7 Things I Look Forward to this Season (Beyond the Soccer)

by Annamaria Lu

For fans, the start of the new MLS season brings a lot of hope and questions: Will we have a winning season? Will we do well enough to make the playoffs? After CITY's rough 2024 season and inaugural 2023 Cinderella story, I've learned that being a fan means looking forward to the experience, win or lose. Here's 7 things I'm looking forward to this season, so far.

1. Damn Fine Hand Pies at the Stadium

I was able to attend the announcement of the new food partners at Energizer Park last Tuesday. We were able to sample some of the food from each of the new vendors. Of the four new partners - Bolyard's, Pappy's Smokehouse, Chicken Scratch, and Damn Fine Hand Pies - Damn Fine Hand Pies blew me away. Both the buffalo chicken hand pie and the CITY celebration donut were so incredible that I got seconds. The buffalo chicken hand pie was a perfectly crusty, flaky pie with a generous, not-too-spicy buffalo chicken filling. The CITY celebration donut was clever and represents the CITY SC colors through raspberry glaze with lemon and blueberry drizzles. It's a cake donut that is slightly crispy on the outside and melt-in-your-mouth soft on the inside. Damn Fine Hand Pies is also located right outside the Supporters Section, so that's pretty much perfect.

2. The Street Parties

We are lucky to have so many options of fun street parties before the matches. I personally usually hit up Pepper Lounge, where the Saint Louis City Punks and STL Santos host their street party. Sometimes Santos bring a piñata for us to hit filled with goodies. The Pepper Lounge staff are welcoming and there is a wide assortment of drinks, more than at the larger one put on by The Louligans and other groups by Schlafly. However, the larger Schlafly street party does have the benefit of usually having multiple different food trucks. There also is the CITY Pregame Block Party on Lou Fusz Plaza with musical entertainment and freebies.

3. The Pregame Hype Video

I am pretty sure that by this point I have a Pavlovian response to Muse's Uprising. I get chills and goosebumps every time (and no, last night it wasn't just because of the cold!) The hype sequence is my favorite part of the pregame content, and this year no exception. Compared to past years, it relies more on footage of the team playing. The 2024 hype video was the only one I could find in high quality on YouTube, and I felt it was more sentimental and fan-oriented than this season's. The music choice of Start a Riot by Duckwrth and Shaboozey is a perfect pick, and I'm going to love hearing it every pregame.

4. Introducing Friends to Soccer through CITY SC

Each season, I've had the opportunity and pleasure to introduce new friends to soccer through CITY games, and this year is no exception. My first experience of an MLS game was FC Cincinnati in August 2022 versus Atlanta United, and it was in their Supporters Section. I was enthralled because I had never had a fan experience like that before, and I jumped onto cheering for CITY SC leading up to the inaugural season. I'm convinced that the best way to go to your first game is to stand in the Supporters Section if you're able to. I already have a few friends this season I'm trying to take. My hope is they will become just as big of fans as me.

5. Waving a Flag in the Supporters Section

If you're lucky enough to stand in the Supporters Section, you've experienced the chaotic balance of watching a game through waving flags as you're singing (and sometimes dancing). That section is always a big party put on by the fans for the team, and it's electric to be in that environment. I have multiple friends who wave flags in the section, and I'm looking forward to getting a chance to do it myself in one of these games for the experience!

6. The Fan Artistic Talent Modeled in Our Tifos

I always like seeing the tifo displays put on by the different supporters groups, as they can be very clever and fun. We had a strong start to the season with a Star Wars themed tifo created by St. Louis City Punks. I'll admit it was gorgeous (even though I hate Star Wars.) Tifos are just such a labor of love made by the fans for the team, and the amount of hard work and care put into them from start to finish is inspiring. 

7. MLS Memes

While not directly related to our beloved CITY SC, the start of the new MLS season means that the Facebook page MLS Memes is back in action. Their irreverent and hilarious memes poke fun at all the different teams through wins and losses, and they've especially got a bone to pick with Inter Messi and LAFC. It's entertaining to see when teams make Karl's Dreaded List, a collection of the teams who blow a 2 point or more lead.