Rhode Island FC Restores Post-Game Fireworks Tradition
Pawtucket's new soccer team is hosting three fireworks events this season, including for the upcoming Folklore Night on Aug. 9.
Rhode Island FC is hosting three fireworks nights this season, including on Aug 9. (Photo by Justin Theriault)
This year, the city of Pawtucket partnered with Rhode Island FC to hold its official Independence Day fireworks show at Centreville Bank Stadium following the conclusion of Rhode Island FC’s match against Birmingham Legion FC on July 5. The celebration drew a record 10,734 fans to Centreville Bank Stadium, with more than 200 standing-room-only tickets sold. Pawtucket residents not in attendance at the game could catch the action from the Division Street Bridge.
The show was part of Rhode Island FC’s partnership with Rhode Island Energy to bring post-game fireworks back to Pawtucket, a tradition that started under the Pawtucket Red Sox. Fans can not only catch a game but also witness a fireworks display three times during the season. The first of the three-game fireworks series was on June 21, when 7,595 people were in attendance to watch RIFC host Sacramento Republic FC. The last show will take place Aug. 9 during Folklore Night, a themed celebration of pop star (and part-time Rhody resident) Taylor Swift, whose song “The Last Great American Dynasty” is a nod to her holiday house in Westerly.
The themed nights have been a success for the team so far and helped create an electric environment for the fans. July 5’s sell-out crowd rocked the whole stadium as they stomped their feet for every Rhode Island corner kick. Even RIFC’s stoic head coach, Khano Smith, noted the positive environment in his comments after the game.
“First of all, I’ll give a shoutout to the front office. They showed up and sold this place out for us, and it was a good atmosphere,” he says.
The come-from-behind game ended in a draw as RIFC tied it up against Birmingham. Noah Fuson scored a forty-fourth minute goal for a 1-1 finish. Fuson, who was named Player of the Game, credited the crowd with RIFC’s effort through the final whistle.
“To have the support that we have week in and week out is unbelievable,” he says. “To have a record setting attendance here when we’re not doing as well as we should be doing … it’s an incredible privilege that we have the pressure to put on a show for these fans.”
Fuson also recalled meeting a young fan who wore a custom Fuson jersey made with yellow construction paper, glue, tape and marker. The young fan and Fuson exchanged jerseys, a moment between the two that brought the fan to tears.
“To see the emotion, to see what it means to the fans and the kids that are here, to be that person for somebody and to make him sob and be that happy just switching shirts with me is a privilege. I have no words for that. It’s why we play, why we talk to the kids, why we do what we do,” he says.
The July 5 tie against Birmingham along with the team’s loss to the Indy Eleven on July 12 has dropped RIFC to tenth seed in the Eastern Conference. The team will need to climb into the top eight to have a chance at defending their Eastern Conference title. While the ranking isn’t where many fans expected the team to be at this point in this season, observers note that key players such as forward J.J. Williams and goalkeeper Koke Vegas have missed significant time this season due to injuries. RIFC also has fourteen games left on its schedule, leaving plenty of uncertainty for the remainder of the season.
In the meantime, the team continues to strengthen its connection with Rhode Island residents and the city of Pawtucket through its post-game offerings and activities. For its first season at Centreville Bank Stadium, the team has planned themed nights for all but three of the eighteen home games. In addition to the Independence Day celebration on July 5, the game also marked the fiftieth anniversary of Cape Verdean Independence Day. With the purchase of a special ticket, fans could receive a special RIFC scarf that alternated with the Cape Verdean flag on one side. Pawtucket native Maribel Veiga performed the Cape Verdean National Anthem prior to kickoff, and local Cape Verdean-American hip-hop artist, Chachi Carvalho, performed during half-time. It’s one more example of the team’s commitment to engaging the community and trying to make a personal connection through local events.
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