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SALT LAKE CITY -- Real Salt Lake fans have a new chant, entitled ‘Believe', to learn before they enter Rio Tinto Stadium and take their seats for the 2012 season and it's all thanks to a few fans themselves.
Doing this entirely on their own and with a zero-dollar budget, just for kicks and simply because they are fans and care about the sport and the league, they really didn't think much would come out of it, but it's done just the opposite.
"We knew something cool would come of it, but we never thought it would be like this," said local videographer Isaac Halasima.
The process began with an idea from Branden Steineckert, die hard RSL fan and drummer for punk band Rancid and a phone call to Halasima.
And it wasn't just a random idea that popped into Steineckert's head one day, it's been stirring for a while.
"For years we've been talking to a lot of the fans and we needed chants, originality, unity things we could come together on and there has been a void in that. Not just for RSL, but throughout the league," said Steineckert. "Last year I started to play around with ideas and something in me was just holding me back, I had this written last year, but it just didn't feel like the right time yet."
Immediately when Halasima heard Steineckert's idea he was excited to begin the process, calling in favors, putting together a team, getting fans involved and working out a few details with RSL to use the Rio Tinto Stadium.
Halasima told Steineckert, "I'm game, I don't care - I will clear a week out of my schedule, lets do it!"
And just over a week after that conversation, the video was ready.
After posting the video on YouTube Feb. 13, the views skyrocketed, RSL fans began sharing the video and even the RSL players took to the web to give their opinion and raving the video.
"Within an hour it shot to 355 views. The next day it was at 11,000 and then Wednesday night it was at 18,000," said Halasima.
Within an hour it shot to 355 views. The next day it was at 11,000 and then Wednesday night it was at 18,000.
–Isaac Halasima
Steineckert is shocked at the feedback and amount of views they're getting and said, "If we threw out a Rancid video, with followers on Twitter, we'd expect that, but this has been so weird because there has been no band involved, it all falls on me and Isaac. Him and I putting our heads together and doing things we love to do anyways."
The video hasn't just sparked interest with fans, but with RSL themselves. After it went public, players were sharing it via Twitter and getting fans pumped about having it shouted from Rio Tinto come game time.
"To simply do something like that with no budget, with real no intention, just out of passion and for the team and to see it so warmly embraced - I can't wrap my head around it," said Steineckert.
And Halasima couldn't be happier about the feedback and says seeing the players excited about it, "It's a dream come true - that's why we did it. I want to be in the stadium and want to hear it chanted. I know it will mean a lot to the players."
Halasima and Steineckert have both been getting loads of feedback and contact from fans of the video. "I'm starting to get emails from Scotland and England, it's so crazy," said Halasima. "My poor little iPhone, every time I look at it there's like 50 emails."
The video was even posted on the mlssoccer.com blog the day after it hit YouTube. "It's so weird," said Steineckert. "I've never been part of something so independently DIY and to get feedback from people overseas other MLS clubs, etc - I love it!"
