Empire Supporters Club

The Empire Supporters Club, or ESC, is the oldest and largest supporters club dedicated to Red Bull New York of Major League Soccer. The club was started in 1995 by members of the New York City Firm (the former supporters group for the defunct A-League team the New York Centaurs). Its name reflects the soccer club's original name, "Empire Soccer Club", as the supporters' club inception came before the "MetroStars" name. The club has continued to support MetroStars after they were re-branded as the New York Red Bulls.

Prior to New York Red Bulls home matches, the ESC tailgate takes place in parking lot 16-A at Giants Stadium. During games, supporters stand in section 101 of Giants Stadium, directly above the player's entrance tunnel, and support the club with songs and chants. For most away games and US men's national team games, the ESC organizes viewing parties, usually at Stout NYC pub in New York City. The club also organizes bus trips for certain away games (particularly matches against neighboring teams New England Revolution and D.C. United, and likely in 2010 to the new MLS Philadelphia franchise).

ongs

The ESC has done hundreds of chants throughout the years. The ESC mainly chants in English but also in Spanish because of the large number of Spanish speakers in the group. Popular English songs include "Stand by Me", "We Love You", "As Long As I'm Breathing", "Everywhere We Go" and "No Cojones". Popular Spanish songs include "Soy De Metro", "Ole Ole Ola" and "Metro, Mi Buen Amigo". Most chants still refer to the team as "Metro" despite the fact that the team changed its name from the MetroStars to Red Bull New York in 2006.

External links

* [http://www.empiresupportersclub.com/ ESC official website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/empiresc ESC MySpace]
* [http://www.observer.com/2007/red-bulls-fan-club-gets-loud-english-style?page=0%2C0 New York Observer Article]
* [http://www.metrofanatic.com/index.jsp MetroFanatic.com]