I had a little research under my belt when the plane landed at JFK and I‘d discovered there was a bar called Nevada Smiths that was, apparently, a football Mecca. Hmm… not only that but my apartment was no more than 3 blocks away… Hmm… the website had flashy pictures, football decorated panels and photos showing, what appeared to be, a crowd, drinking, and watching football… Was this true? Or was this some clever ploy by the ‘owner’ of the website to bring us ‘Europeans’ in. I even saw online that Nevada Smiths was home of the NYC Arsenal’s Supporters! I was more than intrigued.
It was the Emirates Cup last summer that I went to Nevada Smiths for my first taste of Arsenal in America. On the way to Nevada Smiths I noticed other people wearing Arsenal shirts, ‘only me and these people then will be in this ‘football’ bar’ I said to myself. I then turned a corner and saw a small crowd outside Nevada Smiths, all wearing Arsenal shirts. Promising. I walked past this group and into the bar and, lo and behold, there were quite a few people wearing Arsenal shirts waiting eagerly for the game to start, to watch a FRIENDLY Arsenal game at 11AM on a Saturday morning. And most of them were American. I was suitably impressed. The bar itself had signed football shirts all over the walls with other football related items strung around the walls and ceiling – there was even a huge NYC Arsenal sign with an apple behind it! I had a chat with some of the local Gooners and they said come full season Nevada Smiths would be full and I would have to arrive early as a line would form outside the bar with a ‘one in one out’ stipulation. All very promising I said to myself, things were looking up! Meanwhile, Arsenal, of course, went on to win the Emirates Cup…
A couple of weeks later I again turned up at Nevada Smiths and was absolutely astonished; the place was nuts!!! The place was FULL - I could barely move! Hundreds of (mainly American) football fans, wearing shirts representing a variety of Premiership teams, were packed liked tinned sardines into this, now, seemingly, small bar – unbelievable! The Arsenal fans even knew the Arsenal songs! Wonderful stuff - and Arsenal battered Everton 6-1. Perfect!
I was absolutely stunned; never had I thought football would be as popular as it is here in the United States. OK, so some of this article is a little tongue in cheek but I confess I was a little ignorant and perhaps a little naive in thinking that Americans don’t follow ‘soccer’. They do, and they follow it as passionately as those who live in their respective football team’s homeland. The Arsenal fans I have met thus far are hugely knowledgeable, know the football lingo, understand the team’s history and fully understand what is to be a supporter of Arsenal football club. It really has been a pleasant surprise and I have been made most welcome by them all and, with the new season virtually upon us, I look forward to seeing those familiar faces and new ones alike. Oh, and rumor has it that NYC Arsenal has a new watering hole for this season…
Right then, off to find someone who can catch a ball and someone who is big, tall, scary looking and can play in defence… Until next time.
P.S. I would like to hear from (American) readers on how and why they started following the English Premier League, and Arsenal in particular – I’m very curious! Much appreciated
