Empire Supporters Club
First. Last. Forever.
The ESC songbook — borrowed from around the world, adapted for New York, and sung for 90 minutes every matchday.
ESC's chants and songs are a patchwork of influences — UK terrace culture, Italian curve, Argentine bombonera, and homegrown originals. We adapted what worked, made it our own, and passed it down through generations of supporters. If you're new to Section 101, learn these. If you're old, teach them.
Note: Many of these are call-and-response chants. Bold lines are led by a capo; regular lines are sung by the crowd.
Style: Straightforward terrace chant — simple, loud, effective. One of the easiest for newcomers to pick up.
Origin: Borrowed from Latin American supporter culture. "Dale" is a call to push forward — fitting for the Metro faithful.
Call and response format. Lines in bold are led by a capo; lines in parentheses are the crowd response.
Style: Classic British-style terrace chant adapted for New York. The call-and-response format builds energy across the section.
Call-and-response chant. Bold = capo; parentheses = crowd.
Origin: Borrowed from Italian forza chants. "Forza" means "go" or "strength" — a staple of European supporter culture brought to Section 101.
Sung to the melody of the Depeche Mode classic. Clap twice on the (clap clap) marks.
Note: A rare chant that sounds sweet but builds into a full-throated roar. The "clap clap" is crucial for timing — watch the capo.
Style: An ESC original combining English and Spanish-language elements. "Dale" runs throughout the ESC songbook as a unifying thread.
Significance: The closest thing ESC has to an anthem. Sung with conviction, it's a declaration of lifelong loyalty — the beating heart of what it means to be Empire Supporters Club.
The following chants are documented in ESC's history but may or may not still be in regular rotation. They're part of the group's DNA regardless:
Perhaps the most infamous chant in MLS history. Directed at opposing goalkeepers during goal kicks. Origins are debated, but widely reported to have started with ESC at Giants Stadium. MLS and clubs have repeatedly asked supporters groups to drop it. ESC has resisted — for better or worse, it's part of the culture.
Sung to the tune of "Go West." A self-deprecating chant acknowledging the MetroStars' struggles while refusing to stop singing. Funny because it's true.
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, founding member
New to Section 101? The best way to learn these chants is to stand with us. Listen to the capo, follow the crowd, and don't worry about getting every word right. What matters is showing up and singing.
Want the full experience? Join us at the tailgate before every home match. The drums start early, and by kickoff, you'll know at least three chants by heart.