“We might be becoming more than friends.”
That's the text Bailey Brown, the new president of FC Dallas supporters’ group the Dallas Beer Guardians, recently received from buddy Colin Mall. The latter is game day events coordinator for the Grid--the supporters' group for the USL's OKC Energy FC. And the occasion for the text? A new alliance between their respective teams and their fans.
Earlier this month, the Oklahoma City-based Energy officially announced it will serve as an affiliate of FC Dallas. Now, the two teams are planning to celebrate the union with a Feb. 27 friendly at the Energy’s home, Taft Stadium. Supporters of both are taking it as an opportunity to celebrate their own expanding family.
Geographically, the affiliation makes sense, as the cities are only three hours apart--but those familiar with other sports in the state will note a pretty fierce rivalry between Texas and Oklahoma. That’s not so in soccer, which has served as a cultural unifier. In fact, the Dallas Beer Guardians already boast a number of Oklahomans–specifically, members of the Energy’s supporters group the Grid–in their ranks.
“Everyone here is very happy with the partnership,” said Mall, who still maintains his DBG membership. “The idea of seeing our players move up [to MLS from USL] and the ability to see some FC Dallas youth or rehabbing players [in USL] is very exciting. We’re even talking about making shirts and scarves with both DBG and the Grid on them.”
Members of the Grid, Energy FCs supporters' group; photo via Facebook.com/EnergyFCSupporters
In fact, the two groups are so chummy that when the Beer Guardians make the road trip next month for the match, their seats will be adjacent to those of the Grid.
“Some of my best friends are in the DBG,” Mall said. “Before and after the match, we’re friends. For the 90 minutes we play, like in the U.S. Open cup last year, we might be enemies, but it’s not going to be true hatred like it is with Tulsa” (referring to USL rivals Tulsa Roughnecks FC).
Joe Pugh, president of the Grid and a DBG member, admits that some Energy FC fans have claimed Sporting KC, the Timbers, or the Sounders as their MLS team of choice. But he said he expects unaffiliated fans to gravitate toward FC Dallas, and for those otherwise spoken for to adopt FC Dallas as their second MLS team.
Brown, meanwhile, envisions a potential trip north, should OKC make the USL Finals. But in the meantime, she’s excited to kick off the new alliance with a proper party on Feb. 27.
“We’ve already shared a supporters section with them and tailgated with them,” said Brown. “It’s more like we’re celebrating family.”
