The City Welcomes LAFC
The Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) is making their presence known, not only in Major League Soccer (MLS) but in the city of L.A. itself. LAFC is off to a very strong start in MLS as number four in the Western Conference, just two wins behind the number one seed Sporting Kansas City. This is nothing short of an impressive beginning for a team that is brand new to the league and city.
The team's announcement caused an instant buzz around Los Angeles. Although L.A. is home to the LA Galaxy, the city itself has never had a soccer team. The city of Carson is the home of the LA Galaxy, which is located approximately 20 miles away from L.A. “MLS teams have come to Carson to play, but this is the first time they have ever been able to say, ‘Hey, this is LA,’ and this actually brings the sport to the people of LA,” says Salvador Reyes from the LAFC Lucky Boys.
The team's Banc of California Stadium is located in the heart of Los Angeles, sitting right next to the Colosseum. The stadium welcomes 22,000 people and falls nothing short of everything L.A. is made of. The energy inside and out of the stadium is nothing like the city has ever seen before. Tailgating at a LAFC game feels more like a community event rather than small groups of people heading to the game early to have some drinks. The LAFC supporter groups that are part of the 3,252 make sure that tailgating before the games is an experience you will never forget.
The Black Army 1850, Cuervos, District 9 Ultras, Expo Originals, and The Lucky Boys are the five supporter groups that keep the stadium roaring all 90 minutes. The five groups put you in an environment that is hard to come by in the United States. Jesse Cortez, a member of the District 9 Ultras, says, “Every game we lose our voices, but it is all worth it”.
Pablo SantaCruz, also from the District 9 Ultras, has traveled to three away games with the team and claims “LAFC is the heart of Los Angeles, it's a community. LAFC is something that brings all of us together.” SantaCruz also claims that LAFC has an effect on the youth of LA because “you can tell every kid here either want to grow up to be like the players or be something better.”
The energy in the stadium is something you can expect while attending a game somewhere in Europe. Carsten Cramer, the Director of Marketing and Sales for Borussia Dortmund (BVB), said, “we feel related to the many Spanish and American people in Los Angeles celebrating and loving football and it makes us very very proud we got the invitation from LAFC.”
LAFC’s next league game for the people of L.A. to enjoy will be held on June 23rd against Columbus Crew Soccer Club. Soccer fan or not, LAFC games are for everyone and are almost guaranteed to be an unforgettable experience for all.