Game day in Tijuana is probably the craziest experience I have had yet. Kansas City was a good if safe feeling atmosphere, but Tijuana has taken things to another level. If I had to compare it to anything, it feels almost like a soccer atmosphere. Three blocks around the stadium are fully immersed on game day morning. People wake up and start their day drinking and tailgating. It brings me back to my college days honestly. Food, fans and alcohol everywhere. Music is blasting, the sun is heating up and so are the fans. No matter which way you take to get to the stadium, hundreds of fans recognize you and want you to stop with them for a moment. I’ve been offered some of the best food of my life, but my favorite part is when they try offering me a beer or margarita. My response is always the same. If we will, I’ll be back tonight.
I’m not sure how many fans actually believe that I come back, but I usually make good on my word. That being said, I tell it to about 10 different groups. There is a good chance I miss at least one of them, but I do my best. Connecting with the fans has been my favorite thing of all. We sometimes forget our roots and it always brings me back to when I was young. I looked up to athletes and part of me felt it was something unobtainable. I was also slightly worried that the Luchadore community wouldn’t love me right away, since I was drafted by the Coyotes the season before and came over due to the contraction draft. That hasn’t been the cased at all. I have felt welcome from day one and really enjoyed getting to know the fans on a personal level.
I’m not sure how many fans actually believe that I come back, but I usually make good on my word. That being said, I tell it to about 10 different groups. There is a good chance I miss at least one of them, but I do my best. Connecting with the fans has been my favorite thing of all. We sometimes forget our roots and it always brings me back to when I was young. I looked up to athletes and part of me felt it was something unobtainable. I was also slightly worried that the Luchadore community wouldn’t love me right away, since I was drafted by the Coyotes the season before and came over due to the contraction draft. That hasn’t been the cased at all. I have felt welcome from day one and really enjoyed getting to know the fans on a personal level.