Ever since LAFC made their MLS debut in 2018 I've wanted to go to a game. I'd been to a few Galaxy games down the years, mostly when they had a famous players like David Beckham, Steven Gerrard or Robbie Keane. Galaxy games are ok, the stadium is ok, not somewhere I'd consider getting a season ticket to but LAFC seemed different for some reason. Cooler for one, the black and gold colors, the "LA" logo, co-owners like Will Ferrell and most intriguing to me, a real fan culture with the "3252" Ultras group and a large safe standing area behind one goal.
Los Angeles Football Club was founded in October 2014, just three days after the dissolution of Chivas USA who shared a stadium with the LA Galaxy. Work began on building a stadium in Downtown LA for the new club but it was almost three years later when a head coach was appointed, former US national team coach Bob Bradley and shortly afterwards Mexican forward Carlos Vela became the first designated player. Their first game was a 1-0 away win in Seattle in March 2018 with Vela grabbing the clubs first ever goal. A few weeks later they lost their first game, a derby at Galaxy which saw them blow a 3-0 lead and lose 4-3 - the game where Zlatan Ibrahimovic famously came off the bench and bagged a hat trick, one of them just outrageous from miles out. "El Traffico" was born that day, a fierce rivalry named after LA's famous traffic issues and a play on words of Barcelona and Real Madrid's "El Clasico".
In the three seasons since formation, the club have consistently thrilled packed crowds at the Banc of California Stadium with Vela and Uruguayan forward Diego Rossi both topping MLS scoring charts. However they have fallen at the early stages of the play offs in each season.
For one reason or another, I've just never made it down there. It's taken me a while to get used to the supply and demand nature of MLS tickets that can sell on Ticketmaster and secondary outlets for often upwards of $100, at least double against Galaxy. And last season was almost exclusively behind closed doors due to the pandemic, so I have been eagerly awaiting California to get its act together and give the fans in LA something they have missed for almost 18 months.
Whilst wandering around "Christmas Tree Lane" which is a large patch of grass that sits between the "Banc" and the Memorial Coliseum, home of pre match tailgating, music, BBQ's and food vendors, I had the pleasure of running into legendary sports announcer, Max Bretos who was kind enough to let me ask him a few questions. Also I'll add, very approachable, warm and friendly and generally a great fella!
Max has worked on Fox Sports, ESPN, Sky Sports in the UK and now is the voice and face of LAFC.
Max, it's my first game at the Banc today, what can I expect?
MB: Well first of all, welcome. This is different today because it's the first game back tailgating here on Christmas Tree Lane, this is the first step back to normal. A lot of these guys have been here since 8am and they've had a good time. It's very well spirited, everyone says hello, treats you like family, great music, I love coming here.
You're a busy guy with the work you do for the club, it's great that you're able to come out and mingle.
MB: I’ve been really looking forward to it. When I first took this job, they said “make friends with the fans“ and I said ”alright”. So I did that and they have become my friends, they look out for you, always seem to want to give me stuff! It's a good spirit, great people but you've got be careful because you can get drunk down here real quick! But seriously, it's just a great vibe.
Once I get inside what can I expect?
MB: It's like a shoe box in there, it's an intimate setting. Once you're in there you realize because of it's size, how's it built, that you are part of something very unique and special. 22,000 seats, your attention will go to the North End, that's where the “3252” reside and today is their first game back where that entire end will be filled. It's free standing, it's something that will grab your attention, it's the soundtrack of the stadium. You can say that about a lot of places but this one because of that roof, the late kick off, the night air, it's going to be electric. That kind of just sets the tempo for the rest of the stadium. Walk around it, you can get from one side to the other in no time, it's such a human scaled...it feels like you're home…it feels like you're in a Vegas resort but it's your home. It's got the creature comforts, it's just a spectacular place with great people.
I grew up in England and I remember you on Soccer AM on Sky back in the 90s/early 2000's tell me about that.
MB: Dude, that's amazing! Soccer AM, wow. Funny story, I covered the World Sevens Rugby recently and I was doing interviews and the England team came up and were like "YEAHHH SOCCER AM!" They gave me all their gear it was amazing.
I can't remember what you did exactly but I remember you were on it.
MB: Yeah yeah I was like the American correspondent and I would come on, it was mostly a lot of levity and fun and that's what the show was but I had no idea the kind of reach it had. I actually went there and covered the Super Bowl for Sky and I remember they used to take me to Brentford games because it was third division or whatever and now it's funny to see them, how far they've come.
