\n<\/p>\n
Preston had only brought around 200 fans for what was a sell-out. With tickets in the away end sold to Swansea supporters, this was a record number of home fans at a game in this stadium.<\/p>\n
Yet the away fans were loudest during a first half in which their team led to puncture the party atmosphere.<\/p>\n
“Snoop Dogg, what’s the score?” sang Preston’s travelling contingent, before later chanting: “Where’s your towel gone?”<\/p>\n
Sat in the directors’ box in a long Swansea puffer coat, which would not have looked out of place on the slopes of the Winter Olympics in northern Italy, this was Snoop’s first experience of football’s tribal fan culture.<\/p>\n
Fortunately for him, he got to sample the soaring high of an injury-time equaliser as well, as substitute Liam Cullen headed the Swans level in the 95th minute.<\/p>\n
“After the game, he [Snoop] came to the dressing room, spoke with the players,” said Swansea head coach Vitor Matos.<\/p>\n
“He’s someone that likes to be involved. He was involved not only with us, but as well with the [US] Olympic team. He really loves sports.<\/p>\n
“It’s good for him to be involved. I’m happy that we have someone like him who loves the club, loves the city, wants to be here.”<\/p>\n
When Swansea’s American owners Brett Cravatt and Jason Cohen brought Snoop in as a minority investor in July, the idea was not that the rapper would spend large amounts of his own enormous wealth on the club.<\/p>\n
Instead, the Swans wanted to increase their global appeal by tapping into Snoop’s huge reach which includes more than 100m social media followers.<\/p>\n
Some at the club believe that could create business and sponsorship opportunities which could outstrip those they had when they were in the Premier League.<\/p>\n
Getting back to the top flight is the aim. After such a spectacular preamble, this first act at least produced a dramatic finish.<\/p>\n
Now Swansea and Snoop wait to see what the next episode brings.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n