Indomitable City Soccer - How we became Sacramento Republic fansA Sacramento Republic FC community2017-05-25T11:30:02-07:00http://www.indomitablecitysoccer.com/rss/stream/154536412017-05-25T11:30:02-07:002017-05-25T11:30:02-07:00How the Sacramento Republic FC unified a city and made me a fan in the process
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<img alt="Photo Gallery: Sacramento Republic vs Real Monarchs SLC" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/mtZOAyaiOkWOIQ8hkkpbrAi1yPQ=/0x0:5472x3648/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/54946351/IMG_5144.0.0.jpeg" />
<figcaption>Indomitable City Soccer/Alex Leguizamo</figcaption>
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<p>The Republic are part of the fabric, identity, pride and culture of Sacramento</p> <p id="tZtjZP"><em>Welcome to the refreshed Indomitable City Soccer! To celebrate the new look and feel of our sports communities, we’re sharing stories of how and why we became fans of our favorite teams. If you’d like to share your story, head over to the </em><a href="http://www.indomitablecitysoccer.com/fanposts"><em>FanPosts </em></a><em>to write your own post. Each FanPost will be entered into a drawing to win a </em><a href="http://blog.sbnation.com/2017/5/24/15685020/why-are-you-a-fan-reader-sweepstakes-announcement-and-official-rules"><em>$500 Fanatics gift card</em></a><em>. We’re collecting all of the stories </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/why-we-are-fans"><em>here</em></a><em> and featuring the best ones across our network as well. Come Fan With Us!</em></p>
<p id="gS0XUn">As someone who has been following and writing about the Sacramento Republic FC since their inaugural season, I have often asked myself why I devote so much of my free time (which let’s be clear is <em>very</em> limited) to following the Club? How did my interest in soccer become a <s>healthy</s> obsession for the Republic? Let’s examine. </p>
<p id="4v070n">For context purposes, you should probably know that I have watched my fair share of soccer over the years, including moments in time when I shouldn’t have been. Like the time I failed a summer school statistics class in 1998 to skip out to watch the World Cup. I needed that class to transfer to a four-year college, but instead, had to retake it in the fall before I was eligible to transfer. I’ll go ahead and say what you’re already thinking – bad decision. </p>
<p id="FR0Hvv">But for the next decade, for whatever reason my interest in soccer waned. It wasn’t until I had my first child in 2010 that brought me back to the game. There I was, sitting in a dark living room at some ungodly hour with my wide-awake daughter illuminated only by the bright glow from a television showing English Premier League. In a flash, I was hooked again.</p>
<p id="5LpZ4Q">When the Republic arrived in 2014, there was a sense that this was exactly what Sacramento needed. Like many, I’ll never forget the inaugural game at Hughes Stadium with 20,000 of my best friends (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OU3dj7iWAS0">and this super cool hype video</a>). While we were excited that the Republic and soccer had finally arrived, many of us felt a seismic shift that evening in the future of Sacramento. </p>
<p id="5gQJ7h">Yes, we had the Sacramento Kings and Sacramento Rivercats (AAA baseball), but nothing brings people and a community together like soccer. It’s unifying. The Republic unified a city and community that I care deeply about, which has been transformational for Sacramento. </p>
<p id="mkJbi0">Of course, who could forget the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6LNlSgLnvI"><em>Miracle at Bonney</em></a>. We all remember that game, right? Three goals in 22 minutes from Rodrigo Lopez. Who could resist being drawn in by those theatrics? </p>
<p id="Ha7vwr">I have had the great fortune of attending many memorable sports games throughout the years, such as Mike Bibby’s Game 5 winning shot in the 2002 Western Conference Finals and Travis Ishikawa’s walk-off homerun in 2014 to send the San Francisco Giants to the World Series. What I witnessed that night from Lopez and the Republic is right up there. I still get chills when I think about the explosion of energy I felt from the crowd when Lopez netted the go-ahead goal to send the Qualis to the USL Cup Final. Anyone who was there knows what I’m talking about.</p>
