As the sport of soccer continues to grow in the United States, there’s been an organization at the forefront of that trend: The American Outlaws.
Andrew Diaz founded the city of Gainesville’s chapter of the American Outlaws in 2012 with the goal of building the town’s soccer culture.
The group hosts watch parties for U.S. soccer games at Gainesville House of Beer, located at 19 W. University Ave., with the intention of creating a lively atmosphere for soccer fans.
And the atmosphere was apparent on Sunday, when the United States Women’s National Team beat Japan in the Women’s World Cup Final 5-2 to win the country’s first World Cup title since 1999.
"We had a great turnout for the match. It was a lot of fun," chapter Vice President Benjamin Swartz said. "The atmosphere overall was electric. Typically with other sports you’d have to go to other stadiums, but with the American Outlaws … they’re able to create that electrifying sense of sportsmanship and community in the local bars and restaurants."
Diaz, hailing from South Florida where there are multiple chapters of the American Outlaws, joined the group in 2011 before chapters were established around the area.
He wanted to bring that culture from South Florida to Gainesville.
"It just kind of made sense that we needed a chapter (in Gainesville)," Diaz said. "I believe (in) that culture that we had in South Florida, as far as having a place to go to watch all the U.S. games."
Diaz was accepted to the University of Florida where he majored in sport management, but he noticed that the city of Gainesville lacked an opportunity to give fans of the sport a place where they could gather and watch soccer.
"I think that’s one of my main goals in getting a degree is to help build soccer culture in the U.S.," Diaz said, "and I thought starting a chapter in Gainesville was one of the first big steps in the right direction."
Since March 2014, the group has used Gainesville House of Beer as its home base.
Early on, Diaz said he could easily count how many people were in the chapter, but since there are people constantly joining, Diaz estimates that there could be more than 60 people who have joined since the chapter’s creation.
"We’ve grown every match," Diaz said. "Everybody gets to come out and see the culture, the atmosphere, going out and enjoying the games with us and it’s a beautiful thing. It’s something that I’m definitely glad that we brought to Gainesville."
The chapter officially became part of the American Outlaws in April, and Diaz said they couldn’t have done it without the help of the people of Gainesville.
"They’ve really helped us get out in the spotlight and get some more exposure and be really supportive," Diaz said.
"What fan wouldn’t want to go into a bar or a restaurant or establishment where everyone is pulling for the same team you are, and it just so happens to be America?"
While the Women’s World Cup is over, there isn’t going to be a break for the chapter.
The U.S. Men’s National Team opens play in the CONCACAF Gold Cup against Honduras at 9:30 p.m.
Swartz will be leading the chapter at House of Beer as they keep trying to expand the group while Diaz cheers from the stands at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.
"We’re hoping just to get as many passionate fans and new fans of the sport, old fans of the sport just to come out and support the Red, White and Blue," Swartz said.
Benjamin Swartz, the 31-year-old vice-president of the Gainesville chapter of American Outlaws, leads a chant supporting the US women's soccer team's 5-2 victory over Japan on Saturday. "We are the US!" chanted fans in Gainesville House of Beers.
