LOS ANGELES — The rumblings of the drums, along with the chants, cheers and big smiles, should indicate one may be in the presence of a very passionate group of soccer fans.

Tory Lathrop, clad in gear, was front and center in the group and was excited to get going.

"We are here for the official summer kickoff party," Lathrop said. "We're gonna take our drums, we're gonna do our chants, and we're here to party."

Lathrop is part of what's called Rebellion 99, a supporters group — not for Major League Soccer, but for the National Women's Soccer League — considered day one fans of the Angel City Football Club.

The group recently took part in the club's official Summer Kickoff Party, riding the metro together from Union Station to Banc of California Stadium, where Angel City will officially kick off in spring 2022.

"I think every time we go and do things, we get people that are like, 'What is this? What's happening?' And we're really good about engaging people and being like, 'Hey, we're all about soccer,'" Lathrop said. "Los Angeles is very sports saturated, but I think this will be a unique moment for LA."

The event was one of dozens Angel City put together over the last year — even though the club hasn't played a game yet. In fact, they don't have a single player on their roster but what they do have is support.

"The momentum of women's soccer has grown, and for us, it's just the right time," Lathrop said. "We had previous teams that had international players that were amazing, but they didn't last, so this is something that is hopefully built to last."

And that's the goal from top to bottom and within the organization itself. The team's head of community, Catherine Dávila, said they originally faced a tough challenge coming into the LA market.

"I mean, the Sparks are amazing, but we all know the history for women's sports isn't great," Dávila said. "We had a professional women's soccer team in our city, and it lasted one season."

Plus, Angel City is the 12th professional sports team in the greater Los Angeles area. To build up a fan base and keep it, the club has made a point to be visible within the community and listen to its supporters.

"It's that continual listening and willingness to evolve our understanding of the community that's a big piece of it," Dávila said. "Ultimately, when it comes to Angel City, what sets us apart is that we are purpose-driven. Doing good drives the business because our communities care, and so do we."

Events and community relationships are the starting blocks for brand building, but to keep fans around long-term, both Dávila and Lathrop pointed to the product Angel City will put out on the pitch.

"When we look at LA and the global market, it's this sense that Angel City is a sports team that is going to compete at the highest level that gets people excited and keeps them excited to see us keep pushing that envelope," Dávila said.

"This club is doing something," Lathrop echoed. "They want to break the mold, the barriers."