<p id="6wbHZW">The Republic are part of the fabric, identity, pride and culture of Sacramento. They are part of our future if you’re like me in believing Major League Soccer is coming to Sacramento soon. They tapped into something in our community that up until 2013, was untapped. The Republic dared us to dream, made us believe Sacramento could be more than what it was, and brought us together in ways we didn’t know was possible. </p>
<p id="95CoCY">In the end, this is why I am a fan of the Republic. Boy did they make it easy. </p>
<p id="HGhdeV"><em>Editor’s Note: For those of you looking to get into that Fanpost drawing, make sure to take a look at the note down below.</em></p>
<p id="VXfSpo"><em>NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. SB Nation Why Are You a Fan Reader Sweepstakes starts on 8:00am ET on May 25, 2017 and ends at 11:59pm ET on June 8, 2017. Open only to eligible legal residents of the United States, 18 years or older. </em><a href="http://blog.sbnation.com/2017/5/24/15685020/why-are-you-a-fan-reader-sweepstakes-announcement-and-official-rules"><em>Click here</em></a><em> for Official Rules and complete details, including entry instructions, odds of winning, alternative method of entry, prize details and restrictions, etc. Void where prohibited or restricted by law. Sponsor: Vox Media, Inc.</em></p>
https://www.indomitablecitysoccer.com/2017/5/25/15689630/how-the-sacramento-republic-fc-unified-a-city-and-made-me-a-fan-in-the-processwilliam_hodges2017-05-25T11:00:02-07:002017-05-25T11:00:02-07:00Forged in Old Glory Red and White
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/HOO1q4BajSRRK95UVgbOK3ESetQ=/0x467:2448x2099/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/54941575/IMG_2327.0.jpeg" />
<figcaption>Joseph de Ocampo</figcaption>
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<p>Memories, Sacramento and Camaraderie makes me support Republic ‘til I die. </p> <p id="tZtjZP"><em>Welcome to the refreshed Indomitable City Soccer! To celebrate the new look and feel of our sports communities, we’re sharing stories of how and why we became fans of our favorite teams. If you’d like to share your story, head over to the </em><a href="http://www.indomitablecitysoccer.com/fanposts"><em>FanPosts </em></a><em>to write your own post. Each FanPost will be entered into a drawing to win a </em><a href="http://blog.sbnation.com/2017/5/24/15685020/why-are-you-a-fan-reader-sweepstakes-announcement-and-official-rules"><em>$500 Fanatics gift card</em></a><em>. We’re collecting all of the stories </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/why-we-are-fans"><em>here</em></a><em> and featuring the best ones across our network as well. Come Fan With Us!</em></p>
<p id="XzllPq">Hey, my name is Joe, one of the photographers for Indomitable City Soccer. You usually will see me on the sidelines at the home games, wearing a William Murray hat and camera gear, shooting the game while quietly chanting with the Tower Bridge Battalion. This is my first season shooting the games and am grateful to be a part of the talented group here covering the team game to game. </p>
<p id="V1rmKg">I found myself moving to Sacramento a few years ago to finish up school and quickly fell in love with the city: the culture, food and diversity. I had heard that Sacramento would be developing a soccer team to play on a national level. I ordered the first of many scarves that I would first don on nights out with friends, silently proclaiming my faith in the team and the city it would represent. </p>
<p id="lPaDHk">One night at de Vere's Irish Pub with a friend who’d had too many martinis, I was ordering a round when I noticed a group chanting and sporting the Old Glory Red. Talking to them, I found out they were members of the Tower Bridge Battalion, prepping for the inaugural home game against the Harrisburg City Islanders. Their enthusiasm and welcoming nature gave me a strengthened belief that this team was going to be something unique for Sacramento. </p>
<p id="4SeePx">I convinced my brother to attend the first game with me, his initial thought was that this would be some small, collegiate-style game. He realized when at the stadium that this was something much bigger, and proceeded to buy a scarf, shirt and hat to mark the occasion. We sat down, cracked open beers and enjoyed the game. Despite the loss, and began a tradition for us to attend all of the home games of that season; from those games, memories were made. </p>
<p id="Dy49Du">The slew of memories included: bringing our parents to a game, my mom and dad cheering and laughing at the chants the Battalion had for the opposition, bringing friends who had no idea how the offside rule worked but were joining with me in the chanting, and celebrations while wearing one of my many scarves. </p>
