The Bolivian Diaspora in the Rise and Fall of the First Supporters Group in Major League Soccer: Losing Home

This chapter examines the development of the Barra Brava, the Bolivian diaspora, and its commitment to supporting D.C. United in a then-unprecedented way for soccer fans in the United States. Situated within the rhetoric of place, identity, and ritual this examination of the Barra Brava highlights the contributions the Bolivian diaspora made to the unique supporter culture that emerged at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. However, when the economic demands of Major League Soccer and the team shifted away from RFK stadium, moving to and occupying a new state-of-the-art venue, the Barra Brava lost not only its official standing as a key element of the club's support but also its sense of place and identity. This chapter concludes by assessing how the commodification and commercialization of sport led to the demise of the Barra Brava and the distinctive form of support it provided.