Idaho’s new soccer club kicked off its first season, sparking excitement among local fans. The River Guard hosted a lively watch party in Boise for the game.

BOISE, Idaho — It’s official: Idaho’s new professional soccer club started its inaugural season Friday with a showdown against Sarasota Paradise FC in Florida. But before its scheduled kickoff, an independent support group of the soccer club gathered in Garden City and held a watch party for Athletic Club Boise.

The group, The River Guard, held the watch party in the back room at Brown Beard Brewing. Those attending, in green and black, packed into the community space, anticipating the 5:30 (MT) kick-off. Although the game’s kickoff was delayed, one of the group’s leaders kept the energy up by drumming on a hand drum and leading the chant.

“AC…. Boise!” the crowd screamed with enthusiasm.

“We are pumped, to say pumped is not even enough to say how excited we are, we’ve been waiting for this,” said Manny Perez, the group’s director of marketing.

AC Club’s home field in Boise is at the former Les Bois Park, where they will host their home games. Although the team is playing in Florida, the group said it will host watch parties while the team is on the road. 

“I’m a new fan of AC Boise,” said Sergio Garibay. “I’m excited because it’s our first game ever, first game of the season, but first game in our history. It’s important to begin this new era for Boise and Idaho.”


AC Boise wins its first game in its inaugural season: