Fans Pack Dick's Sporting Goods Park For Tim Howard's Return

Rapids G Tim Howard "had little to do" with the outcome of his MLS return yesterday "but was solid when he needed to be," as the Timbers and Rapids settled for a scoreless draw in the annual Fourth of July fireworks extravaganza at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. Howard "praised the 'great atmosphere'" of the "standing-room only crowd of 18,759" (DENVER POST, 7/5).

Meanwhile, an "announced crowd of 33,613 nearly filled" Yankee Stadium Sunday night for Red Bulls-NYC FC, and "produced all the festive trappings of a rivalry game." Red Bulls fans "filled sections of the right-field upper deck and competed in song with their counterparts in blue in the left-field bleachers (N.Y. TIMES, 7/4).