Rising fans honor El Paso victims
Groups exchange banners with Locomotive supporters at match
Victims of the mass shooting in El Paso, Texas, were remembered in a few different ways prior to the Phoenix Rising FC match against El Paso Locomotive FC on Saturday at Casino Arizona Field.
El Paso Locomotive FC did not play its scheduled match last weekend in the wake of the tragedy and played Saturday for the first time since the shooting on Aug. 3.
Two Rising FC fan groups, Red Fury and Los Bandidos, brought custom-made banners — also known as tifos — and exchanged them with the El Paso supporters in attendance.
Red Fury’s tifo read, “Love Always Wins / El Paso Strong,” while Los Bandidos’ read, “Fuerza El Paso.”
Phoenix Rising FC held a moment of silence prior to the match to honor the victims.
“One of the reasons why I love soccer is that it gives fans a voice they don’t really have in other sports,” said Michael Vanderplas, an organizer for the Red Fury. “In baseball and football, the announcer tells you when to cheer and stuff like that. I think that soccer is a little bit different and creates a voice for the fans.”
Twenty-two people died and 25 were wounded in the mass shooting in El Paso, Texas, on Aug. 3.
Vanderplas, 31, of Mesa, said the Red Fury was en route to Los Angeles for Phoenix’s road game last weekend when they got the news about the El Paso shooting. Vanderplas said he immediately knew what had to be done.
“I remembered that El Paso was the next game on the schedule and I went right to our leadership group and said we have to do something for this game,” Vanderplas said. “We came up with some designs and got it painted up.”
Vanderplas said the Red Fury already had a great relationship with an El Paso Locomotive FC support group known as 8th Notch and have been in touch with them for the better part of the season, he said.
8th Notch posted on Twitter thanking those around the community for well-wishes and provided a link to the El Paso victims fund.
“Of course we reached out to El Paso and reached out to the league the moment we heard that terrible news,” Phoenix Rising FC Chief Operating Officer Bobby Dulle said by phone. “Our fans, our supporters have had a really established a great relationship with the El Paso fans from games down there.”
Dulle said he was made aware that both of his club’s fan groups had planned to honor the El Paso victims.
“I know both of our supporters’ groups had plans to exchange their tifos and signage with the supporters from El Paso that are traveling here for the game,” Dulle said. “Whether they were directly impacted or indirectly impacted, we care and hope they come out.
“There’s obviously going to be some added emotion since El Paso didn’t play last weekend and they’re out here playing for their community.”
Dulle said that, despite the somber circumstances surrounding Saturday’s match, sports continue to be a way for people to come together for healing.
“I don’t necessarily think it’s just soccer,” Dulle said. “It’s sports in general, right? This is an outlet. It’s entertainment and people are very passionate for sports and general and you have a very passionate fanbase in soccer. For these 90 minutes, whatever is going on in each other’s lives, people can just come out and enjoy the game.
“For us, it’s about bringing everybody
Michael Vanderplas Organizer for the Red Fury
together to unite and inspire the state of Arizona and of course be respectful of the badge, the opponent and the referees.” Phoenix Rising FC, which is the highest-ranking professional soccer team in Arizona, entered play Saturday on a 12match win streak and in first place in the USL Western Conference standings.
“One of the reasons why I love soccer is that it gives fans a voice they don’t really have in other sports. In baseball and football, the announcer tells you when to cheer and stuff like that. I think that soccer is a little bit different and creates a voice for the fans.”