Beyond The North End:
A Dive Into The 3252

On Oct. 30, 2014, Major League Soccer announced a new expansion team in Los Angeles, a decision that would soon revolutionize the role of fans in American sports. 

Each gameday, in the heart of Los Angeles, what is normally a quiet grass field sitting outside of the Coliseum torch erupts with an explosive wave of black and gold as Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) fans surround the gates of BMO Stadium. Standing together carrying large hand-painted banners, spewing team colored smoke, and banging various drums, these fans do not go unnoticed.

Together they make up the devoted group known as The 3252, an independent supporters union made up of nine individual chapters and several unofficial groups from across the Los Angeles area dedicated to building one of the most competitive home-field advantages in Major League Soccer, all in support of LAFC.

Following the announcement of the club, several supporter groups began to form alongside previously established groups from Chivas USA, a prior MLS team from the greater Los Angeles area that ceased operation after the 2014 regular season. Officially unveiled by LAFC during a 2017 fan rally, just one year before the club’s inaugural season, The 3252 was born.

The origins of the supporters union are unique, said LA native Jose Salcedo, a member of the District 9 Ultras, one of the oldest supporter groups of the union, who recalled being one of the few original fans there during the announcement of the franchise, a period he referred to as “Day Zero” back in the fall of 2014. 

Photo Credit: Jacob Navarro

It was during this time that he had a conversation with then LAFC president Tom Penn about a sense of belonging for fans–one where they can feel a part of the club themselves. When asked what fans wanted to feel involved in this new project, Salcedo didn’t request a plaque or sign on the stadium wall, but a block of cement, one that would be signed by all original fans and placed underneath the stadium pitch, a request that remains granted to this day. It was these conversations with fans that also helped shape the team’s identity, including the colors of the crest and the layout of the stadium’s 3,252-seat supporter section, which fans call “The North End.” 

Salcedo is one of a few LAFC fans who traveled to Germany to experience Borussia Dortmund’s fan culture where he found inspiration from their “Yellow Wall,” which helped shape The North End. He said they’re not just building fan clubs, but setting a foundation throughout Southern California, one that will connect fans for generations. 

“I'm very proud that my kids are going to be able to tell their kids ‘Your grandfather was here since day one,’” Salcedo said. “And inside that stadium in the middle,” he added, “there's a block of cement signed by your grandfather.” 

What once began as a shared love for the city and the idea for a new team had quickly become something far more personal for The 3252 and its members. It has grown to become a visual display of the melting pot that is Los Angeles. A place where different cultures and communities can stand shoulder to shoulder as the world's game continues to gain popularity in the United States. 

From the first match that LAFC played against the Seattle Sounders in 2018, “it took 90 minutes for them to revolutionize what fan support and club support was like in Major League Soccer,” said J.R. Lebert, host of the Defenders of the Banc podcast.

When they’re not traveling to support their team on the road, each supporter group hosts their own away-game watch parties that allow fans to gather and support their team while they’re away. For many, this has also provided an opportunity for new fans to experience the thrill of The North End before ever going to a game. 

One of their biggest events occurred on Mar. 21, 2026, as the union made their way to Ontario airport for their second annual ONT x LAFC watch party against Austin FC. The party was hosted in an airport hangar with several fans arriving early to hang up the banners seen at each game. With hundreds in attendance, it marked yet another special occasion for The 3252, one where all supporter groups can unite again under one roof and celebrate their love for LAFC.

“Our main focus is to spread this culture that we have,” said Mauricio Nuñez The 3252 Community Outreach Director and member of the Empire Boys supporter group based in the Inland Empire. “We try to hit up different cities to set up watch parties at different breweries, pizza places. We're also family-oriented. Anybody can come and watch a game and create the same atmosphere that we have in The North End,” Nuñez said. 

For many, this shared sense of belonging has become a deep personal factor extending far beyond casual sports fandom. It has become an outlet where Angelinos, both young and old, can come together and represent something greater than just supporting their favorite football team. 

“I've lived in Los Angeles all my life. And I've never felt pride over a sports team. I've never had love for a sports team like I have for Los Angeles Football Club. And that's, I think that's, it's more than a game, it's more than a sport, it's more than just football,” said longtime Cuervos supporters group member Ramon Ruiz. “It's community, it's passion, it's loyalty, it's support, it's like, feeling like you're a part of something bigger.”

Since LAFC’s inaugural season, public interest has grown rapidly as the team remained a consistent leader in overall ticket sales. According to MLS attendance data, BMO Stadium has continuously operated at near full capacity, averaging over 22,000 fans in six out of eight complete seasons, a statistic that continues to grow to this day. Entering the 2026 season, The 3252 have followed the club as they made history as their home opener against Inter Miami CF drew in a record-breaking 75,673 fans, marking the highest attended season opener and second highest attended game in MLS history.