I came for the soccer and the learning experiences that come with running the world’s preeminent sporting event. When I go home tomorrow and return to my normal life, I take home the knowledge earned from meeting industry professionals who are chasing their dreams of a professional life in sports, something that all of my classmates are striving for.

But these experiences are not the only thing I will take home with me. I will bring home something that cannot have a value placed in it because it is priceless. It is the lifelong bonds and friendships I have made with my classmates here in Russia. These connections have not only enriched my life for the better and opened my eyes to new cultures and experiences but have given me new connections and avenues to achieve my own dreams and goals. I expected to make friends here in Russia but I did not expect to find the human connection that makes life so enjoyable and so fulfilling. Thank you to all of my new friends for helping to make this the trip of a lifetime and I will not soon forget you. I will miss you much and I look forward to seeing where our new found friendships will take us.

No three stadiums are alike (Series Post 3 of 3)…

Andrew SzunyogJune 24, 2018Leave a comment

This is the final post in a series of three in which I will review the three stadiums in which I have attended FIFA games. The final stadium is Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, home of the World Cup final.

Luzhniki Stadium - Mexico v. Germany - June 17, 2018. First constructed in the mid 1950’s, this stadium has seen several facelifts throughout the years, including most recently for the 2018 World Cup. The seating capacity for this venue is approximately 81,000 people, making it the largest stadium in Russia and one of the largest in all of Europe.

The stadium is located along the banks of the Moscow River and is easily accessible by metro. From the outside, the facade of the stadium reminds me of classic Roman and Greek architecture with columns surround the venue with concrete bricks providing texture and depth to the building. As you approach the main entrance to the stadium, you are greeted by the statue of V. I. Lenin. With the array of sponsor booths and signage surrounding the leader of the Russian Revolution, one cannot help but think about what Lenin would say today if he encountered such capitalistic themes surrounding his city and country.

My seat for the game was in the top row of the stadium and getting there took a bit of effort as there was no escalator to get you to the top. It was straight man power using my two legs to carry me up 6 flights of stairs. I’m sure there were elevators but I did not put much effort into finding them as I could always use the exercise. Security into the facility was not a big deal and was a pretty quick and easy process compared to that of Spartak and St. Petersburg. The stadium is completely open allowing for the movement of air to help keep you cool on warm summer afternoons.

As I said, my seat was in the final row at the very top of the stadium but in no way did I have a bad view. The sight lines were spot on and there were no issues with tv screens or columns blocking my view of the game action below. This was my favorite of the three stadiums I attended and the game itself, a Mexico win, was one of the best sporting events I have ever attended. I truly look forward to watching the World Cup final from the comforts of my apartment in DC and harken back to my experiences at this stadium.

No three stadiums are alike (Series Post 2 of 3)…

Andrew SzunyogJune 22, 2018Leave a comment

This is the second post in a series of three in which I will review the three stadiums in which I have attended FIFA games. Up next is Spartak Stadium in Moscow.

Spartak Stadium - Poland v. Senegal - June 19, 2018. Spartak Stadium is home to Russia’s premier league team, FC Spartak. Built in 2014, it seats approximately 45,000 fans. From a distance, the red checkered coloring of the exterior of the stadium reminds me of the scales on snake skin. An inviting place to see a game as a home fan but a menacing presence on the horizon for opposing fans. The red tones made the venue feel like a Polish home game and with the Polish fans out numbering the Senegalese almost 5 to 1, it certainly felt like it.

The metro conveniently dropped us off just outside the stadium but the routing of fans trekking to the venue was very long and out of the way, adding almost an extra 1/4 - 1/2 mile to the walk. Once through security, it was very easy to find my section and seat. Now, keep in mind my seat for this game was the closest I’ve ever sat to a field for almost any sporting event I can remember attending, 3rd row behind one of the goals. The inside of the stadium concourse on the first level is wide open and provides a lot of space for fans to move around, gather up provisions from the concessions and easily locate the souvenir stand. Once in my seat, the stadium’s smaller scale provides an intimate place to watch a football game. The endless din of the cheering Senegalese and Polish fans were accentuated by the stadium’s acoustics and added to the intensity of the World Cup match. As for my seat, the sight lines of the rest of the stadium were unobstructed but I soon realized that sitting that close to the field inhibited my ability to follow the action occurring on the opposite end of the field. The thing that rescued me from this issue was the large tv screen suspended from the stadium opposite my seat that showed the live action.

This was probably my least favorite game of the three only because of the issue just mentioned and the unruly and obnoxious fan sitting a few seats over who was more worried about waving his flag and disturbing the fans around him than watching the game taking place 20 yards in front of him. The security staff did their best to control him but every time they walked away, he just continued with his flag waving. Not sure what more security could have done, save for kicking him out or taking his flag away, but these are the things you deal with at events like this.

The last and final thing I want to touch on with my experience at Spartak is the corralling of exiting fans by the entourage of Russian soldiers. We were forced to exit the same way we came in down the extra long winding road and as we approached the entrances to the metro, a line of menacing and strict soldiers lined up on either side of the sidewalk and did not allow anyone to veer off track and wait for friends off to the side. One entire metro entrance was closed off so every single fan was forced into a single entrance. Myself and my three classmates were able to convince a soldier to let us into the street to wait for the rest of our party but getting back into line once they arrived was another ordeal. Eventually we made it over to our group mates but it was quite a bit of effort to do so. I completely agree with crowd control and order but this was over the top and not necessary.

Overall, the stadium experience was pleasurable and save for a few minor issues I would absolutely watch another game at this venue in the future. Stay tuned for the third and final installation where I review the site is the World Cup Final in Moscow, Luzhniki Stadium.

