Why You (Yes, You) Should Attend the U.S. Open Cup Semifinal on Aug. 6

Eleven — not the child with superpowers that is obsessed with Eggo waffles — is the number of days that remain before we see Orlando City take on Atlanta United in a semifinal match of the U.S. Open Cup. This tense match-up between “rivals” will take place right here in our house.

If you’re like me, you stalked your email waiting for the link to purchase seats early. Perhaps you or someone you know hasn’t decided whether to attend the Tuesday night match. Maybe your best friends or significant others have laid out an extensive list of excuses as to why they shouldn’t go. If that’s the case than this list is for you!

It’s an Inexpensive way to Experience the fun

If you’re a season ticket holder, you’ve missed the window for $10 tickets, but fear not—tickets are still available for as little as $15. That’s like the price of a movie ticket and it guarantees 90+ minutes of excitement.

The ticket prices are low, sure, “but concessions are where they gouge you!” That’s a popular excuse and it’s not wrong. Part of going to a sporting event is grabbing an ice-cold beer and maybe a hot dog. In tradition with past Open Cup matches this season at Exploria Stadium, the Power Menu is back! That means you can grab $5 beers, $4 hot dogs, $3 sodas and water, and did I mention $5 beers?

Date Night

Listen, dating your partner is important whether you’re married or not. Use this as an excuse for a weeknight date! Head downtown a little bit early and grab a nice dinner or pregame drinks somewhere. It could be fun to take the Sunrail in and then take a Lyft back because, $5 beers! If you’re going that route, plan some post-game excitement or walk a few blocks away from the stadium because it can be tough for Lyft drivers to move through all the congestion. There is still plenty of time to find a babysitter for the kids or dogs and take advantage of a fun night out. If you’re newly dating someone, this could be a good opportunity to see who they really are. I know that after almost 15 years together, my husband caught a whole new glimpse of the woman he married after our first Orlando City match.

Celebrate

For many teachers out there, Aug. 6 means we’re back to work and fully thrown into the second day of pre-planning. So, if you or your friends are using the excuse, “it’s a work/school night,” no, just no. Teachers won’t have students the next day. You only live once so why not just be a little tired the next day? You can take a nap when you get home. Let’s use this night to celebrate anything and everything. Celebrate the end of summer, the fact that you’re making it through another work week, that it’s Tuesday, or that you’re doing your part to keep Atlanta United fans out of our stadium.

Show Pride in Our City

Orlando City is a special club. You’re here reading TML because you know that, so share it with your friends, family, and coworkers. Buy up some of those inexpensive seats and gift them to someone who has been saying, “Yeah, I’ve been meaning to check them out.” The “rivalry” between OCSC and Atlanta fans is something to behold if you haven’t before. Come out in crowds, wear purple, learn some of the chants from the wall, clap along, and yell when you know, “The ref belongs, on O.B.T.” We have three major league sports teams in this town — two of them play soccer — so let’s rally behind the Lions.

Witness History in the Making

The last Open Cup match made headlines with The Running of the Wall, as supporters sprinted the length of the stadium to jump behind the net to support the team. Not only are the sights and sounds of some of the most passionate fans in this league worth witnessing in person, but this is the first time in the club’s history that the team has made it to the semifinals. Additionally, if Orlando City can manage a win in front of the home crowd, it will be the first time Orlando City will have beaten Atlanta United. If you’re looking at the statistics you’d be inclined to use the excuse, “they’re just going to lose anyway,” but what if? What if OCSC and James O’Connor can pull this off? Adam Grinwis proved to the fans that he’s calm, cool, and collected under pressure, especially during penalty kicks for a shootout win the last time the team played in this competition.

So, stop what you’re doing right this second and buy your tickets to the match on Aug. 6. If you already have your tickets (and even if you don’t), send this to five friends who should attend and make a fun night of it. What’s one long and tired day at work out of your lifetime of workdays?

Who are you bringing or hoping to bring to the match? Let me know below and be sure to say hello if you see me.