Los Angeles Galaxy 1996 Inaugural Game Program

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LOS ANGELES GALAXY INAUGURAL MATCH TELECAST

April 13th, 2016 the LA Galaxy played their inaugural match against the MetroStars at a sold out Rose Bowl.

Los Angeles Galaxy 1996 Inaugural Game Program

This rather unattractive tabloid wasn’t much to look at. But, the story told in the newspaper clippings inside tells it all (see the Photo Gallery).

This was the most successful launch of any team I’ve ever witnessed. It was also the night that confirmed the power of the latino fanbase in Southern California. 2 hours before the game ticket lines were hundreds of yards long. The Rose Bowl was tarped down to a capacity of about 45,00 for this game but the fans kept coming and coming. The team kept selling tickets and as soon as ushers would pull away a tarp to open a section it would fill with humanity within minutes. The Galaxy stopped selling tickets at about 70,000 and we heard on the radio that they had turned away 30,000 cars (cars with multiples of people in them!). The day-of-game sales were 35,000 a record walk-up sale in Southern California.

Cobi Jones got the Galaxy’s first goal in franchise history. He would go on to play the rest of his career in a Galaxy uniform.

Jorge Campos was the teams’ goalkeeper and he came up and attacked several times bringing the crowd to its feet.

The funny thing is, we had gone to the inaugural MLS game in San Jose the week prior and we weren’t as excited about the Galaxy game. Although the MLS inaugural was great, this was the game everyone talked about that first season.

Click on photo to see full image.

Related Links:

Los Angeles Galaxy Official Highlights

— Were You at the Galaxy’s First Game at the Rose Bowl?