Screaming fans, enthusiastically waving flags and chanting songs while banging on drums and throwing toilet paper onto the field. It’s loud, it’s boisterous and it’s all happening right in our backyard at RFK Stadium during DC United soccer games.  DC United has one of the most active fan bases in the country with at least three soccer clubs supporting the team all year, both at home and on the road.

The Screaming Eagles, La Barra Brava and La Norte headline the DC United fan base in the District. If you love the football tailgating scene, head out to the stadium and join these clubs before DC United games. If you like being part of a rowdy group of soccer fanatics, maybe one of these soccer clubs is right for you. And if you like just chillin’ with a cool group of people while supporting DC United, here’s your chance to become part of the scene. 

SCREAMING EAGLES
Started in 1995, the Screaming Eagles populate “The Nest” in Sections 132, 133 and 134 at RFK Stadium during DC United games.  They are the biggest DC soccer club with more than 1,000 members, mostly in their 20s and 30s, and they support DC United at home and put together bus trips for away games.

Members are a mix of soccer fans, former soccer players and others who were recruited by friends to join the club. Some members have even gotten married and now bring little Screaming Eagles to support the team. Similar to football games, tailgates are a central part of the Screaming Eagles game schedule. The club gathers in Parking Lot 8 near the Soccer Celebration area (just look for Screaming Eagles canopies). Here’s the cool part — as a Screaming Eagle member, you get free beer at the tailgate. Yes, free beer. Show your Screaming Eagle ID (plus be 21+) and you’re good to go. They even have a buffet that’s $6 for members and $8 for non-members so you can bring your friends or just show up on your own.
 
Kim Klyberg, president of the Screaming Eagles, says that while supporting the team is the big focus of the club, the other is helping the community. This particular soccer club works with the charity United for DC to help out the community through volunteer work like cleaning parks and planting trees and gardens. They also had a team at the Race for the Cure, an event to raise money for breast cancer research.

Membership to the Screaming Eagles gets you free beer at tailgates, a Screaming Eagles Adidas Squadra II jersey, invites to special events, a Screaming Eagles ID and discounts on DC United season tickets and individual game tickets. The club also has an exclusive ticket window at the stadium for game day sales so it’s easy to pick up your tickets to the game and head to The Nest to join other Screaming Eagles. Annual membership is $25 for individuals 21+ and $5 for anyone else.

For more info, visit www.screaming-eagles.com.

LA BARRA BRAVA
These “Brave Fans” are passionate, fervent and enthusiastic in their undying support for DC United. La Barra Brava, founded in 1996, derives its roots from South American futbol traditions and incorporates chants, streamers, drums and songs into their support for the team.

Although undeniably South American, La Barra Brava welcomes anyone from any country around the world. In fact, more than 25 different nationalities are represented in the club, each bringing a piece of their own crazy soccer traditions to RFK. Their main goal is to support DC United and celebrate their love of the game.

La Barra Brava  members loudly occupy sections 135-138 of RFK Stadium and rampantly support DC United, win or lose. Tailgates for La Barra Brava start about three hours before game time and are like potluck events with plenty of cerveza and expressive friends and fans. Tailgate food is free to all, as is the beer. La Barra Brava asks that if you can, show up with some beer or water or even a culinary delight. If you’d rather mooch off others, maybe offer to help cart off a keg or two after the game. To find these fans, head past the Screaming Eagles canopies about 200 yards and look to the right.

Membership to La Barra Brava gets you a jersey, a membership card, a free pass to “meet the team” events, free food and beer (must be over 21) at tailgates and discounted tickets. All this for just $30 a season.

For more info, visit www.barra-brava.com.

LA NORTE
Section 118, just to the right of the North goal, is home to La Norte, who describe themselves as some of the “loudest, craziest fans in the USA.” Founded in 2001, La Norte quickly made a name for themselves as they showed up at every home game and made road trips from Richmond to New Jersey to Los Angeles in support of DC United.

Dressed in red, white and black while jumping, screaming, and shouting at RFK, La Norte fans are easily recognizable. They strive to emulate the great soccer fan clubs of Europe and South America (you know, the ones where health insurance is required before you can enter the stadium). These are the enthusiastic fans who throw toilet paper and streamers on the field when DC United scores a goal and enter and exit the stadium the same way — singing and jumping and waving flags in support of the team.

Most members are in their 20s, 30s and 40s, and even though La Norte is the smallest of the three soccer clubs, they are probably the loudest, person for person, says committee member Brion Thomas.

La Norte members are from all over the world as well. Fans in the club hail from Europe, Central and South America and the USA. La Norte also supports the US National Team and cheers just as loud for the home team both here in DC and on the road.

Like the other clubs, La Norte kicks off the fiesta at the tailgate before the game in Parking Lot 8 at RFK Stadium. Membership to La Norte includes either a jersey or scarf when you join, discounts to DC United regular season game tickets and special event tickets. It’s only $20 to join one of the most die-hard fan clubs around. 

For more details, visit www.lanorte.com.

For DC United tickets and schedule information, visit www.dcunited.com.