CINCINNATI — If you’ve been to an FC Cincinnati game, it’s hard not to notice The Bailey — the fan section that keeps the crowd engaged the entire 90 minutes.
But there’s a lot more to who’s behind the chants and music that helped this team to its historic season.
What You Need To Know
- FC Cincinnati has several fan supporter groups that make sure the environment at TQL Stadium is top-notch
- The Knights of the Bailey is one of those groups and makes sure there are drummers and capos, or the leaders of the chants, at every match
- The drummers play the entire 90 minutes of every home game
- The fans say supporting the team through the bad years has been worth it to see such a successful season this year
It starts with a march and some chants as the Knights of the Bailey FC Cincinnati supporters group make their way through Over-The-Rhine to TQL Stadium.
Drummer Tiffany Brumberg has been drumming up support since year one.
“They said, ‘hey if you know how to play, here’s some sticks, let’s do it,’” Brumberg said.
Since then, Brumberg has been a faithful member of the Knights, marching over a mile each game to the stadium before drumming over 90 minutes, which makes for a tough day after.
“Definitely the back is sore, the knees are sore, the hands are sore,” she said. “Lots of water after that because you’re putting so much into it. It’s not just drumming, it’s the cheering and everything else and that emotion afterwards, especially after a win, especially this year. You’re at that high and then you feel it the next day, like I’m really sore, like if we were out there playing soccer with the guys.”
But Brumberg isn’t the only one that brings the energy, it’s also the capos.
“Here we just lead the chants and get the crowd going,” Darin Russell, one of the capos, said.
Russell makes sure the chants are loud and represent the team and city in the best way possible.
“We have a philosophy of going 90 minutes plus, so that plus being in stoppage time or going extra time or even the philosophy of off the field representing the community well. It’s just about digging deep and keep going and rallying,” Russell said.
For Russell, being a capo is a way to share his energy.
“Just an outlet of making noise and throwing all my energy into it, it’s where I feel like I really shine,” he said. “I get to smile and have a good time and just be loud all day.”
And for these fans, it’s a way to celebrate the success of this team, winning the Supporter’s Shield and securing the number one seed in the Eastern Conference.
“Being able to go put those bad years and do it this year and see how many more people are getting involved with it, it’s one of those where we can stand back and go look at this,” Brumberg said. “Look at what has been created with this town, with this team. It’s just inspiring.”
Fans are gearing up to support the orange and blue through what they hope is a long playoff run.
“I’ve got my gloves ready,” Brumberg said. “We’re ready to do some more chanting and get this team going.”
It’s also a celebration of the fan base.
“It gives you that feeling of family, being here,” Brumberg said.
FC Cincinnati plays the New York Red Bulls in the team’s first MLS Cup Playoff game Sunday night at 8 p.m. at TQL Stadium.