From Giants Stadium to Red Bull Arena
Section 101 began at Giants Stadium in 1996. ESC claimed it before anyone else knew what a supporters section should look like in American soccer. The acoustics were terrible — sound drifted up into the Meadowlands rafters — but the energy was unmistakable.
In 2009, the move to Red Bull Arena in Harrison, NJ changed everything. Section 101 is now behind the south goal, a purpose-built stadium where the supporters' voice actually carries. The South Ward — sections 101, 102, and 132 — became the collective heartbeat of matchday.
"There was definitely a sensibility that things weren't really there to be controlled by MLS... That anarchistic sensibility pervaded the club early on." — Ben Poremski, founding member
The Chants
ESC borrowed songs from supporter cultures around the world — the UK, Italy, Argentina, Spain — and adapted them for New York. The result was a hybrid sound that was uniquely American and unmistakably ESC.
"You Suck Asshole" (YSA)
Perhaps the most infamous chant in MLS history. Directed at opposing goalkeepers during goal kicks. The YSA chant is widely reported to have originated with ESC at Giants Stadium, though its exact origins are debated.
Controversy: MLS and clubs have repeatedly asked supporters groups to drop YSA. ESC has resisted — the chant is part of the culture, for better or worse.
"We're Shit and We Know We Are"
A self-deprecating chant sung to the tune of "Go West" — acknowledging the MetroStars' struggles while refusing to stop singing. It's funny because it's true.
"One Shoe"
A spontaneous chant born when a MetroStars player scored with only one shoe on. The kind of moment that only happens in the stands — and only sticks because the crowd makes it stick.
"We'd take these songs that we'd borrowed, from people taking trips to the UK, songs from Italy, from Argentina or Spain." — Ben Poremski
Tifo & Banner Culture
ESC has been producing banners and tifo displays since the earliest days. From hand-painted bed sheets to coordinated card displays, the visual presence of Section 101 has always been part of the identity.
In 2014, the South Ward produced a massive tifo reading "Our Hearts Bleed Red For Our Home" — a declaration of loyalty to the team and the community despite the Red Bull rebrand.