LOS ANGELES — Shoulder to shoulder, their voices were loud, eyes on the field and banners raised in the air.
"Dale, dale, dale, LAFC," could be heard throughout Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles, and there was simply no question that the heart of the club was back in full.
What You Need To Know
- The 3252 is LAFC's independent supporters' union, known as one of the most passionate and dedicated in all of Major League Soccer
- Like most fan bases, the last year was extremely difficult for the 3252, who wasn't able to experience game days at home for the better part of almost two years
- In addition, the union lost its vice president, Mauricio Fascio, to COVID-19 in late March
- Every game day, the 3252 has worked to honor "Mo" with armbands, flags and banners to remember his spirit and legacy
After nearly two years away, Major League Soccer in LA feels back to normal to Josef Zacher, the first president of the team's supporters union known as 3252.
"When it comes to a club, the supporters are everything," he said. "Why? Because it's the identity."
Sure, LAFC — like the rest of the MLS — played out their season last year during the COVID-19 pandemic. But without the supporters or 3252 crowding the North End, it was a very different scene.
Soccer fans will be the first to tell you that in this sport, the fans are just as much a part of the game-day experience as the players.
"In terms of other sports, they tend to be franchises," Zacher said. "You get an extension, and you move on, but football is deeper than that. For us, it was torture."
And while the full return to the Banc in May was a long-awaited one, as Patrick Aviles — the club's director of brand and community — explained, it was also a bittersweet return.
"During COVID, we lost Mo Fascio," he said. "He was a brother to all of us. No matter who you were, players, fans, staff, everybody knew Mo."
Mauricio Fascio was the vice president of 3252. He was a victim of COVID-19 and passed away in late March. Fascio was known as more than just one of the thousands who stand together at every homestand and root on their club, he was an example of all that LAFC was and wanted to be.
"He really exuded what this club was about in being inclusive, welcoming and just passionate about football," Aviles said.
While losing the ability to come together at matches taught Aviles, Zacher and the rest of 3252 an important lesson in not taking anything for granted, it was losing their brother and friend that drove the lesson home even deeper.
"Now we know you can't take anything for granted," Zacher said. "We lost our brother. We're never gonna see him again, but we can remember him, fight for him and sing for him."
Every home match since his passing, the supporters have done just that. Fascio can't be there in person any longer, but look up to the North End, and he's definitely there in spirit.
"It was essential to honor him every day," Zacher said. "This season is dedicated to Mo and everyone else who died in this pandemic."