This is the final part of a four-part series highlighting FC Dallas’ Supporters Groups.
There is one supporters group that has been through it all with the Dallas Burn and FC Dallas.
They are, of course, the Inferno.
The Inferno have supported its Dallas-based Major League Soccer franchise through thick and thin since its inception in 1995.
“It was started via a website by Dustin Christmann in 1995,” said Inferno president Warren Abao. “We were on an email list at the time. We all agreed to sit together at the first game, wear red, and cheer for our team.”
And the rest is history.
The name, Inferno, was settled upon a few weeks into the inaugural season in correspondence with the Texas heat and of course the original team name, the Dallas Burn.
Following the team’s re-branding to FC Dallas in 2005 and subsequent move to Frisco, the group had been in existence too long to change their name.
In FC Dallas Stadium, the Inferno have resided in “The Wedge” for the past two years and will do so again in 2012.
But not all of the members sit in Section 120 and 121.
“Though we do like our members to make noise and help add to creating the home-field advantage, our members are not expected to stand in The Wedge for every game. In 2011, we had more than 150 members, in locations throughout the stadium,” Inferno executive member Jon Beard said.
“This season, as renewals and new members sign up, we hope to keep increasing our numbers once again,” Inferno executive member Brenda Beard said.
While many do stand and chant in The Wedge each game (their motto is in fact “Come early, wear red, sing loud, stay late”), there are other traditions the supporters group has in place.
They hold pre- and post-game tailgates where anyone is welcome. This tradition is highlighted by their annual season-opening 24-hour tailgate, which will kick off next weekend in the FC Dallas stadium parking lot in anticipation of the March 11 opener vs. Red Bull New York.
Their support doesn’t stop in North Texas either as each year an Inferno member carries the Brimstone Cup to the away game at Toyota Park.
“We have arranged and paid for bus trips to our games in Houston as well as carpooling road trips to Kansas City, Denver, Salt Lake City, and Charleston, SC,” said Abao.
To see the Inferno camaraderie up close, join them at their 24-hour tailgate beginning next Saturday, March 10 in the FC Dallas Stadium parking lot and join the group for 2012 and beyond.
For more information, visit their website at http://www.the-inferno.net/#!membership-and-store or on Facebook or follow them on Twitter @Inferno_FCD.