Up The Bridges

Ballard FC 0 v Capital FC 2

USL League 2, North Western Division

Friday 1 July 2022

Played at Interbay Stadium, Seattle

Ballard's Interbay Stadium is the 398th different ground I have watched football on. Plastic pitch this one. Ground full to the Brim. And then some. Simple box to box uncovered stand on the main side. Standing areas each side of that. One of those effectively a Beer Garden. Bit of standing behind one goal, being used tonight by junior football clubs & their coaches.

The bank opposite (outside the ground) covered in bushes, trees & additional assorted foliage was utilised by the intrepid ticketless.

USL League 2 is self described as the leader in pre-professional soccer in North America. A countback using Futbology has it as USA Tier 4. Ballard FC is a local phenomenon. This is their first year as a club. They are playing to sell out crowds. Other results went their way at the weekend and they clinched a play off spot with a game still to play. They've become the hottest ticket in town. Well, in Ballard anyway.

There was no chance of blagging a seat in the stand. That's gone to season ticket holders. But, I was able to buy one of the small number of standing tickets a whole month before the game.

As I mentioned, the Bank Opposite had a few intrepid souls. Including one guy with a drum & vuvuzela. A feisty game. Some red card action over on the far side towards the end. Impossible to make out what had occurred from our vantage point. One Capital off. And maybe one of their bench as well. Goals on 69 & 75 had won it by then.

There was (natch) beer in the ground. I went…

Reuben's Brews (Seattle), Up The Bridges!, Pale Ale from a Tin at 5.5%

That is a Reuben's 10th Anniversary Series brew in collaboration with Ballard FC. Reuben's are the shirt sponsor of Ballard.

The beer references Ballard Bridge located a few blocks from both the Reuben's Taproom & Interbay Stadium. HBC 1019 and Cashmere, Michigan, Chinook and Cascade.

Not gonna lie. One of the reasons for going to this game was the chance to bar crawl around Ballard. A calm neighborhood, riddled with breweries and taprooms. Over the day, I was able to push my American Beer Ticks up to 88.

Bad Jimmy's Brewing Co.

We had to tread a little carefully. Because we were about ten minutes before opening. My Seattle Mariners Pride baseball cap helped establish us as friendly faces. Five core beers on. And two seasonal. I had the Whale Tale Pale Ale at 6%

The Bale Breaker & Yonder Taproom

I thought that was a bit up itself. Large & very well appointed. All bright & woody. Enormous yard outside the main bit. But, an impressive 15 on. I had Bale Breaker Brewing Company, Field 41 Pale Ale at 5.2%. The narrative is that it uses Hops from "their best field". Hhhmmm. Not sure about that. Nice enough. But, I was underwhelmed.

Lucky Envelope Brewing

Bright & welcoming. Nine of theirs on Keg. I had Strata IPA at 6.5%.

Wheelie Pop Brewing

Heavy on the customer service, introduced himself & the other geezer. He was a bit surprised "the English" had found his gaff. A simple explanation that the Carrier Bag Firm are the most resourceful Ultras on earth sufficed. Fourteen on. I had Helicopter Tail Pale Ale at 5.7%.

Up The Fucking Bridges!!!

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