Evening star., 1938-11-20
Game Draws
TOL Limit of
Capacity
Demand for Seats
Grows Yearly
In Nation
Bv Burton HawkinS.

Amid the glamour and enthusiasm
characteristic of footballs most col
orful spectacle. Army and Navy
elevens will clash Saturday at Phil
adelphias S vast Municipal Stadium,
+ huge concrete saucer into which
more than 100000 spectators will be
Wedged. Not by any stretch OF I'M
agination the most attractive game
of the season, from the standpoint
of caliber, the annual battle of the
service teams nevertheless captivates
the Nations heart.
Comparatively insignificant in its
infancy, the ArmyNavy game has
become a fantastic monster upon
which the eyes and ears of the world
eagerly are focused. perhaps out OF
all proportion to its actual impor-
tance. Army posts and ships at sea
throughout the world glue their COL
lective ears to broadcasts OF the
game. one of sportdoms S most entic-
ing bits of bait for capacity crowd.
The service game requires little
ballyhoo Tickets, cherished strips
of pasteboard at $40 each, bring
from two to ten times their face
value to scalpers, depending, of
course, on the location of seats.
Only in rare instances and by exer-
cising pull can tickets be obtained
IN the final weeks before the en-
gagement.
More than so special trains loaded
with human cargo will roar to the
game site from surrounding cities,
with Washington alone contributing
some 10000 persons to the ultimate
in eclat and pageantry. From all
points of the United States steady
stream of automobiles will converge
ON the Quaker City.
Not the most mildeWed of collegi-
~ste rivalries. the games appeal is
reflected in ticket applications. Each
service distributes some $4,000 tickets,
but in recent years Army and Navy
athletic associations have been
swamped by approximately a quar-
ter of million requests each. 1t is
estimated a million people would
flock to the game were it possible.
Washingtons society set considers
the game must Military, naval
and diplomatic groups send large
delegations. but for the most part
the Capital contingent is composed
of just plain fans. 1t is that group
which taxes the capacity of the CEN
trally located stadium.
On this occasion society mingles
with the everyday football fan and
both sets apparently relish the sit
uation. Plumbers rub elbows with
generals and typists blend soprano
, screams with society matronS. 1t is
possible an Army-Navy crowd is
the most good-natured sports audi
ence ever convened. Through rain,
sleet, or snow there is a CHEEKY, roll
licking atmosphere.
For the vast bulk of the crowd the
game is something of holiday, and
that spirit becomes infectious, sweep
ing over the stadium and leaving in
Its wake slightly insane populace
Worries vanish, belittled and smoth-
cred in a merry multitude. with the
net result that most persons leave
Philadelphia refreshed mentally. For
many, it is the years biggest week
end.
Not the least attraction for thou
> sands is the happy let-down follow
ing the game. The crowd and city
itself relax. with hotels transformed
into gigantic night clubs, virtually
every room an oasis for numerous
parties that roam the corridors. In
vited or otherwise. they invade par
ties on the common ground of dis
cussing particular punt or to quar-
terback the game more acceptably,
in their RESPECTIVE opinons. than
either signal-caller on the field.
Until the small hours of the morn
Ing the game is replayed on jammed
elevators, in packed lobbieS- over
crowded night clubs and in hotel
rooms. Dances are staged spontane-
ously and strictly Informally where
ever convenient. Last year at
prominent hotel one could step of
the elevator at almost any floor and
be assured of walking into the midst
of a Big Apple" frolic in the cor
ridor.
The major portion of the crowd
invades Philadelphia with the idea
of having a good time foremost in
its mind. It is gay throng. spend
Ing more than $10OO,O00, with more
than 5000 unemployed obtaining
temporary jobs as walters, maids,
garage attendants, bartenders and
= pellhops as result.
To midshipmen and cadets the
game also is the high spot of the
year, but in a different sense
STEPPED in tradition, famed by the
reservoir of enthusiasm embodied in
the rival corps and Wiped into
: Worldwide attraction through pub
licity, the game to them means more
than II clean-cut youngsters striv-