In 2007, the Tecate-sponsored tour stopped in Raleigh for the first time, with the hopes of allowing Triangle residents to attend a world-class soccer game on their own home turf, at WakeMed Soccer Park.
The match, featuring a face off between Cruz Azul and the Carolina RailHawks, was such a hit that tickets were completely sold out. In a sight never before seen at WakeMed Soccer Park, masses of ticketless fans desperate to cheer on their favorite teams bunched around the outside of the stadium, hoping to catch a glimpse of the game. Some even climbed trees to get a better view.
The resounding success of the 2007 match inspired Tecate to return to Raleigh in 2008, as part of a four city Futbol Tecate tour that made also made stops in Denver, Sacramento and Fresno.
The event, which pitted the Carolina RailHawks against the Rayados de Monterrey, garnered tremendous support from local fans, many of whom have never had the chance to see their favorite Latin American teams play. According to Arturo Vargas, the Events Sponsorship Manager for Tecate Beer, seeing the Rayados de Monterrey play was "a once in a lifetime [event] for many of these people".
In addition to having the opportunity to see the soccer match of their dreams, the more than 7,000 fans in attendance got the chance to meet and get autographs from soccer legends Manuel Negrete and Luis Roberto Alves "Zague".
Judging from the local support and enthusiasm evident at Raleigh's 2008 Futbol Tecate match, fans are already hoping that there will be a 2009 Futbol Tecate event in Raleigh. Most likely, that goes double for the RailHawks, who have yet to emerge victorious from a Futbol Tecate match, and whose narrow defeat by Monterrey in 2008 must have them yearning for a rematch!
See pictures from this year's match!
