There is more to attending a Chelsea game than 90 minutes of football. Obviously, that’s important, but it’s also about the friends you meet, the stories that are told, and the laughs you share.

I travelled to Notre Dame on Friday with fellow supporters from Chelsea Chicago. We were co-hosting the supporters’ events in South Bend across the weekend with our friends from Circle City Chelsea, the Official Supporters Club for Indianapolis.

Supporters across the U.S were in attendance; be that from Milwaukee Blues, Iowa Blues, O.C. Blues, Beltway Blues or further afield. We held a trivia contest and congratulations to Phil Watson from Iowa Blues, who won himself a signed shirt from our 2021 Champions League win.

It was an early start on Saturday with hundreds of supporters packed into Brothers Bar for the legend’s event with Carlo Cudicini. Carlo was, as usual, an absolute gentleman and shared stories for supporters young and old amid a sea of blue flags and scarves.

A special thanks to the club for partnering with us again this summer – and also to Brothers for giving us everything we could have wished for from a Chelsea venue.

Supporters walked en masse to the stadium. The streets were filled with blue, the sun was shining and there were smiles on everyone’s faces.

These are the moments that aren’t always seen but shape your match-day experience. Not everything happens inside the stadium.

Of course, the game didn’t quite go as we all hoped. But bad days can happen and the opportunity to watch Chelsea live is never taken for granted. It’s why supporters remained happy in the stands. It’s not all about the result.

After the game, a lot of us headed back to Brothers. It was a real chance to meet up with old friends from across the country, those who you will have met at Chelsea matches before but maybe not seen for a couple of years.

And you meet new supporters too, those who have maybe attended a Chelsea game for the first time. It’s a great time and helps you enjoy the day no matter what has happened on the pitch.

You never know when Chelsea will be back in a city near you. That’s why, if you have the chance, make sure to get a ticket to one or more of the remaining tour matches. It’s a great experience…even if the 90 minutes doesn’t go as hoped!

USA Tour tickets

Chelsea vs Club America. Wednesday 31 July at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta –  click to buy tickets or buy Club Chelsea hospitality packages.

Chelsea vs Manchester City - Saturday 3 August at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio – click for tickets or buy Club Chelsea hospitality packages

Chelsea vs Real Madrid - Tuesday 6 August at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina – click for tickets or buy Club Chelsea hospitality packages