About Us

Fortress Sports was created with the idea that being a fan is more than rooting, screaming, and singing while your team plays.  It's about being part of the team.  You may not kick a ball, but you're the voice that makes home field advantage a real thing.  You're part of the army in the stands, your team's secret weapon.  You are what makes your home stadium a terrifying place for visiting teams - and fans.  You create the fortress.  You ARE the fortress.

At Fortress Sports we're soccer fans. HUGE soccer fans. How huge? Team colors are sacred huge. Wake up at any hour to watch our team huge.  Get out my house with that jersey huge.  Dream of going back to the motherland only to step foot in our stadium huge. Our love of the game was born internationally, but living in the US, we want to see the game keep growing here, and a huge part of that is the fans. 

Origin Story

In 2014, James traveled to Brazil for the World Cup and went to the USA - Portugal game in Manaus.  At 6pm in Manaus, it was 84 degrees with 81% humidity, but the trusty USA scarf was at the game too and he sweltered in the heat - and that's winter in Manaus! 

After coming back to the US, he told Kenny about how hot it was and they got to talking.  Soccer scarves are awesome, no question.  But they got their start in England, where the exact same day of the USA-Portugal game, it was a nice 72 degrees with only 55% humidity.  Besides, European leagues play their games mostly in the winter, so the soccer scarf grew out of a practical need to stay warm and then grew into the fandom phenomenon it is today.  

The US soccer calendar is different - it runs during the warmer months of the year. Could you imagine having to play a game in Toronto or New England in February? Yet, we wear heavy scarves to our summer soccer games in places like Orlando or Houston. (Yes, we know "summer scarves" exist, but those look and feel like soccer scarves about as much as John Oliver looks like Beyonce).  Nobody should doubt we're real fans, but maybe it's time to upgrade our fandom and our scarfdom!

 

Founders
 

This has been in the works for a few years now, but we're excited to officially launch Fortress Sports this year.  Who is "we"?

James Houlin

Hails from: Miami, FL
Roots for: Boca Juniors, FC Barcelona, Roma, and Inter Miami
Favorite player growing up: Tab Ramos
Favorite player today: Lionel Messi

Kenny Nagata

Hails from: Salt Lake City, UT
Roots for: Newcastle United, Real Salt Lake, Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Favorite player growing up: Alan Shearer
Favorite player today: Christian Pulisic