Member Spotlight: Bridge Brigade

Independent SC
2 days ago
3 min read

Since their founding in 2023, they’ve quickly become a

strong and visible part of the Bay FC community, blending creativity,

inclusivity, and a deep sense of local pride. From colorful tailgates and

marches to meaningful community outreach, Bridge Brigade continues to

grow their presence while staying true to their mission of bringing people

together. We sat down with them to hear their story.

ISC: What’s the story behind the name of your group, and when was it founded?

BB: When Bridge Brigade was formed, a lot of people said we should have a name that included bridges in it. Besides the world renowned Golden Gate Bridge, there are other bridges that connect the area. People submitted names and Bridge Brigade was selected.

ISC: What inspired the formation of the group?

BB: A group of friends came together to create Bridge Brigade in 2023 after NWSL announced that a team would be coming to the SF Bay Area.

ISC: How has the group grown or changed over time?

BB: Bridge Brigade are in their second season, so there has been a change in our membership as people learn more of the function of a supporters group. It’s to be expected as people figure out whether or not we are for them.

ISC: Describe your matchday setup – where do you gather, what’s the vibe like?

BB: We normally tailgate for every home game starting 3 hours before kick off. Tailgates are a community effort, so it is a combination of potluck and group provided provisions. We have a beer keg provided by San Francisco Brewing and a small bar. Every tailgate has a theme and we try to keep it fun. We have community partners join us and all away supporters are welcome to join us.

We do a march to the match 45 minutes before kick off. Everyone is welcome to join us. We have drums, banners, flags, and deploy smoke.

ISC: Do you have any pre-game or post-game rituals?

BB: We deploy smoke when the players walk out on their pre-game procession. Post game, if Bay FC wins, we deploy smoke and we have a specific song we sing. We are able to select the Player of the Match, so we coordinate with Bay FC for a member to go on field and award a Player of the Match scarf. The team also comes over to us and waves while we sing our signature song.

ISC: What kind of outreach or community involvement does your group do?

BB: We regularly host 3-5 watch parties across the greater San Francisco Bay Area for every away game and have great bar partners. We have participated in two Prideraiser campaigns collectively raising nearly $3500 for local LGBTQ+ organizations. This year we partnered with San Francisco Spikes Soccer Club, a nonprofit LGBTQ+ soccer team.

We have also participated in Relay for Life, fundraising for a cancer, a cause very dear to many members of our group.

During the summer, we were invited to participate in a supporters futsal tournament and have a booth at the One Year to World Cup 2026 event put on by the Bay Area Host Committee.

Recently, we hosted a virtual Know Your Rights session where one of our members shared what rights and protections we have regardless of immigration status.

ISC: What are your hopes for the supporters' group as it continues to grow?

BB: We hope to continue a positive growth trajectory and fill our section at PayPal Park with highly engaged and dedicated members. We also want to drive forward a travel culture for our club and be a force on the road and away. We are in the process of seeking our nonprofit status and hope to leverage this to grow our community impact.

Bridge Brigade shows what happens when passion meets purpose. In just two seasons they’ve established a vibrant matchday culture, built meaningful community partnerships, and created space for supporters across the Bay to come together. Their commitment to both the team and their community makes them an inspiring part of the ISC family. We’re excited to see how they continue to grow, both in the stands and in the community, in the years ahead.

Want your supporter group to be featured next?

Reach out to RJ Montano on Slack or email membership@officialisc.com and

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