BiculturALLY: The Story Behind CLTFC's Sombrero Man
Hector has been a staple at Charlotte FC games since the very inception of the club. If you’ve ever been to a match or watched CLTFC on TV, chances are you’ve seen him donning his signature sombrero at the head of the supporters’ section. From finding his love for soccer as a kid in Mexico, to becoming a Capo for one of MLS’ latest expansion teams, he exemplifies how the merging of Hispanic and American cultures in soccer has created a richer fandom in the United States. Ahead of Charlotte’s Hispanic Heritage Match this month, we caught up with Hector – who’s also a middle school teacher during the day – to learn about his life as a Capo, his bicultural background, and how bringing elements from both Latino and American cultures makes CLTFC gamedays an unforgettable experience.
You lived in Mexico until you were 15, so you spent most of your formative years over there. What do you remember from growing up in Mexico, and how has your Hispanic culture influenced the person you are today?
Mexican culture has greatly influenced who I am today. Latinos in general are very loving, warm, and welcoming. We love showing affection and helping everyone out. We also like to celebrate our diverse cultures and share that with the people we care about – whether it’s through food, drinks, or music, for example. Soccer is part of that too. It’s part of who we are, and we like to share that amongst our people and with others too. Those are the things I remember most from growing up there. We like to make friends everywhere. I could talk to someone for five minutes and then it’ll feel as if we’ve known each other our entire lives. It doesn’t matter where you’re from, your ethnicity, or your language – the care we have for others is central to our culture. That’s just who we are.
How did the story of the ‘Sombrero Man’ start, and how did you begin supporting Charlotte FC?
I’ve been part of the club since before it was even officially announced. I’d heard rumors swirling about an MLS team coming to Charlotte, and I started following everybody who was involved on Twitter. From the start, I always said I was going to try to get the first seat right behind the goal, and that I’d be there playing the drums, chanting, and supporting the team. Now, I actually get to do all that being a part of Blue Furia and Mint City Collective.
In terms of the sombrero, it all started over 10 years ago at a Charlotte Hornets game. The team was celebrating Hispanic Heritage Night, so I decided to take my sombrero. They started playing music during a timeout, I threw on my hat, and I just started dancing. Everybody in the arena went crazy. Then at the next few games, people started to recognize me – even without the sombrero – so I just started to bring it every time there was a game. I’d just throw the sombrero on and try to cheer everyone up. That’s how everything started.
It’s definitely gained popularity amongst Hornets circles and now Charlotte FC circles. Do your middle school students recognize you at all as the ‘Sombrero Man?’
Yeah, my students know I’m the Sombrero Man. I get a new set of students every year, and there’s always one that asks me if I’m famous. I tell them I’m not famous, but that I am the #1 fan of all Charlotte sports teams and that I always put on my sombrero for games. They usually look me up on Google after that, and they’re shocked when they find my pictures. To me, I’m just another fan, but to them, it’s something fun and special, so that actually helps me gain their respect and they listen to me more attentively after that. It really helps me out that way. It’s also funny that students and parents don’t talk to me as much about other Charlotte teams like the Hornets or Panthers. Sometimes parents and their kids come up to me to tell me they saw me at the Charlotte stadium, or that they heard the chants be super loud on TV. They used to never talk to me about sports, and now they talk about soccer. It’s amazing that they’re supporting the team, and I absolutely love that.
Speaking of being a passionate CLTFC fan and a devoted engineering teacher, do you see any similarities between both of those roles?
I have to admit, it’s easier being a Capo with Charlotte FC than being an engineering teacher in middle school. At school, you have to manage the different personalities of your students, and you have to be very, very patient. At the stadium everybody is there having a good time, throwing beers, singing, and chanting. In the end, it’s much easier to lead 3,500 soccer fans than 28 students. The fans actually listen to me! You know how it is with middle schoolers. But I love doing both, of course.
And there are a lot of similarities between the two. If engineering is all about finding solutions to problems, going to the stadium actually solves all your problems from the week. You let all your stress and anxiety built up in your daily life go. Nothing compares to that sense of relief and happiness you get from jumping up and down with the crowd, chanting, and sharing a beer with your friends while enjoying the match. You can’t beat that feeling. It’s a huge sense of relief for a lot of people, and don’t even get me started on what it’s like when we score. That sense of euphoria is indescribable.
How would you describe that atmosphere that you guys have built?