<p id="5FFUgS">One especially fond memory was when the Republic won the USL championship in 2014, my brother and I were in the center de Vere’s pub, cheering and exchanging high-fives with other fans, amazed to see how far the team had come in just its first season. </p>
<p id="LXVtzx">These memories, as well as the performance of the team and the support of the city, solidified my fandom. Coming into this season, I opted to be on the sidelines, shooting and help contribute to the stellar coverage Indomitable City Soccer has provided to you, my fellow fans. I am hoping my previous experience in shooting college sports will give a better illustration of this team and city. My recommendation to all reading this is go to a game and find out for yourselves. </p>
<p id="HGhdeV"><em>Editor’s Note: For those of you looking to get into that Fanpost drawing, make sure to take a look at the note down below.</em></p>
<p id="K71oyg"><em>NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. SB Nation Why Are You a Fan Reader Sweepstakes starts on 8:00am ET on May 25, 2017 and ends at 11:59pm ET on June 8, 2017. Open only to eligible legal residents of the United States, 18 years or older. </em><a href="http://blog.sbnation.com/2017/5/24/15685020/why-are-you-a-fan-reader-sweepstakes-announcement-and-official-rules"><em>Click here</em></a><em> for Official Rules and complete details, including entry instructions, odds of winning, alternative method of entry, prize details and restrictions, etc. Void where prohibited or restricted by law. Sponsor: Vox Media, Inc.</em></p>
https://www.indomitablecitysoccer.com/2017/5/25/15687900/why-i-became-a-republic-fan-forged-in-old-glory-red-and-whiteJodeO2017-05-25T09:00:02-07:002017-05-25T09:00:02-07:00Why I Started Wearing Old Glory Red
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<img alt="Photo Gallery: Sacramento Republic vs RGVFC" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/yWygOys4Lq0L3_9eM__7IE23FM8=/0x0:5472x3648/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/54941543/IMG_5227.0.0.jpeg" />
<figcaption>Indomitable City Soccer/Alex Leguizamo</figcaption>
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<p>It wasn’t because it went with my eye color.</p> <p id="tZtjZP"><em>Welcome to the refreshed Indomitable City Soccer! To celebrate the new look and feel of our sports communities, we’re sharing stories of how and why we became fans of our favorite teams. If you’d like to share your story, head over to the </em><a href="http://www.indomitablecitysoccer.com/fanposts"><em>FanPosts </em></a><em>to write your own post. Each FanPost will be entered into a drawing to win a </em><a href="http://blog.sbnation.com/2017/5/24/15685020/why-are-you-a-fan-reader-sweepstakes-announcement-and-official-rules"><em>$500 Fanatics gift card</em></a><em>. We’re collecting all of the stories </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/why-we-are-fans"><em>here</em></a><em> and featuring the best ones across our network as well. Come Fan With Us!</em></p>
<p id="7ErXIz">Hey y’all! I’m Riyan and I’m the social media manager for Indomitable City Soccer. You generally won’t hear much from me in terms of published articles, but there are exceptions to that rule. This is one of those exceptions, telling the story of how I fell so far in love with the Republic.</p>
<p id="3d8dZ8">One thing to know about me is that I’ve been around soccer for a good portion of my lifetime. </p>
<p id="a8uimX">I started playing soccer since I was a little first grader, playing games in the small field across the street. Honestly, I don’t know why I was put on a soccer team in the first place (something tells me my parent’s had something to do with it), but I don’t regret it. I still remember the chaos of bunch ball, when literally every single kid went for the ball. Trying to hold on to the ball for even a second was next to impossible. </p>
<p id="HU0nzH">As I grew older, I became more and more interested in the soccer community. Not just the local community, but the international scene. I didn’t know many of the local teams around me, but I did follow Team USA and their exploits. I would blame Landon Donovan for singlehandedly piquing my interest in the local teams around me, specifically his MLS team, Los Angeles Galaxy. </p>
<p id="gyOPc8">Yeah, I know they’re one of those teams that most bandwagoners would choose to support. And yeah, now I know that the San Jose Earthquakes are just a couple hours drive from where I am. Yet, I couldn’t root against the man that brought me into this fan culture.</p>