The view of Spartak Stadium from outside the entry gate.

A closer look at the stadium’s snake like exterior.

A panoramic view of the stadium from my third row seat.

Of course I had to grab a selfie from the frontish row seat!

No three stadiums are alike (Series Post 1 of 3)…

Andrew SzunyogJune 20, 2018Leave a comment

Three games down and zero games to go. It’s sad to say but my live game experiences for the 2018 World Cup have come to an end and I’d like to use this time to reflect on my experiences in the three stadiums in which I have attended: St. Petersburg Stadium in St. Petersburg, and Luzhniki and Spartak Stadiums in Moscow.

St. Petersburg Stadium - Morocco v. Iran, June 15, 2018. The aesthetic architecture of this stadium is out of this world, quite literally. The stadium itself looks like a space ship landed right on Krestovsky Island. As you walk through the gates you almost expect Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith to greet you as if you are on the set of Men in Black. Costing nearly a $1 Billion USD to construct, no expense was spared in providing a breath-taking visual experience. However, once inside the exterior, it is clear not much thought, or money, was put into the internal layout as you make your way to your seat. It was not easy to move around as there are many different corridors and blind corners that limit pedestrian walkways and open air movement. My seat for the game was for a lack of better terms, in the nosebleeds, but my view was perfect and offered all the necessary sight lines to enjoy the game. However, my fellow fans just 2 sections over had to navigate their eye sight around one of the massive television boards that didn’t necessarily block their view but certainly didn’t add to it.

As for the rest of the stadium experience, the concessions were below average and signage directing you to your seat and bathrooms were adequate. In my opinion, the stadium misses out on a lot of opportunities for fan engagement. It’s quite possible that the venue was not fully completed before the start of the World Cup. Either way, it would have been pleasing to see FIFA corporate sponsorship branding, national team logos and colors or images symbolic of the St. Petersburg or Russia along the plentiful white walls escorting you throughout the space. Given the stadium has a max capacity of 67,000, it has the potential to be one of the best in Europe and my hope is that if they have the time, the city will opt to finalize the stadium for its home team, FC Zenit St. Petersburg.

A visual of St. Petersburg at near full capacity.

Redefining our perceptions of reality…

Andrew SzunyogJune 18, 2018Leave a comment

It has been said multiple times within our group and it is something we are all getting to see with our own eyes, Russia, and Moscow specifically, are an amazing places. I think when I left for this trip 5 days ago to meet my classmates for this once in a lifetime trip, I harbored some preconceived notions constructed on the backs of spy movies and tv, our media, and our preconceived American ideals, that Russia is a place one should avoid. I am here to say that this sentiment is incorrect. I have been so pleasantly surprised by the warmth and hospitality of the people and the amazing quality of the cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg. The people live normal everyday lives and struggle with the same issues each and everyone of us face in our own lives. And this is not to say that you should not be aware of your surroundings at all times and exercise caution with sound decision making when entering into any environment, but the same can be said of anyone visiting New York City, Washington, DC and Los Angeles. I’ve been to Serbia, Italy and Greece and from what I’ve learned, all it takes to break down the rough exterior of hardened European spirits is an open mind and willingness to make and effort to communicate in the native language. So far, my rough Russian words and phrases have brought smiles to faces and the mutual appreciation to meet them on their own terms. I’m so very excited to see who we meet and the relationships we develop with our hosts in the coming days as we work to repair and build the trust and understanding that goes with the notion of human connection.

You never forget your first… 2

Andrew SzunyogJune 15, 20182 Comments

Yes, it’s a cliche but it’s so true. Any time you experience something for the first time, whether its a first kiss, driving a new car, the first day at a new job or attending your first World Cup match, you hope that it is a moment in time you will remember for the rest of your life. Today I attended the Iran vs. Morocco match in St. Petersburg Stadium. In a building that resembles an alien space craft and cost roughly $1 billion to build, I watched my first World Cup game with 65,000 other soccer fans. It was by no means the best game I have ever seen but it is certainly one I won’t forget. It was a sloppy and slow game and featured more fouls than shots on goal as well as a near bench clearing brawl. Morocco entered the game as the clear favorite but after weathering a heavy Moroccan onslaught in the first half, Iran was able to dictate the 2nd half pace of play and secured the 1-0 victory off a Moroccan own goal in the final minute of extra time. While the result was not what I expected, everything else lived up to my expectations. I bought this ticket a few months back because I thought it would provide me with a cultural experience unlike anything I’ve encountered thus far. From the crowds outside the stadium singing and dancing to the raucous and endless cheering during the game to the crowd of Iranian fans celebrating on top of a statue outside the stadium, it was a moment in life I will never forget. Which leads me to reflect on this thought for the day: in order for any of us to get the most out of this life, we should experience as many firsts as we possbly can.

No turning back… 2

Andrew SzunyogJune 14, 20182 Comments

This afternoon I left my home in Washington, DC to depart on a trip of a lifetime and all I can think as I board a train to New York City is ‘What the hell did I get myself into? I must be crazy or something to think that I can handle a place like Russia on my own!’ I am overwhelmed with a crazy mix of emotion that is akin to the feeling I got moving to New Mexico on a whim ten short years ago after living my whole life in Central Florida. All I can say to that is look what wonderful things happened to me when I decided to take a plunge and go someplace I’ve never been before. Despite all the fear and doubt that tells me I can’t do it and questions every motive behind embarking on this adventure, all I can do is tell myself ‘this is one of those adventures that I will never forget’ and that has me pushing forward to face the challenges that lie ahead of me. So, here’s to adventure, conquering fear and owning the moment to make the most out of this one chance at life! I hope you enjoy journey as much I do and I’ll see you soon from the other side of the world!