More than the match

Chants and chatter filled the air as swarms of black and pink jerseys entered M&T Bank stadium on Saturday evening. One voice rang loudly amongst the cloud, leading D.C. United’s flagship chant.

“Vamos, Vamos United. Esta noche, tenemos que ganar.”

Then came the opposing chant from the other side of the crowd.

“Messi! Messi! Messi.”

Fans were preparing to see D.C. United face off against Lionel Messi and Inter Miami in a Major League Soccer (MLS) week three matchup. Although the match was meant to be a home game, D.C. United officials relocated to M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore to accommodate for the expected surge in ticket sales driven by Messi’s presence.

For the first time ever, MLS was in Baltimore. The stadium, typically home to the Baltimore Ravens, hosted a record-breaking 72,026 fans, a new home attendance record for D.C. United.

Although kick-off was at 4:30 p.m., the day started much earlier for most fans.

“I’m a DCU fan, but I’m also really excited to see Messi,” Rolando Garzona said while boarding a bus at Pentagon City. Dozens of D.C. United season ticket members had taken the club up on offer for bus transportation to and from Baltimore for the game.

Buses began loading at 1 p.m. in multiple pick-up locations in and around the district. The hour-long bus ride that nearly doubled in time due to traffic, turned into a mobile pregame celebration. Fans warmed up their voices by signing a few D.C. chants and chatted across the aisles, discussing previous seasons and potential lineups for the day’s match.

Some shared their diehard support for D.C. United while other shyly admitted that they hoped to see a Messi goal.

Garzona is not a season ticket holder himself but attended the match with his son, something he said made the experience even more memorable.

Rolando has been watching Messi play for the past two decades, following his career most closely during his time at FC Barcelona.

“This is a very big game to me,” Rolando said. “I’m finally getting to see a player who I have watched and admired on TV for years and years. And today we will be in the same stadium.”

Another fan shared that she had been a season ticket holder since 2011. A neighboring supporter one-upped her, proudly stating his family has had season tickets since 1999.

For many, the matchday experience was just as much about the palpable energy leading up to the game as it was about the final result.

Ultimately, D.C. United fell to Inter Miami 1-2. But this evening was less about the scoreboard and more about the experience: longtime supporters, new fans, and curious spectators all coming together for the 90-minute match and becoming part of a historic crowd.

For one night, Baltimore became a soccer city, and that’s thanks to the fans who made it possible.