RB Leipzig

Friday evening I took the streetcar to the league match between RB Leipzig and SV Sandhausen at the Red Bull Arena over by the river Elster. As I noted earlier, the "Fanshop" I went into in the Leipzig train station had regalia and spirit-wear for all the big teams, but NOT for RB Leipzig, its own city team. That probably reflects the wide contempt in which the team is held thoughout the country and even here. Big corporations are taking over our sports!

Well, indeed. In Red Bull Arena, the drink to buy is Red Bull, in umpteen flavors. 

Most of the arriving fans were wearing the team colors (with "DIE ROTEN BULLEN written on them) and waving banners 

and bar towels. There were lots of beer and wurst stands selling to people (including me) at inflated prices. My goodness, how the beer is drunk here. It seemed like everybody was drinking beer from cool plastic 1/2-liter cups with a big handle that you can hang over the seat in front of you. 

You had to get frisked on the way in. The match was fun to watch. The stadium was only about 1/3 full, but the flag-waving, chanting bunch at the RB's goal were enthusiastic.  The mascot was a guy in a silly red bull suit, dancing around and cheer-leading. The main chant was "Ole, ole Leipzig!" (bulls. Get it?). After I had seen the scene and how it all was, and to anticipate the departing crowds, I bought an RB Leipzig ball cap and left early.