We Welcome ALL United Fans to our FREE Tailgate
OK, you’ve clicked the Tailgate link and now you’re here looking for the typical information of who, what, when, where and how you can participate.
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WHO |
La Barra Brava is a family of people from all walks of life who are expressive and passionate about DC United futbol. Family means a lot to us, so we don’t use the word loosely. You will be welcome if you support DC or are new to the game. |
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WHAT |
The tailgate is a pregame fiesta of sharing food, drink, music, laughter and storytelling. It has an undeniable, undulating rhythm that conjures smiles from even the darkest visages on the blackest day. Our membership provides the victuals. |
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WHEN |
The tailgate begins, more or less, about three hours before kickoff; more on a weekend, less on a school night. Time and weather are not that big a deal. Specific minutes and hours seem suspended until about 45 minutes or a half-hour before kickoff when the collective mass indicates that it’s time to pack up and head in for the game. We adapt to the weather. La Barra’s fiesta is an elemental expression that revels in whatever Mother Nature throws at us, whether it is 10 degrees (F) or 100 degrees, precipitating or sunny. You will find that some of the best stories are born in climatic chaos. |
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WHERE |
Our tailgating area is easy to find. With RFK and the pedestrian tunnel at your back head toward the Southwest Freeway exit, go past the Screaming Eagles’ canopies and about 200 yards later look for the locos on your right. Entering Lot 8 from the Freeway and going toward the stadium, the tailgate is on your left just before you arrive at the paved parking spaces. |
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HOW TO PARTICIPATE |
Show up. Not extroverted? No problem -- work up the will to introduce yourself to one of us (maybe by email or BigSoccer private message), and we’ll show you around until you seem to be comfortably swimming in the ‘maelstrom’.
If you’re not a member, try us on -- you’ll know pretty quickly whether you are Barra. Sample the dishes prepared by La Barra that are on the community table (free to all once it’s on the table). As a member you are encouraged to keep our wonderful tailgate heritage alive by making a contribution. If you are truly Barra, you will naturally want to bring something to share. Do what you can. If money is tight, share your time, e.g., offer to pick up/return the kegs, help Srdan control the flags, etc. One way to wear out your welcome is to never bring anything when you have no good reason for just mooching off your family. Unless your name is Richard, don’t be a Dick! J
Can’t/don’t know how to cook? Bring a bottle and/or watch what our members are cooking – maybe you’ll pick up a culinary talent! Additionally, there always seems to be a strong demand for water, paper towels, charcoal and ladies! J
In fact, do yourself a favor and bring a few beers and water of your own because the kegs are always drained pretty quickly.
We look forward to sharing recipes and ideas with you. |
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HOW TO PLAN OR COORDINATE |
Contrary to urban legend, La Barra can put on its “Oh Face” when discussing organization! J In the days leading up to a match, check out the Barra Brava forum in the DC United section of BigSoccer. There will usually be a discussion thread about the upcoming tailgate. |
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QUESTIONS |
We recommend that you post questions in the Barra Brava forum on BigSoccer. However, if you want to talk to some of the veteran tailgaters, send an email to
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or go to the contact us page
If you’re at a tailgate with questions, ask for GrillMaster, Scruggsie, Duffman, Pops or any of the ‘elders’ like Chico, Red&Black, Begbie and Oscar.
Hasta luego/until then! Ciao. |
Gain the total Barra Brava experience.
 The cerveza is flowing, there's a strange mix of music, our flags are unfurled, our drums are readied for battle, there's the amazing smell of good food sizzling on a grill and laughter wafts from our circle of cars and trucks positioned in Lot 8.
The concept of the Barra Brava tailgate is straightforward and simple. We subscribe to the motto of working to live well, not living to work. We celebrate life exactly the way we celebrate our love of futbol. We're loud, we're passionate, and yes… at times we're a bit scary. However, what may surprise you is our openness.
At first glance a Barra Brava tailgate may look like a band of marauding hooligans, but when you come in and take a closer look you'll see a diverse group of friends bonded by soccer passion. We have jobs, families and interests aside from soccer (really… we do) but we cherish the time we spend celebrating our favorite sport. We share our food and drink plus we support each other and DC United.
 An outsider may think there might be little in common between this band of Bolivians, Americans, Columbians, Italians, Scots, Hondurans and Spaniards…but there certainly is. We learn so much from each other. This melting pot of great football cultures makes us all richer in the long run.
Our primary goal as a supporter group is to support United and all of our members not just a chosen few. It's also our goal to give back more than we receive from our members, whether it's through ticket discounts, meeting players, flags, jerseys or free beer now and then.
It's a fact that all supporter clubs need to make a bit of money to cover costs…but we strive to return that money back to our members providing them with things that enhance their game day experience.
Our leadership is accessible and, if you haven't noticed, our organization is a bit free flowing. We try not to over-organize to.
La Barra Brava recognizes that the most important time for a quality supporters group is when a team is struggling -- not when it's winning championships every year. There's never a shortage of fans that flock to a champion, but it takes a special type of fan to stick with a team in bad times. Look around at the people surrounding you in RFK. Were they there for every game in 1997 as well as every game in 2001? Many in our ranks have seen the same faces surrounding them since 1996.
La Barra Brava has been and will always be a true melting pot of cultures, nationalities, colorful characters and races---it works the way America is designed to work. Sure the types of faces may ebb and flow but the tradition remains and the foundations remain. Over 25 different nationalities are represented in La Barra Brava.
Join us at our tailgate and gain the total Barra Brava experience.
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Tailgate 