Being in that stadium is spectacular. At home or at school, I might be the only one who lives, breathes, and eats soccer in the way that I do. That’s just who I am, and how I learned to love soccer back in Mexico. In my house, I’m the only one who shouts while watching the games, but in the stands at CLTFC, there are three thousand others who are just as crazy as me – American or Latino. That euphoria is palpable and infectious. What I really like is that we are people from everywhere. We all have our own teams that we follow back home – wherever that may be – but in the end, we all come together to support Charlotte. There are fans from Mexico, Central America, South America, Europe, the US, and Africa, and we all bring our passion together to lift up our club. That’s why we have so many people going to games. The supporters are on from the tailgate until the final whistle. We don’t stop. That type of feeling and support is something that you can’t fake or hide – it’s something we all have in our blood and our hearts.
What’s it like going to the stadium every weekend, and how do you see Hispanic culture reflected in those experiences?
I go to the stadium because of the brotherhood that it builds. It’s so beautiful to get to chat and share moments with people from different cultures. In Blue Furia, we are fans from Mexico, Argentina, Ecuador, Colombia, and other Latin American countries. Getting together always feels like having a ‘carne asada’ with your brothers or family members. We get to celebrate soccer, which unites not only us Latinos but people from all over the world. At our tailgates, there are always many Europeans or Americans who also come because they love our atmosphere, the music, the food, and the drinks. It’s always so special for us to be able to share that with people from other cultures and make that experience even better for everybody.
Then, when you go to the stands, you see all types of cultures from all parts of the world. You’ll see jerseys and flags from Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Mexico, you name it. I get to meet a lot of people during the games, and they tell me their stories of where they’re from and how they got to Charlotte. It’s beautiful to see that diversity reflected in the stands.
With us being in the middle of Hispanic Heritage Month, it is extra special now to be able to share that with others. Why do you think it’s important to have pride in your roots – both in soccer and life?
I think it’s super important to be proud of where you come from and know about your culture. For me, it’s really important to know that I’m from Mexico and be able to show other people how great we are. I want to leave my culture’s name up high. I like to celebrate my culture every day, and I do so by proudly saying I’m Mexican, I like to speak Spanish, and I love tacos, tequila, parties, and sharing special moments with my friends and family. Being Latino is proudly showing the people that you care about all the things that you love. When I’m at soccer games in Charlotte, I actually feel like I’m with family. It’s like when you’re at home and they tell you that your cousins from another part of Mexico are coming over to visit, and you can’t help but be excited to do a million things with them. Being part of Charlotte FC is like being part of a family that doesn’t see each other for seven days, but we always return to meet up every Saturday, without fail.
What are some ways you see Hispanic culture directly reflected during those special Saturdays?
I love to eat, as you can see, but I really love how we all get together during the tailgates and every country brings its own type of food. The guys from Mint City Collective bring a taquero who makes excellent tacos, the Norcas CLT bring pupusas, the Carolina Hooliganz bring pan dulce, the guys from Southbound and Crown bring burgers and hot dogs, my friends from South Charlotte bring a good Peruvian ceviche, and we from Blue Furia bring incredible choripanes. Aside from everything you see in the stands, that’s one huge way you see our different Hispanic cultures reflected to make the American tailgate and gameday experience that much more fun.
On a bigger scale, how do you see Latin culture reflected in the growth of soccer in the US? How have the club and its sponsors made it possible to foster that diversity in our sport?
I remember my son started playing soccer when he was very young, and he’s been on many different clubs over the past few years. Every time he switched clubs, there would be more and more people involved in the sport. You would see a lot of Latinos – but not only Latinos, actually. There would be people from all these different cultures. All of that is being shown now at the highest professional level in this country. Charlotte FC reflects that perfectly. The team is doing super well in this city not only because of the huge Hispanic support, but also because people originally from the US, Europe, and Africa, are all captivated. We finally have a team in our city, and we’ve all come together to make that special. This team has been a medium for many of us to express our cultures and our passion. Having that type of platform to express ourselves means a lot to all of us, and it makes us feel like we’re part of the club. Bringing elements from all of our different cultures is a big part of why the sport has grown in Charlotte.
Having had the chance to be at a few Charlotte games, it’s definitely something that everyone should experience. To close out, what would you say to those who haven’t been able to make it out to a CLTFC game with you guys?
Oh, it’s just like when you throw a family barbecue and you chat with your cousin who didn’t show up. You gotta let them know they missed the best tamales your mom ever made, the best tacos you ever made, and the cold beers we all passed around. It’s the same for someone who misses out on a CLTFC game. You miss out on a gathering that’s unmatched. You’re missing out on the best atmosphere and you’re missing out on a feeling of euphoria that you simply won’t get anywhere else.
Thanks to Hispanic-American fans like Hector, soccer fandom in the United States continues to grow in its own special way, bringing the best from both cultures and making it a greater experience for all of us who love the sport. Ally’s Biculturally Campaign aims to celebrate stories like this one, showcasing moments where both Hispanic and American worlds come together to make an experience 200% richer.
