Why does Charlotte FC have so many supporters groups and what makes each unique?
It seems logical that an MLS-record crowd of 74,000-plus fans will produce record-loud cheers Saturday in Charlotte FC’s first-ever home match, against the LA Galaxy.
And the center of that cheering will come from the lower level in the east end of Bank of America Stadium.
That’s where several thousand members of Charlotte FC’s “supporter groups” will be sitting — er, standing — from the first whistle at 7:30 p.m., lasting for 90 minutes and stoppage time.
They’ll also be singing, chanting and maybe tossing a beverage or two whenever Charlotte scores a goal.
All of that will happen — win, lose or draw.
You’re new to professional soccer?
Welcome to the world of supporter groups.
“It’s something unique to soccer,” said Shaun McIntosh, the Charlotte FC’s Chief Fan Officer and a liaison between the team and the supporter groups.
“It’s the biggest difference between this sport and traditional American sports,” he adds. “Once the ball is kicked, there is no stoppage of cheering and singing.”
The supporter groups are, essentially, fan clubs, but that’s selling the whole concept short.
Supporter groups gather for viewing parties when the team is on the road. They also gather for birthday parties, anniversaries, holidays or any other reason for a good time.
“We try to make this as much fun as possible for our members,” said Patrick Aquino, with the Carolina Hooliganz.
The Hooliganz are among five groups officially recognized by Charlotte FC.
The others are Mint City Collective, Southbound & Crown, Uptown Ultras and Blue Furia. To be recognized by the team, they must purchase a minimum number of tickets and agree to bylaws that prohibit racial slurs, disrespectful language and other unseemly behavior.
But there are other fan supporter groups, too, like Queen’s Firm. More could form in the coming weeks and months.
Charlotte FC has assigned the supporter groups seats in the lower level of the stadium’s east end. There’s a reason the supporter groups aren’t scattered around Bank of America Stadium.
As McIntosh says, “There might be some fans who would rather watch what’s happening than be a part of it all.”
For many in the supporter groups, Saturday marks a long-awaited milestone.
“We have been waiting for this day, to have an MLS team here in Charlotte,” said David Carrasco, one of three founders of Blue Furia.
Blue Furia is a Latin American group. Most of its members were born in Central or South America, or have parents who are from those places. It probably is the liveliest (loudest?) of the groups and made its presence known last month when Charlotte FC participated in preseason matches in Charleston.
“We all have been following the sport for years,” said Carrasco, the son of Peruvian parents. “Soccer has been such an ingrained part of our culture. I think the supporter groupers will add a level of excitement to the sport here.”
Carrasco says he and the other founders, Guillermo Carrillo and Franco “Vikingo” Pimentel, put out a call to potential followers when Charlotte FC landed an MLS franchise in December 2019. They scheduled a get-together and had 10 to 15 people show up.
“We thought, ‘Wow, that’s pretty good!’ ” Carrasco recalls.
The group has grown since then.
Being in a supporter group means standing for the entire match, singing and chanting.
“The goal of being in a supporter group is cheering for the team as loud as possible and wave flags around, to show them that we are behind them, 100 percent, win or lose,” said Aquino, of the Hooliganz.
Carrasco adds, “We know a lot of songs.”
But supporter group membership (there is a small annual fee, set by each group) carries beyond the stadium. The groups have a social aspect, too.
“When we’re not at a game, cheering for our team, we go to each other’s birthday parties, kids’ parties, barbecues, or just hang out at our local brewery,” Aquino said.
McIntosh says the groups are active in community service too.
“The week before last, the Uptown Ultras sponsored a 0-kilometer ‘race,’ ” he said. “The proceeds went to a community charity. All of the groups have a goal of bettering the community.”
Carrasco says he thinks fans who are not supporter group members will appreciate the groups.
“Once we start, I think people will enjoy it,” he said.
McIntosh says “each of the groups has a different flavor.”
“People who want to join will have lots of choices,” he adds. “It’s a special part of the sport.”
Charlotte FC Supporter Groups
Charlotte FC officially recognizes five supporter groups and has a page on its website dedicated to the groups. Many of the groups also have information about membership on their websites or Facebook pages.
Here is a little about the groups:
Mint City Collective
This might be the largest of the groups, and it has 14 chapters across the region, including one (Mint City Collective-Liberty) for women. Each chapter has viewing parties at specific pubs or restaurants, and the group has tailgating parties for home matches and organized trips to some away matches.
The group is heavily involved in community activities.
Details: www.mintcitycollective.com. Instagram: @mintcitycoll. Facebook: www.facebook.com/MintCityColl.
Southbound & Crown
This group includes South Carolina supporters and some from the Charlotte area. One of its founding members was Brenton McCaskill, who was killed in a home invasion on Nov. 30, 2020, in Cramerton.
The group advertises its “Southern hospitality” and has chapters in Fort Mill, Upstate, Columbia, Rock Hill, Charlotte, and Asheville; with new chapters forming in Myrtle Beach and Charleston.
Details: www.southboundcrown.com Instagram: @southbound_and_crown. Facebook: www.facebook.com/SouthboundCrown.
Uptown Ultras
An Uptown-based group that frequents some of Charlotte’s favorite hangouts for soccer supporters.
This group also is heavily involved in community activities.
Details: www.twitter.com/UltrasUptown. Instagram: @uptownultras.
Carolina Hooliganz
This group was founded in the Lexington area but has spread across the region. The Hooliganz will tailgate before home matches and organize viewing parties for road matches. Members say the group is racially and ethnically diverse and family-oriented.
Details: www.loscarolinahooliganz.com Instagram: @carolinahooliganz. Facebook: www.facebook.com/CarolinaHooliganz336.
Blue Furia
This is a Latin American supporters group that is heavily involved in the community. Blue Furia holds at least one social event per month, and members travel to some road matches.
It is a boisterous group whose members enjoy singing and chanting throughout the match.
Details: www.bluefuria.com. Instagram: @bluefuriaclt. Facebook: www.facebook.com/BLUEFURIACLT.
This story was originally published March 4, 2022 at 10:00 AM.