For the first time ever in their 10 season history, the Colorado Springs Switchbacks competed in the USL Championship title match, winning the cup 3-0. 

The team hosted Rhode Island FC at Weidner Field in front of a sold-out crowd and a national broadcast on CBS after a season of milestones. 

After winning the Western Conference Final at home for the first time in team history, the team had an opportunity that fans have only dreamed about for the past 10 seasons. 

The excitement that built up over the last week hit its peak Saturday morning as downtown Colorado Springs saw a sea of cyan and black hit the streets. Fans were lining up outside Weidner Field as early as 7:45 a.m. to celebrate and anticipate the 10 a.m. game kickoff, with the tailgate lot across the street beginning to fill up even earlier. 

Tim Owen, a board member for the Trailheads, the official supporters group for the Switchbacks, compared Saturday’s game to the Colorado Springs equivalent of a Super Bowl. 

“I woke up happy, and getting up earlier on a weekend was totally worth it,” Owen, who got up at 4:45 a.m. for the game, said. “It is definitely a different feel, it’s like the Super Bowl of the USL here in the Springs.” 

The Trailheads organized the tailgating lot, which was filled with excited fans decked out in face paint, glitter and even some hair dye. Brian Mcgary, who has been growing out his beard since the first game of the season, decided to dye it blue for Saturday’s special game. 

“People make comments on it all the time, it makes people smile,” Mcgary said with a laugh. “We make as much noise as possible inside, and it’s a great release of the frustrations of a week to be able to just get out there, scream, and not have anybody looking at you like you’re weird.” 

It was a brisk morning ahead of the 10 a.m. start time for the soccer game, and merchandise tables surrounding Weidner Field were selling exclusion 10th season scarfs and shirts. According to the communications director Ashley Purslow, after winning the Western Conference Final, merch for the team was selling out quickly all week. 

Inside, it was a sold-out game, with standing room only tickets available in the days before the game. Purslow said the 8,000 tickets sold for the game originally sold out within 48 hours. An additional few hundred tickets were released just before Saturday, allowing even more of the community the chance to cheer on their home team. 

One long-time fan, Kristen Clingerman, got a little emotional when talking about the journey from the very first game the team ever played to Saturday’s championship opportunity.

“This is what we’ve been working for forever,” Clingerman said. “Last game, I was just crying. We’ve been through thick and thin and this is so surreal.” 

At nearly every Switchbacks game, one fan in particular stands out with his bright red hair and extravagant face paint both in tailgate lots and inside the stadium. Ben Currie, a member of the Kilted Hooligans, credits the team for many of the friends he has made over the years. 

“Every meaningful relationship I’ve built since I’ve moved out here comes from the stadium one way or the other,” Currie said. “(The team) having massive success like this, when I’m kind of making some strides in my own life, it’s a very cathartic feeling.”

Another fan in attendance also had a special story that started with him and his dad buying season tickets for the very first season of the Switchbacks.

Jason Smith, who caught many other fans’ attention with his costume for the game, cried all the way home after the team won the Western Conference Final. The team has a special place in his heart for helping him open up socially. 

“Everyone was so welcoming at the start, and we build and build over the years,” Smith said. “It is just a family, we watch out for each other.”

In the last hour leading up to kick-off, excitement only continued to grow as DJs blasted music through the streets while a large group of supporters marched into Weidner Field. 

At halftime, the Switchbacks were in the lead 2-0, holding complete control of the match in stoppage time. From outside the stadium, the cheers from fans echoed down the street as fireworks were shot off throughout the game. 

By the end of the game, the Switchbacks reached even more milestones by securing the cup and making Colorado Springs history. This season was previously tied with the 2022 season for the most home wins with 10 victories. That number officially jumped to 11 on Saturday afternoon. 

Energy from the fans was even higher following the conclusion of the match with the stadium erupting into cheers as the clock ran down. The ending score was 3-0. Even more fireworks launched into the sky with a cyan powder dusting the field. 

“The energy was palpable; I could feel it as soon as I walked in there,” said Peter Burlingane, season ticket holder. “It’s been amazing to watch this team. They started (shaky), and they went nine straight games unbeaten, and then they brought us to the championship and they brought home a cup.”