DC United: A Major League Soccer Mainstay
DC United are one of the founding teams of Major League Soccer.
One of the ten original franchises to kick off in 1996, United have evolved and developed through the years to become one of the most stable and successful teams both on and off the field.
From Major League Soccer's humble beginnings as an ambitious project to a fully professionalized US soccer league, DC United have been there for every step of the journey.
Their own rise and falls have mirrored the ups and downs of the league itself.
The journey for both the MLS and teams like DC United have been tumultuous though the long-term benefits have been worth the struggles. Now the MLS is firmly established in the US as a spectator sport and attracts more and more fans in the United States and abroad.
To say that DC United were there right from the start would be an understatement. D.C. United actually kicked off the MLS by playing in the league's first ever match against the San Jose Clash in Spartan Stadium in San Jose, California on April 6, 1996.
DC United is one of the few US professional teams that can claim to have a storied history. In the team's early years, the "Black & Red" fans enjoyed an incredible run of success under the tutelage of then coach Bruce Arena.
Between 1996 and 1998, DC United amassed an impressive eight titles including the following: 1996 U.S. Open Cup, 1996 / 1997 MLS Cup, 1997 Supporters' Shield, 1998 CONCACAF Champions' Cup, and 1998 Copa Interamericana). A trophy haul so impressive that Arena was offered the US Men's national team hot seat.
In an exclusive interview, Chris Forinash, who has been a DCU season ticket holder right from the beginning when the MLS started in 1996 with 10 clubs.
Forinash has experienced the drama of being a DCU supporter close up, from the glory days of Bruce Arena to the more mediocre times of the early 2000s; he is an expert on all things DCU and was happy to share some of his memories and all the highs and lows of being a DCU fan.
Forinash is part of the fan body who have seen it all and he still reminisces about the first few years of the club's existence when they defeated all before them. Trophies came thick and fast in the early years as DC United's Eddie Pope scored a golden goal against LA Galaxy at the Foxboro Stadium on October 20, 1996 to win the MLS Cup.
Forinash said he still has fond memories of those years and that longer-term fans believe they had the unique experience of witnessing something special.
"Old fans like myself certainly do. You still see jerseys with the old players' names around the stadium. We take a lot of pride in having been the first successful club (and until recently, the most successful overall) and at having been among the originals."
Back in the mid-nineties, soccer was still on the fringes of US mainstream sports. A decent showing in the 1990 World Cup and respectable performances in 1994 meant interest peaked.
The challenge that many Major League Soccer teams had was to build new fan bases from scratch. The NASL boomed and then faded and the MLS could not just be another fad and flash in the pan; the business plan had to be sustainable and the 'product' had to attract sponsors.
More importantly, the new MLS teams had to draw in fans from an already crowded sports market and keep their attention.
Forinash reflected back to when the MLS first started and how DC United 'attracted' spectators to the old RFK Stadium. Some teams used gimmicks though the DC United fan base grew 'organically' especially after all the initial trophies won and distinctive fans groups grew as a community sense of belonging quickly spread.
"The Screaming Eagles supporters club (that I've been part of since 1997) started before the team was officially announced.
The early team operation was so small that SE leadership knew the front office and worked with them to get tickets to fans.
We played in a huge old ground - RFK Stadium - so there were always tickets available, even with some of the big crowds we had as a new curiosity in town. Lots of team-sponsored activities around the games, very family friendly stuff like halftime entertainment and kids teams playing on the field during the half or after the game. The tailgate scene got good quickly too, with Lot 5 and then Lot 8 as the place to be on a gameday Saturday. The Barra Brava and SE were hugely important in that."
DCU has passionate and well organized fan groups such as La Barra Brava, the Screaming Eagles and the District Ultras. DCU also has a relatively new home stadium, Audi Field. Forinash discussed the unique atmosphere at the new stadium and how it is different from RFK stadium.
"Well, younger fans don't know RFK so don't have the comparison. The supporters' groups tend to have lots of older fans who moan about different aspects of the new place. And Audi doesn't have many of the frills of the other newer MLS stadiums. But it's home, and it means the team isn't leaving as was often threatened during the darker days of 2005-2015.
Some things about RFK are hard to replicate - particularly the bouncing stands under the supporters' sections at midfield. Concrete terraces with no cover and no bounce behind a goal can't ever be quite like that."
DC United have had hundreds if not thousands of players pass through their ranks though who are the storied names who fans still hold close to their hearts; is it Marco Etcheverry and Jaime Moreno, Jeff Agoos or Eddie Pope?
Or do fans still chant the names of the likes of Nick Rimando who helped win the Supporter's Shield for D.C. United in 2006 or Dwayne De Rosario, 2011 top-scorer and league MVP.
Forinash, selected his favorite individual, in terms of play and influence, who he believes is the greatest DC United player ever.
"Lots of choices, and without several specific guys we wouldn't have had that early great success. But to pick one, it's Marco Etcheverry. World class #10."
Teen sensation Freddy Adu, was hugely marketed and hyped up as the next global superstar and eventually signed for DCU. Forinash spoke of his initial impressions of Freddy Adu and whether he believed he would be the next big thing.
"Me, no, but the MLS hype machine sold him so hard. DCU was mostly along for the ride. MLS needed publicity and that was it. You should listen to the American Prodigy podcast series Grant Wahl did."
Major League Soccer had to be a successful league; otherwise, the great US soccer experiment might never happen again. Forinash said that the MLS had been successful in terms of raising the standard of US soccer and making soccer more popular in the United States.
"1000% yes. The OG MLS guys are exactly my age - guys I watched in college. We had nothing to look up to when we were young - NASL had fizzled, indoor was a different sport, and there wasn't even much international coverage on US TV.
Then these college kids qualified for WC 1990, performed well for huge home crowds in WC 1994, and launched the league from scratch.
We were so desperate for it to succeed. The first 6-8 years were tenuous as hell - including folding two teams. From that to $300m for a 30th expansion side is insane. The play is so much better, and the kids who grew up watching MLS (often in the stadiums - I knew Paredes from when he was 8 and now he's at Wolfsburg!?!) are all over the biggest leagues and leading this national team to WC 22 and God willing to a huge showing at WC 26 at home. The only thing we don't have is TV ratings."
The DC area has quite a few teams from all the different codes, Forinash gave his opinion about the Washington sporting hierarchy (Commanders, Wizards, Capitals, Nationals) and where DC United is placed.
"I'm only into DCU and to a lesser extent the Nationals, so probably not a typical DC sports fan. With the Caps and Nats success in recent years, they draw well and get buzz. Football is always football even though they're abhorrent. Wizards I dunno really. You do see more DCU gear on people just around town, especially on younger folks which gives me hope."
The MLS has seen some huge names make the move to try and revolutionize the US game and DC signed Wayne Rooney and Forinash said DC United fans were either excited or skeptical when Rooney signed.
"Some of each. I was excited when he signed and thrilled with what he brought. Wish he'd stay longer. Hardcore fans I know were more skeptical but once you see him on the field and hear what he brings to the locker room, he did a stand-up job for us.
Plus the insane Buzzer Beater play which is still one of the top 3-5 live sports moments I've ever been part of. I was behind the goal for that one. Insanity."
Thank you!
by Chris KL Lau
Major League Soccer Final 2004 DC United 3:2 Kansas City Wizards