Obviously most of my football experiences are European and you've been around the game a long time, how do this differ, how's it different?
MB: You know I think with European football, the guys over here always look for their lead with what's happening over there and the MLS and this club did a lot of research, they looked at Borussia Dortmund and what they were doing and obviously kept their eye on a lot of other places, to see what they did right and what they should make uniquely their own. There's a very Los Angeleno feel to that because of the people and they make everything their own. You'll see things that I'm sure will remind you of that European feel but it's definitely Los Angeleno through and through. I just love the size of this place. I've been to Old Trafford and the like and those are amazing, with 60,000, 70,000 seats, you can feel a little lost but not here, it's so intimate it's unbelievable.
What are your hopes for this season for LAFC?
MB: I think they can grow into it, it's a forgiving league so although we haven't had a great start, I think the pieces are there, these guys still have a positive outlook and they really haven't had a full team all together yet this year so it will come good. This is a team that's built to win and they'll be active if they need to need to make some upgrades. You never know in Major League Soccer but they'll be there in the end.
Cheers to Max for taking the time to speak to me and make me feel completely at ease. You can find him on Twitter @MaxBretosSports and Instagram @mbretos. Now for my review…
What really resonates from that chat now, after experiencing a game is what he said about the intimacy and the home comforts. The Banc of California stadium is a beautiful place to watch the beautiful game. It doesn’t look all that spectacular when you first walk in but once you walk around you notice how open it is, each section is supported by an open plan concourse, meaning wherever you are ordering food or drink you are never too far away from a perfect expansive view of the game.
What Max was saying about a Vegas resort now makes sense as the above picture illustrates there are many vantage points around the stadium where people just simply hang out with a beer and stand and watch the game. You could literally buy the cheapest ticket you could find online and spend the whole time standing around with a perfect view. There are no heavy handed stewards moving you along for loitering. It’s just like a giant sports bar.
This is my favorite feature of the Banc, it really does bring a unique experience to it which I can’t think of any comparisons to, none that I have been to anyway.
The food kiosks are also very impressive with many different original culinary options rather than the usual hot dog, pizza and pretzel generic offerings. Merchandise is everywhere. If you want to buy a hat, scarf or a shirt you have at least half a dozen options around the stadium which Max was right, it doesn’t take very long to walk around the whole thing.
As for the game itself, LAFC were playing lowly Houston Dynamo and dominated the first half, of which I had the perfect view of them attacking from the South end of the ground but sadly couldn’t convert any of many chances. I spent the second half wandering around with a beer watching the game from the many vantage points. Ecuadorian midfielder Jose Cifuentes opening the scoring for the hosts in the 50th minute, tapping home in front of the adoring masses in the North End. Houston struck back eight minutes later through the Uruguayan striker Max Urruti. Towards the end of the game I wandered into the famous North End and their fanatical supporters group, the “3252” who are one of the most talked about groups in MLS. I didn’t stay long but only out of respect for the rules in there, which includes leaving your cell phone in your pocket and being prepared to jump and sing for the full 90 minutes. This wasn’t the night for a middle aged man like me to engage in that. They also have heavy security moving you on quickly if you loiter in an aisle taking pictures, but for the short time I was there, it was hard not to be swept along in a cauldron of noise, color, passion and definitely a little “edge” in the air which if you have been around fan culture in its finest form you will understand.
The 3252 have a strict intolerance for any racial abuse, discrimination of any kind and certainly no fighting or “aggro” as I would call it. All very commendable and respectful. I will say however, I didn’t need to look around very long to conclude most English “firms” wouldn’t last five minutes. I don’t know if I’m allowed to say that or not.
The game ended 1-1 and the disappointing start to the season continues for the black and gold. It’s hard to pin point why as they have some impressive players, especially going forward but the two focal points, Carlos Vela and Diego Rossi have both had their recent injury problems and Vela especially looked out of sorts in this game. Rossi was busy and a constant threat, recently linked with a move to Premier League clubs Tottenham and Everton, he’s clearly a very good player, a little slight, the physicality of England might be a tough transition and he was lacking a cutting edge in this one. You would imagine the team will click into gear at some point and be a threat again come play off time.
The culture that LAFC have built in a short space of time is impressive and addictive. If you haven’t been down to the Banc yet, get yourself down there. The 3252 truly are the soundtrack to a magnificent overall experience. As Max said, “it’s just a great vibe”.