This is the second of a four-part series highlighting FC Dallas’ Supporters Groups.
The Dallas Beer Guardians are comprised of many types of fans: soccer savvy people, people who are new to the sport, casual fans and rowdy fans. This mix produces the most unique sports atmosphere in North Texas – the wild, flag-waving, chanting sections of fans in the Budweiser Beer Garden.
“With us being behind the north goal, we have the opportunity for one half to give the opposing goalkeeper a little bit of a hard time, to say the least, and that's when our individual creative juices start flowing,” said DBG President Kasey Baker. “I think the goalkeeper heckling is one of the more comical aspects of our group but when it comes to our songs, we all chant as a unit and are working on becoming more organized in that respect.”
Since the last season ended, the Dallas Beer Guardians, presented by Budweiser, has seen exponential growth and is currently sitting at 268 members. There will be an increase in available field level seating – home of the Beer Guardians – that will nearly double their 285 seats from last year.
It’s the sense of camaraderie of the DBG that brings members back to the stadium for every game.
“It’s this kind of friendship that drives us to continue to make DBG bigger and better,” said Baker, “When we started the group, our expectations were to have 55 total members at the end of the season. We reached 55 by the 2nd game and ended up with over a 100 for [2012].”
This season the Guardians will jump into exciting new events and projects off-the-pitch: a revamped tailgate experience backed by sponsors, 3 v 3 tournament benefiting Delete Blood Cancer, a FIFA 13 tournament which will take place during the opening day 24-hour-tailgate on March 1, as well as a Susan G. Komen walk team, Frisco Hope Park event and the Dallas and Fort Worth away game watch parties.
The Guardians are, for the most part, a group of people that have only known each other for one year. But what started out as a group of strangers has evolved into a rowdy, FC Dallas-loving family. It doesn't matter if FCD is playing or not on any specific weekend, you can expect there to be a DBG outing.
Bottom line: no one wants to watch a game alone – it’s more fun with a group of people, and that’s where DBG makes its mark.
“We look for anyone that is willing to get behind our hoops and do it with a beer in hand,” Baker said.
For more information on DBG or how to become a member, go to http://www.wix.com/dallasbeerguardians/home, check them out on Facebook at Facebook.com/DallasBeerGrdns or Twitter @DallasBeerGrdns.