Shifting Lenses

When my family lived in Beijing, we would occasionally go see our favorite local team, the Guoan, play in the old Workers’ Stadium. Built in 1959 and since demolished, the stadium offered a great, one-of-a-kind experience.

I’m not even sure I want to go to the new stadium, even though I still root for the Guoan. For the equivalent of about $50, we could get front-row seats—technically the second row because the first row was always empty other than members of the military evenly dispersed to ensure safety and peace. Compared to European football prices, this was an unbelievable steal. The vibe was still very similar to soccer games I’d attended in other countries, complete with special fan sections, flags, and drums leading the chants. I can still remember the chants after all these years. One key difference, however, was that the old stadium had no concessions inside, so we’d eat in Sanlitun before the game and pop outside during halftime for a drink or snack.

Going to these games was one of the many times in China that showed me how much more alike we are across countries than we are different. The energy and fan passion were similar to soccer matches I’ve been to in New York or Europe. The human love of sport is a common bond across cultures and countries.