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Los Angeles FC Nearly Fills Stadium Before 2018 MLS Debut

By Chuck Wharton

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 23: Motivational Speaker, Self-Help Author and part LAFC owner, Tony Robbins and former LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa pose for a picture at the Los Angeles Football Club Stadium Groundbreaking Ceremony on August 23, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Greg Doherty/WireImage)
LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 23: Motivational Speaker, Self-Help Author and part LAFC owner, Tony Robbins and former LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa pose for a picture at the Los Angeles Football Club Stadium Groundbreaking Ceremony on August 23, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Greg Doherty/WireImage) /
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The Los Angeles FC’s 2018 MLS debut won’t wait. The team signed up over 16,000 season supporters for their 22,000-seat stadium. That’s before they hired a head coach or filled their roster.

In a Four Four Two interview last June, John Thorrington, Los Angeles FC’s Vice President of Soccer Operations outlined what the club still had to do. He said the club’s task of filling the stands with supporters had already reached success.

"Thorrington: I think what’s amazing about our club and the momentum that we have here in terms of the ticket sales and the sponsorships. We already have 16,000 [season-ticket holders]."

Four Four Two’s Scott French added that Los Angeles FC had an eager fan base ready from the former Chivas USA club that dissolved. Chivas USA was founded in 2004 as Major League Soccer’s then 11th team but the club folded in 2014 after some internal disputes and issues. LAFC is not seen as the continuation of Chivas USA and will have its own history and records apart from the former LA club.

"French: The team has sold out the full allotment of more than 3,000 premium seats, and has attracted more than a dozen supporters groups, with more coming aboard all the time. but the number of supporters swelled without the use of traditional advertising. The club utilized social media and word of mouth among a community of fans galvanized by an unexpected hands-on experience.The supporters groups meet regularly with club brass and had a say in the club’s colors, black and gold, and in the design of the supporters’ north end in the $350 million, 22,000-seat Banc of California Stadium."

Classic soccer experience

Fans can get a classic soccer supporters’ experience. The stadium features the only safe standing Supporters’ Section on the West Coast. While Avaya Stadium up in San Jose also has a safe standing area it is not an entire section and is on a flat surface below the supporters’ section. This section in LA features excellent sight lines, comfort, safety and, at 34 degrees, will rise the steepest in the MLS.

Supporters in the section can even take a break from standing with rail seating.

Next: Real Salt Lake works for the post-season

Since last June, Los Angeles FC has hired coaches and done a lot to fill out their roster including signing Mexican international Carlos Vela. Still, fans across MLS will watch to see how their ambitious Supporters’ Section impacts the league, even while monitoring the players.

Hopefully, the locals won’t mind visiting supporters groups trying it out!

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