" La Barra Real " - Real Salt Lake
Yesterday, another cold winter morning, I woke up thinking about an idea that I had been consolidating for a long time. I wanted to enjoy the quarterfinals of the team in the city where I live. Football is a passion and joy that I get wherever I go. It allows me to learn from society and surrounds me in its culture and its principles.
The snow would not be an impediment to see a full stadium. Worthy scenario of the quarterfinals that were disputed between the Real Salt Lake and Portland Timbers. A game with rain and snow that could not show us anything else than a stuck rustic game and some other moment of magic.
We wanted to live this experience. Being a part of the first latin fans supporter in MLS, created in the city of Sandy, UT; by Mexicans and their descendants, as if we were in Mexico or in any Latino field in the Americas.
“Ya llego la barraaaa, con la orquesta y con la bandaaa, ya me voy para la 10, alla se canta con todo el almaaa”
An overwhelming sound in this quiet city, where the Mormon religion is the basis of society. The supporters are called "La Barra Real" and they settle outside the stadium 2 hours before each game. They welcome us and show us their routine. They give us delicious tamales filled with larded meat and a hot drink made of milk and chocolate called "Champurrado." The drink warms us up and displays an amazing atmosphere which makes us feel at home.
They tell us that they use the profits from the tamales to pay for the implements and travel expenses for each game. Since their origins they had not received any support of the board for social issues. It wasn’t until a few years ago the "Navajios" joined them to make the bar bigger and they achieved an agreement with the board for an unconditional support.
"Football is only one language, it doesn't matter where you're from"
They are the only ones who cheer the 90 minutes non-stop with original songs in spanish and encourage each other to sing in english with the Americans who arrived to the stadium. Without them, the atmosphere we experienced would not be the same and despite the temperature below zero, we felt like we were south of the border, standing for the entire game as if it were our team. Celebrating the opportunity to experience it in their own way.
We shared with them as if they opened the doors of their house to us. We learned about their manners, before and during the game. It is a moment to share with family and friends. It's a moment to support your city's team and it's a feeling that surrounds football and without us, the fans, it wouldn't be the same.
The Voices of Football.
