The American Outlaws

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This article is about the U.S. Soccer supporters' group. For other uses, see American outlaw.
The American Outlaws
AONewShield.JPG
AbbreviationAO
Established2007
TypeSupporters' group
TeamUnited States of America
PresidentKorey Donahoo
Vice PresidentJustin Brunken
Key people
  • Brian Hexsel (Chapter Chairman & Travel Manager)
  • Megan Brunken (Secretary & Treasurer)
  • Chris Donahoo (Social Media and Event Coordinator)
  • Dan Wiersema (Communications)
Membership30,000+
Colors  Red
WebsiteTheAmericanOutlaws.com

The American Outlaws (abbreviation: AO) are an unofficial supporters' group for the United States men's national soccer team and United States women's national soccer team[1][2] and have been described as "a raucous group of U.S. supporters" by ESPN.[3][4] Founded in 2007 by a group of fans from Lincoln, Nebraska, the group set out to "unite and strengthen" supporters at United States national soccer team games.[5]

Their first appearance was at an international friendly between Brazil and the United States at Soldier Field in Chicago on September 9, 2007 and are now found at every national team game for both the men and women's teams.[6] The group can be readily identified by their red membership shirts, American flag bandanas, and are most often located behind one of the stadiums goals with their banners.[7] They are frequently accompanied by a drum corp made up of members dressed like popular American icons such as George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Captain America, Rocky Balboa, and the Pilgrims.[8]

Organizational structure[]

National organization[]

The national organization is run out of Lincoln, Nebraska and handles the day-to-day operations of the group. The national organization is in charge of domestic ticket requests and all other matters pertaining to U.S. Soccer for members. It develops the various forms of national merchandise like membership kits, T-shirts, and scarves. It is responsible for connecting supporters from around the country through travel and accommodations deals and producing various forms of media content like scouting reports and a podcast.[9][10]

For the 2010 FIFA World Cup it organized a travel package for members planning on going to South Africa.[11] In 2014 they again organized a travel package for Brazil for over 550 members. In 2015, American Outlaws organized their first trip to the Women's World Cup.

The organization is run by Korey Donahoo & Justin Brunken and is supported by several other individuals.[12]

Local chapters[]

The group is organized into local chapters that are established in cities.[13] The local chapters handle local viewing parties, building support for the national team at the local level, and are responsible for organizing festivities & supporters in the event their city hosts a game.[14]

In order to be sanctioned as an official chapter the following are required:

  • A minimum of 35 dues-paying members
  • A base bar where they host viewing parties on a regular basis
  • Establish local leadership group
  • Agree to abide by National Code of Conduct and By-Laws

When chapters are officially sanctioned they receive a chapter banner. Each chapter develops their own crest that connects American soccer with local landmarks and/or individuals. There are currently 203 official chapters and over 30,000 members.

American Outlaws chapters[]

