I wasn't there the whole game, but by the looks of what I saw, the Pat's played like sh!t.

Thanks for posting this - was the part you saw as boring as the score sounds? What a way to start the season (for us, Thunder, anyway).

El Paso....your website needs updating.

Hell yeah! The game was boring and frustrating as f*ck. As for the website, yeah we do need that piece of crap updated. However, I think you have a better chance of winning the lottery than the Pat's front office finally working on the site.

Both teams were out of sync all game long. Towards halftime, Minnesota started getting close, but EP defense held. The Pat's seemed very uninspired out there. The ref missed a lot of calls, but none that were "significant". The Pat's lack of speed and size stood out in my mind.

* Prediction: Matthew Stewart will not be around much longer if he keeps playing the way he has been. He was substituted at the half.
* Where's Carlos Martinez?
* Attendance: I estimate it at about 2,000-2,500.
* Not much of an atmosphere at the game.

I suppose we could use the previously mentions injured/loaned players as an excuse (and Chris Roner, who we thought would play, was recalled back to San Jose).

But on the road, on a pre-season cut short (too many games in the snow - which its doing again, BTW), I guess we'll take a tie.

Well as for EP propes, we kinda don't really have an excuse.

StarTribune.com: Thunder opens season with tie



E.P.Times: Patriots, Thunder grind out a tie

You know, he is right. Last year's team would of given up the goal. In all honesty, in the small amount of time I was there, I was really expecting Minnesota to score. When I got to the game and saw that the crowd and the team seemed dead, I was expecting the worse. The couple times Minnesota got close, the first thought in my head was, "Here we go, Minnesota put's one in the net". Luckily that moment never came.

He is right, at least we got a point.

The change to this stadium "closer to town" from the one used last year and the giving away of discount coupons sure didn't draw much of a crowd.

Too early in season? Folks thinking this team will be same as last and, if they keep doing as well, maybe the fans will start coming? Mexico Leagues across river still playing?

All of the above, plus the Fabulous Chicken appearing for the El Paso Diablos in mighty Texas League Baseball action about 10 miles north of Dudley.

Dudley sits right by the busiest international bridge connecting Juarez and El Paso. One of the team's hopes was that more Mexican fans would cross knowing they wouldn't have to drive far. I don't think they've ever had a demographic survey done to measure that, but it might be worth an investment just to see who's who.