NOLAgooner

Okay, I'm not a regular here and this is a little off-topic in that it doesn't directly pertain to Arsenal, but Glassman can vouch for me! I help run the Krewe of Arsenal, New Orleans' Arsenal Supporters Club. Pardon my sales pitch tone that follows.

We are taking pre-registration this week for Gooner Gras in New Orleans, January 30-Feb 1. That's at home to Villa. This will be the second annual Gooner Gras, and we are expecting nearly 100 Arsenal supporters from around the country to attend.

Friday Jan 30 there will be a welcome mixer at NOLA Brewing Taphouse on Tchoupitoulous from 7-10pm with bottomless draft beer from their entire range of craft beers (not just one or two). Jambalaya will be provided to all attendees from the people responsible for the delicious and authentic Crescent Pie and Sausage.

Saturday morning there will be EPL fun at Finn McCool's or a game of pickup soccer for the less hungover, before heading to Parkway Tavern for some poboys. Saturday night is the Krewe du Vieux parade in the French Quarter, and we might see the very first Mardi Gras attended en masse by an EPL supporters group.

The match was moved to Sunday morning, which we will watch at Finn's (of course).

So here's the deal: we want you to come to as much or as little of it as you can. The Friday event is the only part that requires payment, and it costs $35 for all you can drink and eat for 3 hours of really good food and beer. It's a closed event so you must register for a wristband (and must be 21+).

Arsenal America is helping us to sponsor the event, they're the ones that helped bring Arsenal over to play NYRB this summer and organized all the related events. If you are already a member of Arsenal America (or want to join now for $25), you get a free Gooner Gras shirt if you preregister this week (just send PayPal payment to nolagooners@gmail.com or by clicking here)

If you're not an Arsenal America member, we will take $35 regular registration fees up until about a week before the event (there will likely be no door sales). You can always purchase a shirt if you want one for $20 at the events.

With all that said, we hope you can make it for as much of the weekend as you can, share a pint with fellow Gooners from around the country, and just enjoy the city and the match with us. Let us know if you need help finding a hotel, we might be able to help with that.



Info & sign-up:
https://bit.ly/goonerGras2015

Itinerary:
https://on.fb.me/1EAcFv3

www.KreweOfArsenal.com

I would definitely recommend joining Arsenal America. For that small membership fee, you can request tickets directly through the club. That is how I got my tickets.

I also have a Red membership while there were no remaining tickets available for sale, it did allow me to search the official ticket exchange (where season ticket holders can list their tickets for face value for Red members to buy). I found several seats, but almost none were two together (though I did find one set together). Prices were very reasonable, but I did have to check often as usually when I looked there were none available. The ticket exchange opens up I think within one month of the match. The higher the demand for the ticket, the more scarce they are obviously.

Other than that, you can do as was suggested above and attempt to arrange to meet someone in front of the stadium and borrow their card (their card is the ticket). You would have to return it to them after the game, but from what I've seen you won't get charged over face value. Quite a difference from US sporting events!

New Orleans Area Gooners: The Gooner On The Road is visiting us this weekend for the Swansea match.

His plan and story is pretty epic.He's traveling the world to watch every Arsenal match with Gooners around the globe. He will be at Finn's on Saturday, and likely staying there for the LSU game afterwards. Other than a midweek stop in Raleigh, this will be his first taste of southern hospitality (and intoxication). Seeing as his goal is to experience the community of Gooners worldwide, I can't think of a better place for him to visit. Come out if you can, or consider donating for his cause, the TNBC Foundation.