New Mexico United play their first home game in 574 days
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Updated: 10:48 PM MDT May 15, 2021
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Updated: 10:48 PM MDT May 15, 2021
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BOLD, THAT JUST WRAPPED UP. TAILGATERS AND FANS CHEERED THEM ON, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN ALMOST TWO YEARS. ACTION 7 NEWS REPORTER STEPHANIE MUNIZ IS LIVE ON THE FIELD. STEPHANIE. STEPHANIE: KALYN, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME, ISOTOPES PARK WAS COMPLETELY TRANSFORMED FOR NEW MEXICO UNITED PLAYERS. SEATS ARE EMPTY NOW, BUT EARLIER, THERE WERE MORE THAN 8,000 FANS IN THESE STANDS. THEY WERE CHEERING ON THE GAME. [APPLAUSE] >> WE ARE GOING TO BEAT AUSTIN TONIGHT. STEPHANIE: 574 DAYS - THAT’S HOW LONG IT HAS BEEN, SINCE A NEW MEXICO UNITED PLAYERS RAN ON THE TURF. PLAYERS WERE WAITING TO HEAR THE CHANTS FROM FANS. >> ARE DEFENSIVE MVP LAST SEASON SAID HE CAME HERE BECAUSE HE SAW THE FANS AND WANTED TO PLAY IN FRONT OF THEM. HE DID NOT GET TO DO IT LAST YEAR AND HAS BEEN WAITING FOR YEAR AND FINALLY GETS A PLANE FROM OF THE FANS. -- IN FRONT OF THE FANS. [LAUGHTER] [FANS CHANTING] STEPHANIE: THE MOST EXCITED FANS? THE ONES PART OF THE CURSE. >> BRINGING EVERYONE HERE, THE 11 GUYS GIVING ARE ALSO WE WANT TO GIVE IT ALL FOR THEM IN THE STANDS. STEPHANIE: OTHERS, DURING THE TAILGATE, EXPRESSING WHAT IT MEANS TO THEM. >> THE COMMUNITY, PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER HAVING A GOOD TIME AND SUPPORTING NEW MEXICO AND OUR SOCCER TEAM. STEPHANIE: LIKE THEY ARE SAYING - SOMOS UNIDOS! FANS ARE SENDING THEIR OWN MESSAGE ABOUT UNITY. >> IT IS NOT ABOUT JUST THE SOCCER GAME, IT IS ABOUT HOPE THROUGH THIS TOUGH TIME. WE ARE NEW MEXICANS, PROUD, AND HOPEFUL FOR THE FUTURE THINGS WILL CONTINUE TO GET BETTER. STEPHANIE: MORE THAN 150 PEOPLE GOT THERE COVID VACCINE AT THE TAILGATE BEFORE THE GAME. A LOT OF THOSE PEOPLE TOLD ME THEIR INCENTIVE TO GET VACCINATED WAS THE FREE TICKET TO THE HOME GAME. THE BEST THING OF ALL WAS THEY ACTUALLY ONE TONIGHT, 3-1, AGAINST THE AUSTIN BOLD. LIVE IN ABQ, S