Friday, Feb 06

Arena Day, as it's come to be known, is always the highlight of the trip for me. No matter how much you enjoy the spectacle of a game day at the Arena, you can't help but be moved by the gracious and hospitable welcome provided by Ajax, and the friendliness and openness of the players and coaches, on Arena Day. The overworked story of Ajax becoming a faceless corporate machine is nonsense. Ajax is a club, a family. And we saw it first-hand today.

 
Our host Danny Hess treated us to a private tour of the Arena, including a visit to the Queen's Box private suite and then a visit to the playing pitch, where he snapped this group photo.

After our impromptu tour of the Arena, we went out to the training pitch, where we awaited the arrival of the Ajax players.

We stood sideline to observe the full 90-minute practice, which began with light running and ended with some impressive shots on goal.

After practice, and with John O'Brien's help, we got a group photo with some of the Ajax players.

John takes time to chat with some young Belgian fans and sign some autographs.

Sean gets as close as he can to the UEFA Cup in the Ajax Museum.

Bertrand, Ajax USA's ''Man in Paris", interviews Julien Escude. Look for this interview soon on our site!

Menno interviews Jari Litmanen while Sean provides moral support. Another coming-soon interview! 

John O'Brien makes a post-training appearance at SoccerWorld pub to say hello to the Ajax USA gang.

Group photo

John signs more autographs than the Constitutional Congress, with nary a complaint.

And his reward... the now-traditional box of Girl Scouts of America Thin Mints, provided this year by Lewis Burgin.