If you’re part of a supporters’ group in MLS – even if you’re part of a Sounders or Whitecaps supporters’ group – you have to respect the Timbers Army’s game.
The legendary SG has its origins in the early 2000s, well before the Portland Timbers entered MLS in 2011, but deep into a more than 40-year history intertwined with its Cascadia rivals. The group’s infectious chants, elaborate tifo displays, and boisterous full-90 energy has not only helped define Timbers Army as a model supporters’ group, but has established Portland’s game-day atmosphere as one of the best in the league.
That’s now being challenged by Atlanta United, which in only its second season, has set MLS records for single-game and season attendance — and even for a U.S. Open Cup single-game attendance this past Wednesday.
When the Timbers visit Atlanta this Sunday (4:30 pm ET | Fox & Fox Deportes - Full TV & Streaming), the supporters who have built up the stadium’s support – starting with the ATL Viking chant they successfully instituted in just their second home game at Bobby Dodd Stadium last season, and continuing to what they’ve impressively established at Mercedes-Benz Stadium – will have another opportunity to show how they’ve evolved.
Unlike the Timbers Army, which has maintained an identity under a single SG banner, Atlanta currently has four official supporters’ groups: Terminus Legion, Resurgence, Footie Mob, and The Faction.
CK Lopez, Terminus Legion’s Chairman of the Board, declares that “Atlanta is a melting pot,” and asserts that the groups, though distinct from each other, work well together.
He notes the offshoot groups now own the integral parts of the full ATL supporters’ experience: Resurgence focuses its energy on in-game elements like chants and tifos, The Faction provides a family-friendly option for parents and kids, and Footie Mob creates a tailgate experience complete with a hip-hop soundtrack.
“We've been fairly unified, all things considered,” says Footie Mob founder Curtis Jenkins, noting that the four groups give fans options on where they best fit in. “We're all like brothers and sisters in a family. We all work on tifo, banners, and flags together. We watch and cheer together.”
Sam Veal, the co-founder of Resurgence, notes that they’ve taken some cues from Timbers Army as they’ve moved forward.
“Timbers Army are stalwarts in the supporters group scene,” he says. “Their in-game atmosphere really shows how much effort they put into their support, and we admire that. There are some practical in-game tips we've taken from them, mostly regarding our drum placement, and it's really amped up our game.”
Lopez and Terminus Legion president Austin Long note that having supporters meet monthly with the team’s front office, as well as getting time in Mercedes-Benz Stadium to do tifo load-in, has helped them navigate the league’s largest stadium. “We work on it every single month,” Lopez says, noting that they’re coordinating with the team on how to be better heard, factoring in its sheer expanse as well as how to be heard to lead and coordinate the whole stadium.
But they’re also committed to the city as well as the team. Kevin Kinley from The Faction says its charity efforts — central to the “tailgating for a cause” reputation they’ve foster – was inspired in part by the community service Timbers Army engages in. “We did our research on them and discussed the benefits of giving back to local charities,” Kinley says, adding that he was once coached by Mick Hoban, a Portland Timbers Ambassador and former Atlanta Chiefs player, who specifically inspired them with his philanthropy efforts.
They don’t exclusively draw from Timbers Army, of course. Terminus Legion joined the Independent Supporters’ Council early on to connect with supporters’ groups throughout North America, comparing notes on everything from how to structure bylaws to where to put capo stands, and they still compare notes with fans from around the league.
“I think the 3252 are going a great job out there in L.A.,” Lopez said of LAFC’s collective of supporters, adding that when away supporters came to their tailgate this past April, “We just picked their brains, asked what did work, what didn’t work.”
Veal notes that even though they’re in their second season, he feels they’ve built something impressive in such a short time. “I think that our progress is absolutely staggering and is one that we should be proud of. The growing pains are absolutely present, but I think that Atlanta United supporters can also take a step back and see how far we've grown. It's not just in attendance, but what these fans do when they show up that really is a sight to behold.”
Though they’re not ready to declare themselves the best fans in the league just yet, they recognize they’ve got a good thing going with their numbers and their enthusiasm. Jenkins, noting their developing away support as well as what they bring to the Benz, isn’t shy about putting them in the top five. “To become the best,” he says, “we need to sustain it.”
