Time is quickly running out to get your hands on the hottest ticket in town: a chance to see the Vermont Green FC play in Round 2 of the U.S. Open Cup.The Vermont Green is heading into Round 2 after a major upset over Portland, Maine’s professional club last week.The win has caused demand to surge, with more than 10,000 people entering a lottery in the hopes of filling just 2,500 seats at Virtue Field.”There’s a huge demand and not enough seats,” said Jacob Labovitz, the owner of Soccer Post Burlington and a former Vermont Green player. “So the lottery seems like the most logical option of giving people a chance, so everyone feels like they have an equal opportunity to get to the game.”The lottery system is new this year, after summer matches sold out in mere seconds. And now, as the new season starts to take shape, fans around Burlington are stocking up on gear, including jerseys, hats and T-shirts.“As it gets warmer, it starts to feel like, okay — it’s Green time. It’s Green season,” said Labovitz.But what is happening on the field may be even more impressive than anything. Vermont Green is made up of college players pulled from all across the country, and in this tournament, they are tasked with taking on professional teams that play year-round.”It’s very meaningful for us as a club to have college players out there, competing against these professionals, showing that they’re on their level,” said Adam Pfeifer, the sporting director for Vermont Green FC.With just days to practice together, the Green pulled off a 1-0 win over the Portland Hearts of Pine, a pro team in the USL League One, fueling fan hype in the Vermont soccer community.”Here in Vermont, we pay attention to our college athletes in a unique and special way. I hope that the rest of the country takes notice, especially if we can get another result on Wednesday,” Pfeifer said.The Green is now looking to keep their momentum going as they take on Westchester next Wednesday, April 1 at 7 p.m.
Time is quickly running out to get your hands on the hottest ticket in town: a chance to see the Vermont Green FC play in Round 2 of the U.S. Open Cup.
The Vermont Green is heading into Round 2 after a major upset over Portland, Maine’s professional club last week.
Advertisement
The win has caused demand to surge, with more than 10,000 people entering a lottery in the hopes of filling just 2,500 seats at Virtue Field.
“There’s a huge demand and not enough seats,” said Jacob Labovitz, the owner of Soccer Post Burlington and a former Vermont Green player. “So the lottery seems like the most logical option of giving people a chance, so everyone feels like they have an equal opportunity to get to the game.”
The lottery system is new this year, after summer matches sold out in mere seconds. And now, as the new season starts to take shape, fans around Burlington are stocking up on gear, including jerseys, hats and T-shirts.
“As it gets warmer, it starts to feel like, okay — it’s Green time. It’s Green season,” said Labovitz.
But what is happening on the field may be even more impressive than anything. Vermont Green is made up of college players pulled from all across the country, and in this tournament, they are tasked with taking on professional teams that play year-round.
“It’s very meaningful for us as a club to have college players out there, competing against these professionals, showing that they’re on their level,” said Adam Pfeifer, the sporting director for Vermont Green FC.
With just days to practice together, the Green pulled off a 1-0 win over the Portland Hearts of Pine, a pro team in the USL League One, fueling fan hype in the Vermont soccer community.
“Here in Vermont, we pay attention to our college athletes in a unique and special way. I hope that the rest of the country takes notice, especially if we can get another result on Wednesday,” Pfeifer said.
The Green is now looking to keep their momentum going as they take on Westchester next Wednesday, April 1 at 7 p.m.
