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‘Big win no matter what’: DC United fans gear up for first game with fans since start of pandemic

By Valerie Bonk

Fans of DC United are ready to celebrate their team in person for the first time since the pandemic started.

D.C. is allowing Audi Field to have 25% in-person capacity for Saturday night’s D.C. United game and avid fans are ready to go.

“It’s going to be a big win no matter what,” said Oscar Zambrana, founder of the Barra-Brava DC United supporters group.

He said they’ve lost two of their group’s members to the coronavirus so they understand the limits on the number of fans for the game, but they’re ready to cheer on their team.

“I can’t describe it. Because, you know, I’ve been in the stands, you know, for every single game since that league started,” Zambrana said.

James Lambert, president of the Screaming Eagles supporter group said he’s not only excited about being able to cheer on DC United in person for the first time in a year, but also to see the work of the team’s new coach and general manager in action.

Lambert said the limited capacity means will be between 4,500 and 5,000 fans in the stands for the 8 p.m. game against the New York City Football Club on Saturday night and they’ll all be in small pods socially distant from each other.

“It’s just pure energy, pure excitement. It’s knowing that they’ve missed us, and knowing how much we can, you know, help them with their play on the field by bringing the energy in the stands,” Lambert said.

Douglas Reyes-Ceron, co-founder of the supporter group the Rose Room Collective says he’s excited to see the energy from the fans and see how the new coach and general manager make their debuts.

“Everyone’s kind of waiting on bated breath to see how it all comes together, and I think that’s incredibly exciting,” Reyes-Ceron said.

He said he wants to wait to go in-person when he’s fully vaccinated, but he thinks the energy of the fans will help the team and that he’s excited to see fans in the stands

“I’m very, very excited for them. It’s a very surreal feeling after the year we’ve had with the pandemic, and everything else that finally we get to have a game day again, with fans. It’s incredibly exciting,” Reyes-Ceron said.

Washington Spirit names D.C. United legend Ben Olsen club president

By Bijan Todd
Spirit names D.C. United legend Ben Olsen club president originally appeared on NBC Sports WashingtonBen Olsen cemented himself as a D.C. soccer legend during his 22-year tenure with D.C. United. Now, he’ll try to continue that legacy as he has been named club president of the Washington Spirit, the team announced on Thursday.Olsen has a long and storied career within U.S. soccer. At D.C. United, he won two MLS Cup titles, Rookie of the Year, and MLS Cup MVP. He also made 37 appearances for the U.S. national team between 1998-2007. He had been at the helm of D.C. United for a decade, serving as its head coach from 2010-20, earning one MLS Coach of the Year award.“We are proud to bring Ben Olsen into the Spirit family. Ben has been a legendary player, coach, and executive in the DC soccer world. He is truly a soccer icon in the Nation’s Capital.  As importantly, he has been an engaged community builder in the DMV,” Spirit owner and CEO Steve Baldwin said in a press release given Thursday. “The Spirit will benefit from his energy, ideas, leadership, and history competing on the international stage and winning championships for DC, as we pursue another for the Spirit.”The Spirit hope Olsen’s arrival commences a new era. They sit sixth out of 10 in the National Women's Soccer League standings with a 6-5-5 record. Washington’s next game is an away match in Portland on Saturday.After ten years coaching D.C. United, Olsen was fired from his role last October. Hernán Losada was eventually hired as the new head coach. “I have loved being part of the D.C. United family for over 20 years, and I will always be grateful to the club that has given me so much. However, it is time for a new challenge for me and the opportunity to help grow the Spirit, soccer in the city I love, and the women’s game was too great to pass up,” Olsen said.The Sprit have been engrossed in an abuse scandal recently. Per the Washington Post, former coach Richie Burke was accused of verbally and emotionally abusing players. Burke stepped down from his role last month as a result of the allegations and an investigation by the NWSL began. That investigation is ongoing. The Post reported Monday that there is also an ownership dispute between Baldwin and co-owner Y. Michele Kang that remains unresolved. 
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