How long have you supported the Rapids and what got you involved with the team?
I've supported the Rapids since I moved to Colorado, which is only 3 years, but I have been involved in supporting MLS forever!
Since joining the fan base, what has been your favorite memory involving the team?Â
My favorite moments came with the supporters' group solidarity we displayed last season between C38 & Lokos, we demonstrated that we can come together to not only throw the longest-running undefeated tailgate in the league, but can get onboard and send messages to the league or the club when necessary. That really felt powerful, and with acknowledgement and support from other groups around the league, it was really rewarding to stand up for the club and the players and the city with my fellow supporters.
Who is your favorite player, current or former, to watch and what made you a fan of them?
Connor Ronan might be my favorite guy to watch right now and it looks like Coach Armas has built out a roster which I expect will allow Ronan to flourish. I'm very excited to see what he brings in 2024!
What is the most memorable game you’ve attended?
Definitely the game against New England last year. Both teams having big problems on & off the pitch, a lot of noise around the players & the staff as well as the supporters' responses to what all was going on. It was an electric atmosphere, and an incredible home result for the team! Outstanding and inspiring performance from our supporters as well. One of the most memorable MLS nights of my supporter career!!
How do you draw in other friends and family to games to become fans?
I am a loyal student of Dan Wiersema's Free Beer Movement - let me show you a game, on TV with food and a beverage, and let's chat about it. If you're not into it, Hey, you got a free meal right? I have seen folks go from ‘Nah soccer is boring’ to ‘Ohhh snap now I get it ok’ during such proselytization. If you're willing to attend a match, I am much more confident that I can convert you to a loyal Rapids supporter! Maybe you drive or ride to the stadium, maybe you'll join us at one of our Partner Pubs to join us on a party bus that will deliver you to the stadium and a lift back to your departure pub afterwards. Then, after having an absolute meal at our tailgate, you'll join us in our zones the South End come rain or snow or shine. There is no sports experience quite like singing and dancing in the supporters' section, and if you can experience all that and not catch the supporters' bug, then I just don't know that it's gonna take!
What makes C38 unique from other fans in the stadium and how would you go about recruiting a casual fan to C38?
C38 & Mile High Lokos are supporters as opposed to casual fans. We show up rain or shine (or snow) to support our club and to put on a party with our closest friends in the South end and Section 108 every game. If you want to jump and chant and sing and meet new friends, our section is for you. If you want to be a part of writing the traditions that will be passed down for future generations of Colorado soccer culture, or you want to get involved with continuing to cultivate local community around the beautiful game, then we are the group for you.
If you could pick one moment in Rapids history to witness yourself, what would it be?
MLS Cup 2010, no-brainer. Freezing in the brutal Toronto Winter to watch the Rapids topple Dallas on some great goals and Connor Casey's crab-walk-toe-poke goal. Iconic.
What is your hope for the future of C38 and the possibilities of expanding the fanbase this season and beyond?
I would love to have even more partnerships with local organizations like Urban Peak or the Colorado Name Change Project through which we can help to make tangible, positive impacts in our communities - and I also dream of cultivating a reliable presence in soccer pubs up & down the Front Range. Imagine if we could get people who live here to engage with our local team(s) the way that so many of them do over in Europe?
What is your favorite piece from the new line?
They're all really fun, but I'm quite partial to the old retro-looking Colorado crewneck. Honorable mention to the sick black hoodie & the tee with the checkered crest!
