By WILL WEISSERT, Associated Press Writer
Sun Oct 2, 7:30 PM ET
MEXICO CITY - There were hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill, but almost nobody in the parking lot was buying them.
AP Photo: A fan wearing a sombrero
blows a horn outside of the Azteca Stadium in Mexico...
"The tacos are what the people like," said Sandra Gonzalez, who runs ones of the dozens of food stalls under red tents in the shadow of Mexico City's cavernous Azteca Stadium. "Even with American football. It's no different than any other day."
Welcome to pregame NFL tailgating, south-of-the-border-style.
As the Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers prepared to take the field Sunday for the first regular season tilt played outside the United States, most fans washed down tacos and white-cheese enchiladas with fruit juice or the occasional Corona — a long way from the pre-game fare of burgers, polish sausages and a couple of cold ones in the United States.
"We've waited a long time for this. We wanted to be here early and enjoy it," said Pablo Giron, who, four hours before kickoff, had already had two rounds of tacos.
Giron said he had attended four previous preseason games played in Mexico City, but "those games were like practices."
"They were half games," he said. "Not like this."
League officials were hoping for a near sellout of more than 85,000 in the stands, and fans began filing into their seats early.
League surveys list the 49ers as among Mexico's most-popular NFL squads, and hundreds of fans wore San Francisco jerseys, jackets and hats. Many also came in Cardinals garb, but the majority wore the jersey of their favorite team, regardless of who was taking the field.
"There's a lot of atmosphere, a lot of passion. It's more than in the United States because we don't get the opportunity to do this every week," said Jose Alfredo Ramirez, a 30-year-old accountant who was wearing a Browns jersey and drove two hours from the central city of Queretaro with six friends to be at the game.
"Today is special," he said. It's like the Super Bowl for us."
Leticia Manjarez, 28, came wearing a 49ers jersey and said she thought they'd prevail because "the Cardinals are never good."
"But I think the people here will cheer for both teams," she said. "All good plays will be applauded."
Many of those who weren't grabbing a bite to eat or staking out their seats early thronged concession stands. San Francisco linebacker Julian Peterson's no. 98 jersey was a top-seller, but was outnumbered by 49ers fans wearing old-school Jerry Rice jerseys.
Another top pre-game attraction was a passing contest where fans attempted to toss a football through a small opening drawn to look like a wide receiver's hands.
Juan Sanchez, a 36-year-old manager of an auto repair shop who was wearing a Tory Aikman jersey, waited for more than half an hour for his try — but missed the target high.
"There will have to be more games like this," he smiled, clearly embarrassed. "So I can try this again."
Sun Oct 2, 7:30 PM ET
MEXICO CITY - There were hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill, but almost nobody in the parking lot was buying them.
AP Photo: A fan wearing a sombrero
blows a horn outside of the Azteca Stadium in Mexico...
"The tacos are what the people like," said Sandra Gonzalez, who runs ones of the dozens of food stalls under red tents in the shadow of Mexico City's cavernous Azteca Stadium. "Even with American football. It's no different than any other day."
Welcome to pregame NFL tailgating, south-of-the-border-style.
As the Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers prepared to take the field Sunday for the first regular season tilt played outside the United States, most fans washed down tacos and white-cheese enchiladas with fruit juice or the occasional Corona — a long way from the pre-game fare of burgers, polish sausages and a couple of cold ones in the United States.
"We've waited a long time for this. We wanted to be here early and enjoy it," said Pablo Giron, who, four hours before kickoff, had already had two rounds of tacos.
Giron said he had attended four previous preseason games played in Mexico City, but "those games were like practices."
"They were half games," he said. "Not like this."
League officials were hoping for a near sellout of more than 85,000 in the stands, and fans began filing into their seats early.
League surveys list the 49ers as among Mexico's most-popular NFL squads, and hundreds of fans wore San Francisco jerseys, jackets and hats. Many also came in Cardinals garb, but the majority wore the jersey of their favorite team, regardless of who was taking the field.
"There's a lot of atmosphere, a lot of passion. It's more than in the United States because we don't get the opportunity to do this every week," said Jose Alfredo Ramirez, a 30-year-old accountant who was wearing a Browns jersey and drove two hours from the central city of Queretaro with six friends to be at the game.
"Today is special," he said. It's like the Super Bowl for us."
Leticia Manjarez, 28, came wearing a 49ers jersey and said she thought they'd prevail because "the Cardinals are never good."
"But I think the people here will cheer for both teams," she said. "All good plays will be applauded."
Many of those who weren't grabbing a bite to eat or staking out their seats early thronged concession stands. San Francisco linebacker Julian Peterson's no. 98 jersey was a top-seller, but was outnumbered by 49ers fans wearing old-school Jerry Rice jerseys.
Another top pre-game attraction was a passing contest where fans attempted to toss a football through a small opening drawn to look like a wide receiver's hands.
Juan Sanchez, a 36-year-old manager of an auto repair shop who was wearing a Tory Aikman jersey, waited for more than half an hour for his try — but missed the target high.
"There will have to be more games like this," he smiled, clearly embarrassed. "So I can try this again."
