Dynamo supporters head to Frisco with reduced numbers

Recommended Video:

James Hromadka has attended every Dynamo road game against archrival FC Dallas since the team moved to Houston.

Hromadka, the president of the Texian Army, is going back on Wednesday for the season's third Texas Derby. He just won't have as many of his fellow supporters with him.

The biggest reason is the privilege restrictions placed on Dynamo supporter groups by FC Dallas following the first Texas Derby on May 28.

Those restrictions prevent Dynamo supporters from entering Toyota Stadium with flags, banners, instruments or any other implements used to display their support of the team. FC Dallas also is limiting the number of tickets allotted to Dynamo supporter groups to 100.

About 300 supporters attended the first game and sat in a reserved section.

Houston Dynamo fans march into the stadium before the MLS soccer game between the Dynamo and FC Dallas at BBVA Compass Stadium on Friday, June 23, 2017, in Houston. ( Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle ) Houston Dynamo fans march into the stadium before the MLS soccer game between the Dynamo and FC Dallas at BBVA Compass Stadium on Friday, June 23, 2017, in Houston. ( Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle ) Photo: Brett Coomer, Staff Photo: Brett Coomer, Staff Image 1 of / 11 Caption Close Dynamo supporters head to Frisco with reduced numbers 1 / 11 Back to Gallery

For every other road trip to Frisco, Hromadka has filled a chartered a bus with Texian Army members. That will not happen on Wednesday. Instead, he and about 15 other members will carpool.

"There still hasn't been anything from Dallas in writing where they have sent us anything (about what we did wrong)," Hromadka said. "People are generally unhappy and pissed off from that. It seems like a tactic to reduce the number of Dynamo fans who come to the game."

All Dynamo supporters had to find out what they did wrong from media reports.

When contacted by the Chronicle the day after the news of the sanctions broke, FC Dallas vice president of media and communications Gina Miller said the specific reasons were that members of El Batallon – another Dynamo supporter group – set off smoke bombs and a flare outside the stadium.

Though FC Dallas singled out El Batallon, the privilege restrictions are for all Dynamo supporter groups. They are in place for the next four regular season games between the Dynamo and FC Dallas in Frisco.

Mannie Gutierrez, president of El Batallon, said a few members of his supporter group are going on their own but that no trip is organized. Instead, El Batallon on Wednesday night will gather at Kings Court Pub across the street from BBVA Compass Stadium for an official watch party.

In Frisco, Hromadka said the Texian Army will stand, sing and cheer as best they can but that it will be tougher because many of their chants and songs go better with the beat of a drum, which they are not allowed to take inside the stadium.

It will not be the same energetic experience as previous Dynamo games in Frisco, but Hromadka said everything will be better if the Dynamo win to clinch the Texas Derby title for the second consecutive year and retain El Capitan.

"We'll be there and we'll do what we can to cheer on our team," Hromadka said. "Hopefully we can come out with a win and keep the cannon."