  • AO Adams
  • AO Akron
  • AO Albany
  • AO Albuquerque
  • AO Amarillo
  • AO Anchorage - 180
  • AO Anderson, SC
  • AO Annapolis
  • AO Asheville
  • AO Athens
  • AO Atlanta
  • AO Auburn - 169
  • AO Augusta
  • AO Austin
  • AO Bakersfield - 132
  • AO Baltimore
  • AO Baton Rouge
  • AO Bellingham
  • AO Bethlehem
  • AO Binghamton
  • AO Birmingham - 83
  • AO Blo-No
  • AO Boise
  • AO Boston
  • AO Boulder - 143
  • AO Bowling Green
  • AO Brooklyn
  • AO Bronx
  • AO Bryan/College Station
  • AO Buffalo
  • AO Cedar Rapids
  • AO Central Jersey
  • AO Champaign
  • AO Charleston
  • AO Charlotte
  • AO Charlottesville
  • AO Chattanooga
  • AO Chicago
  • AO Coachella Valley - 158
  • AO Cincinnati
  • AO Cleveland
  • AO Colorado Springs - 153
  • AO Columbia, MO
  • AO Columbia, SC
  • AO Columbus
  • AO Corpus Christi
  • AO Covington, LA
  • AO Dallas
  • AO Danbury - 196
  • AO Dayton
  • AO D.C. - 6
  • AO Denver - 22
  • AO Des Moines
  • AO Detroit
  • AO Durham
  • AO Eau Claire
  • AO El Paso
  • AO Erie
  • AO Evansville
  • AO Fargo
  • AO Fayetteville - 136
  • AO Florence
  • AO Fredericksburg
  • AO Fort Collins - 198
  • AO Fort Lauderdale - 50
  • AO Fort Myers - 73
  • AO Fort Wayne
  • AO Fort Worth
  • AO Fox Valley
  • AO Fresno - 127
  • AO Gainesville - 170
  • AO Grand Rapids
  • AO Great Falls
  • AO Green Bay
  • AO Greensboro
  • AO Greenville, NC
  • AO Greenville, SC
  • AO Harrisburg
  • AO Hartford - 21
  • AO Hattiesburg
  • AO Houston
  • AO Honolulu
  • AO Hudson Valley
  • AO Huntington
  • AO Huntsville - 55
  • AO Indianapolis
  • AO Iowa City
  • AO Inland Empire - 52
  • AO Jackson
  • AO Jacksonville - 32
  • AO Kansas City
  • AO Kearney
  • AO Knoxville
  • AO Lafayette
  • AO Lancaster
  • AO Laredo
  • AO Las Vegas
  • AO Lawrence
  • AO Lexington
  • AO Lincoln
  • AO Little Rock - 107
  • AO London
  • AO Long Beach - 114
  • AO Long Island
  • AO Los Angeles - 13
  • AO Louisville
  • AO Macon
  • AO Madison
  • AO Memphis
  • AO Mexico City
  • AO Melbourne - 191
  • AO Merced - 116
  • AO Miami - 102
  • AO Milwaukee
  • AO Minneapolis/St. Paul
  • AO Missoula
  • AO Mobile - 88
  • AO Modesto - 18
  • AO Montgomery - 130
  • AO Monterey Bay
  • AO Morgantown
  • AO Morristown
  • AO Nashville
  • AO New Haven - 141
  • AO New Orleans
  • AO North New Jersey
  • AO Northern Vermont
  • AO NYC
  • AO Oakland - 172
  • AO Ocean Springs, MS
  • AO Oklahoma City
  • AO Olympia
  • AO Omaha
  • AO Orange County - 39
  • AO Orcutt
  • AO Orlando - 62
  • AO Oshkosh
  • AO Panama City - 139
  • AO Pensacola - 140
  • AO Philly
  • AO Phoenix - 26
  • AO Pittsburgh
  • AO Portland, ME
  • AO Portland, OR
  • AO Providence
  • AO Quad Cities
  • AO Queens
  • AO Raritan Bay - South Amboy
  • AO Raleigh
  • AO Redding - 195
  • AO Reno
  • AO Richmond
  • AO Rio Grande Valley
  • AO Roanoke
  • AO Rochester
  • AO Sarasota
  • AO Sacramento - 63
  • AO Salt Lake City
  • AO San Antonio
  • AO San Diego - 10
  • AO San Francisco - 37
  • AO San Gabriel Valley - 72
  • AO San Jose - 76
  • AO San Luis Obispo - 186
  • AO San Marcos
  • AO Santa Barbara - 177
  • AO Santa Maria - 70
  • AO Santa Monica - 133
  • AO Santa Rosa - 188
  • AO Sarasota - 167
  • AO Saratoga Springs
  • AO Savannah
  • AO Seattle
  • AO Shreveport, LA
  • AO Sioux City
  • AO Sioux Falls
  • AO South Bay
  • AO Spokane
  • AO Springfield, IL
  • AO Springfield, MO
  • AO St. Louis
  • AO St. Pete - 149
  • AO Staten Island
  • AO Syracuse
  • AO Tacoma
  • AO Tallahassee - 122
  • AO Tampa - 17
  • AO Toledo
  • AO Topeka
  • AO Trenton
  • AO Tri-Cities, WA
  • AO Tucson - 33
  • AO Tulsa
  • AO Tuscaloosa - 176
  • AO Virginia Beach
  • AO Westchester
  • AO Western Mass
  • AO West Palm Beach - 162
  • AO Wichita
  • AO Williamsburg
  • AO Wilmington
  • AO Winston-Salem
  • AO Youngstown

[15]

Controversy[]

The American Outlaws have drawn controversy for: for profit, pay the leadership to travel and their "frat boy" culture which has alienated female members as the organization has expanded.[16][17] In response to the allegations, The American Outlaws created "AO Watch", which allows fans to report misbehavior by American Outlaw supporters during games.[17] The group has also tried to take measures to stop racism and sexism from its members before it happens, including an attempt to ban the "puto" chant, which leadership noted was homophobic and against their Code of Conduct.[17]

Gallery[]

  • American Outlaws tailgate outside Rose Bowl before 2011 Gold Cup Final

  • Tifo display organized by American Outlaws before U.S. vs Spain at Gillette Stadium

  • Tifo display organized by American Outlaws during U.S. vs Haiti at Gillette Stadium

  • American Outlaws section before U.S. vs Czech Republic at Rentschler Field

References[]

  1. ^ "American Outlaws website".
  2. ^ "CBC article on 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup fans".
  3. ^ "Free Beer Movement Blog article on AO". 20 August 2009.
  4. ^ "ESPN - OTL: Fevered Pitch - Chicago".
  5. ^ "Red Kop Project Article on American Outlaws".
  6. ^ "YouTube video from USA vs Brazil". YouTube.[dead YouTube link]
  7. ^ "US Soccer Federation Best Fan Photo Nominee".
  8. ^ "American Outlaws march to Soldier Field". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20.
  9. ^ "Copy of American Outlaws scouting report" (PDF).
  10. ^ "American Outlaws Podcast".
  11. ^ "American Outlaws World Cup Travel Plans".
  12. ^ Burnton, Simon (2009-12-06). "The Guardian interviews Korey Donahoo". London. Retrieved 2010-05-25.
  13. ^ "Fresno Sports Blog article on American Outlaws".
  14. ^ Goff, Steven (2009-10-08). "Washington Post Article on DC Chapter Viewing Party". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 2010-01-16. Retrieved 2010-05-25.
  15. ^ https://www.theamericanoutlaws.com/chapters
  16. ^ Nachman, Gideon (March 12, 2015). "The growing pains of U.S. soccer's dominant supporter's group". Fusion. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  17. ^ a b c Davis, Noah (June 6, 2016). "Beers, bandanas and boos: the American Outlaws' grapple with frat-boy soccer". Fusion. Retrieved March 16, 2018.

External links[]

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