<p id="b36EkR">So why Sacramento Republic? Growing up with the matches of the CaliClassico, I couldn’t possibly bring myself to cheer on the Earthquakes. And, cheering on the Galaxy grew to be more of a task, especially after some of my favorite players left. I didn't have much of a reason to cheer on a team that I had little to no relation to. With my relationship with the Galaxy waning, I needed to find a new team to devote my passion towards. And that’s when news broke: Sacramento would be getting a USL PRO team, starting in the 2014 season.</p>
<p id="8qrg4A">I watched nearly every single match that year, albeit mostly online. I only ended up going to one of the home matches, the 0-0 draw against future MLS side, Orlando City SC. </p>
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<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/0lkD3ZqRIjpZn36oRs_wzvZv2V0=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/8573557/IMG_6025__1_.jpg">
<cite>Riyan Lacara</cite>
<figcaption>The view from my first game</figcaption>
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<p id="nH3VKn">Yet, being able to see a team that represented my city got to me. I had a team to cheer on. I had a team to push for. I had a team that was literally right here. I could watch all their matches and cheer them on, even though it was often through a livestream chat. This team provided a place where the multitude of soccer enthusiasts in Sacramento like me could gather. </p>
<p id="tqgzx7">Oh, and the championship in the first season was a perk. I've watched the sellout games at Hughes to the Miracle at Bonney to the matches in the Open Cup to the Premier League friendlies. I just cannot stop watching. There have been times where I’d skip out on eating dinner with the family, just so I could watch this team play.</p>
<p id="dxCNkB">Thank you SRFC! From a fan who’s looking forward to many more seasons to come.</p>
<p id="HGhdeV"><em>Editor’s Note: For those of you looking to get into that Fanpost drawing, make sure to take a look at the note down below.</em></p>
<p id="VXfSpo"><em>NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. SB Nation Why Are You a Fan Reader Sweepstakes starts on 8:00am ET on May 25, 2017 and ends at 11:59pm ET on June 8, 2017. Open only to eligible legal residents of the United States, 18 years or older. </em><a href="http://blog.sbnation.com/2017/5/24/15685020/why-are-you-a-fan-reader-sweepstakes-announcement-and-official-rules"><em>Click here</em></a><em> for Official Rules and complete details, including entry instructions, odds of winning, alternative method of entry, prize details and restrictions, etc. Void where prohibited or restricted by law. Sponsor: Vox Media, Inc.</em></p>
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https://www.indomitablecitysoccer.com/2017/5/25/15683940/why-i-became-sacramento-republic-fan-started-wearing-old-glory-redriyancil2017-05-25T06:00:57-07:002017-05-25T06:00:57-07:00Why I’m a fan of Sacramento Republic
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/g8oRf81y2pK2MT2hqFmZM7CNG-Q=/0x0:5472x3648/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/54941405/IMG_6311.0.jpeg" />
<figcaption>Alex Leguizamo/Indomitable City Soccer</figcaption>
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<p>By displaying positive, attacking soccer, Republic have made a fan out of me.</p> <p id="tZtjZP"><em><span class="author-1128">Welcome to the refreshed Indomitable City Soccer! To celebrate the new look and feel of our sports communities, we’re sharing stories of how and why we became fans of our favorite teams. If you’d like to share your story, head over to the </span><a href="http://www.indomitablecitysoccer.com/fanposts"><span class="author-1128">FanPosts </span></a><span class="author-1128">to write your own post. Each FanPost will be entered into a drawing to win a </span><a href="http://blog.sbnation.com/2017/5/24/15685020/why-are-you-a-fan-reader-sweepstakes-announcement-and-official-rules"><span class="author-1128">$500 Fanatics gift card</span></a><span class="author-1128">. We’re collecting all of the stories </span></em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/why-we-are-fans"><em>here</em></a><em> and featuring the best ones across our network as well. Come Fan With Us!</em></p>
