Are y’all ready to get loud?!

It’s 2017! ATLUTD finally makes their MLS debut this year! Are you as excited as we are?! Now that the schedule has been released, we thought we’d share a quick lesson on what to expect in the stands at Atlanta United games this year.

"We" are the ATLUTD supporters groups: Terminus Legion, Resurgence, Footie Mob, and The Faction. We are writing this post to help others understand what to expect come March 5th (or February 11th, if you’re going to Chattanooga). There will be tifo, drums, singing and chanting and lots of flag waving, but more about that later. Let’s start with the basics…

The Supporters Section

As you already know, ATLUTD will start their MLS season at Bobby Dodd Stadium while construction on Mercedes Benz Stadium (aka "The Benz") is completed. If you’ve already purchased your season tickets for The Benz, you should have your seating assignment at Bobby Dodd.

Note: not all of the supporters group members have tickets in the supporters section. Some will be in the surrounding sections, but some members will also be scattered throughout the stadium(s).

If the season tickets you bought are in the Supporters section at the Benz, you should have been assigned to sections in the North end at Bobby Dodd. The Supporters Section at the Benz is General Admission, which means that you should not expect to sit in an assigned seat, but rather wherever you find an available seat. We do not know yet whether this will be the same at BDS, but we assume it is.

We have yet to work out all of the details, but it is most likely that there will be drums set up in the middle at the front of the section(s). The drummers and capos will be at the front to lead the chants and singing during the game. Which brings us to…

Behavior in the Stands – What to Expect

There will be people standing for the full 90 minutes, singing, chanting, playing drums, and waving flags. The first several rows will likely be the rowdiest. If you want to sit and watch the game, we would recommend finding a seat towards the top or on the sides of the section. Participation in the standing, singing, chanting and flag waving is not required, but it is encouraged.

Each of the SGs will have their own chants, but we are planning to have several chants that all of the groups will do and we will post those online or have them on cards at the games. Fair warning – they’re very simple and catchy and will probably get stuck in your head pretty quickly.

Tifo

There will be tifo.

What is tifo, you ask? According to Wikipedia,

Tifo [ˈtiːfo] is the Italian word for the phenomenon of supporting a sport team. In some countries (but not in Italy) it is mostly used as a name for any choreography displayed by fans in the stands of an arena or stadium in connection with a sport event, mostly as part of an association football match.

Here are some examples of tifo in MLS: http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2015/12/23/best-mls-tifo-2015.

There will be tifo. Be prepared. We will probably request your assistance with tifo during the season – either by helping to pull it up or down or by participating if we do tiles, which are individual pieces of paper or fabric to hold up. Instructions will be provided when/if we require your participation.

Supporters Groups

As previously mentioned, there are already several supporters groups for ATLUTD. Joining a supporters group is NOT a requirement, but there are perks – or there will be; we haven’t yet finished our negotiations with the front office for things like pre-game field access and player appearances at events. We expect some to have some news on that front soon.

All of the SGs will work together to create an unforgettable and #TrueToAtlanta game day experience. We are all non-profits and support local charities by volunteering and fundraising. Get involved and get some ATLUTD perks while you’re at it!

If you aren’t a part of a supporters group yet, check out the links below for more information. Or get your friends together and create a new one!

Terminus Legion is a supporter’s group that exists to champion and support Atlanta soccer and the communities in which it is played. Tailgating, match support and charity work allow Terminus Legion to be at the intersection of Atlanta and soccer.

Resurgence is a group of Atlanta United FC supporters that has worked hard to maintain a grassroots love of the game, united for the sole purpose of supporting AUFC. Our identity comes from us, rather than any sort of branding. We sing our own songs, we wave our own flags, and hold fast our identity with Atlanta. We don’t seek popularity or exclusivity – only to walk with our club.

Footie Mob: With the arrival of Atlanta United FC, Footie Mob hopes to help continue Atlanta's tradition of Southern hospitality, culture and resurgence. We’re Dirty South Casuals. We believe the game is beautiful and can be loved by all.

The Faction: We are parents, coaches, players and passionate supporters of Atlanta United with unique game day experiences, extraordinary events and a flare for food, fun and friendship. The Faction has a mission of using sport to help develop youth character and the language of soccer to promote tolerance, inclusivity, and the value of collaboration in achieving success.