<p id="cVU2IZ"><span class="author-5296">Oh my goodness, it was so hot out. The sun was blaring down on us and I</span><span class="author-1128"> had</span><span class="author-5296"> forgot a hat, sunscreen</span><span class="author-1128"> — </span><span class="author-5296">anything other than cash for beer didn't make the trip. Despite the inferno blasting from above, energy inside the stadium was electric. People were already having fun and it was at least 30 minutes before kickoff. </span></p>
<p id="GMa1BV"><span class="author-5296">In classic American soccer style, jerseys of all kinds w</span><span class="author-1128">ere spotted:</span><span class="author-5296"> Real Betis, Portugal, Inter Milan, Germany, Arsenal, Chivas, Santos, Sounders. Even the teams on display</span><span class="author-1128"> that day,</span><span class="author-5296"> Dorados and Norwich, were extremely diverse. This was Sacramento Soccer Day, July 18th 2013. At an exhibition match at Raley Field, Sacramento Republic was born. I had a really great time, and looked forward to what was coming next from Warren Smith. </span></p>
<p id="kDX64J"><span class="author-5296">A short time later I get a call from a good friend; "You owe me, like, $400. Pay up when you can buddy" Oh, do I? Had I forgot</span><span class="author-1128">ten</span><span class="author-5296"> a bet back in college, did I sleep walk into his house and destroy his couch? </span></p>
<p id="Gct76m"><span class="author-5296">No</span><span class="author-1128">.</span><span class="author-5296"> </span><span class="author-1128">I</span><span class="author-5296">nstead, he had gone out and got us season tickets to the new team in town, Sacramento Republic FC. Welp, guess I</span><span class="author-1128"> was</span><span class="author-5296"> committed </span><span class="author-1128">at that point</span><span class="author-5296">. We figured we would be two of a handful of fans, sitting in a mass of empty bleachers at Sac City College. But we would have fun anyways, and at least we would have </span><em>something</em><span class="author-5296"> in a land long forgotten by MLS. </span></p>
<p id="yEqQgz"><span class="author-5296">We could not</span><span class="author-1128"> have been</span><span class="author-5296"> more wrong. I think it took us 30 minutes just to get off the light rail and in to that first packed game at Hughes Stadium. It was a madhouse. You could not keep out the energy and excit</span><span class="author-1128">e</span><span class="author-5296">ment if your tried.</span><span class="author-1128"> T</span><span class="author-5296">hat energy, that sense of fun, continued all season. Spurred on by the high-powered fast play of Preki’s coaching, the team was impossible to dislike. We had a little Borussia-mento going on and I was enamored. </span></p>
<p id="3ZgEld"><span class="author-5296">When Preki left</span><span class="author-1128"> in 2015</span><span class="author-5296">, Republic found a new coach</span><span class="author-1128">,</span><span class="author-5296"> Paul Buckle, who was also willing to play</span><span class="author-1128"> </span><span class="author-5296">fun, adventurous football. SRFC’s smart, aggressive, attacking</span><span class="author-1128"> style</span><span class="author-5296"> is what </span><span class="author-1128">has </span><span class="author-5296">ma</span><span class="author-1128">de me enjoy the team in the first place </span><span class="author-5296">and has kept me coming back for more.</span></p>
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<p id="HGhdeV"><em><span class="author-1128">Editor’s Note: For those of you looking to get into that Fanpost drawing, make sure to take a look at the note down below.</span></em></p>
<p id="tZtjZP"> </p>
<p id="XomYh9"> </p>
<p id="VXfSpo"><em><span class="author-1128">NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. SB Nation Why Are You a Fan Reader Sweepstakes starts on 8:00am ET on May 25, 2017 and ends at 11:59pm ET on June 8, 2017. Open only to eligible legal residents of the United States, 18 years or older. </span></em><a href="http://blog.sbnation.com/2017/5/24/15685020/why-are-you-a-fan-reader-sweepstakes-announcement-and-official-rules"><em><span class="author-1128">Click here</span></em></a><em><span class="author-1128"> for Official Rules and complete details, including entry instructions, odds of winning, alternative method of entry, prize details and restrictions, etc. Void where prohibited or restricted by law. Sponsor: Vox Media, Inc.</span></em></p>
https://www.indomitablecitysoccer.com/2017/5/25/15689584/why-i-became-sacramento-republic-fan-started-wearing-old-glory-redmaaronweber