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El Paso Locomotive open 2026 season with a tie to fire up fan base
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- El Paso Locomotive open 2026 season with a tie to fire up fan base
Roy Reyes has waited eight years to see his first El Paso Locomotive game, and as the 2026 season dawned, he was waiting two hours more.
Reyes and his 9-year-old nephew Elias Burciaga were the first two people in line for Saturday's opener on March 7, they formed the line a little before 5 p.m., an hour before the gates opened and two hours before kickoff against Colorado Springs.
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The 8th Notch cheers on the El Paso Locomotive FC at Saturday's 2026 home opener at Southwest University Park on March 7, 2026.
"This is my first game and I'm so excited to be here," Reyes said. "Me and my little nephew Elias, we're super excited to be here. This is my first time here."
What he eventually saw when that wait ended was familiar to other fans at Southwest University Park, as for the eighth time in eight season openers El Paso failed to win, but there was plenty of encouragement to be found in an entertaining 2-2 tie against Colorado Springs that was filled with offense. The announced attendance was 6,079.
Locomotive Eric Calvillo gestures to a teammate during El Paso's season-opener against Colorado Springs on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at Southwest University Park.
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Locomotive newcomer Rubio Ruben, the highest-profile acquisition of the offseason, scored two goals in what was also the debut for new El Paso manager Junior Gonzalez. Both of the goals the Locos conceded were off set pieces.
This was not the first time here for members of the supporters group, the 8th Notch, who kept the rhythm of the game with drums and chants and waving flags.
"It's our eighth year, we're 8th Notch, we're expecting a big year for us, the support group of the Locomotive," said El Loco Mascarado, who was wearing an 8th Notch lucha libre mask. "It's been a long time, it's great to be back here at Southwest University Park to cheer on the Locomotive."
One of the youngest fans at Southwest University Park has doubled in age since last year's Locomotive opener, 2-year-old Lucia Garcia, who was in the arms of her father Josh.
The 8th Notch cheers on the El Paso Locomotive at the 2026 season opener at Southwest University Park on Saturday, March 7, 2026.
"We've been missing it since October," said Josh Garcia, an 8th Notch member. "We're excited for this season, a new head coach. We saw a preseason match, we looked really good, we beat our rivals (New Mexico) 4-1."
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As for the wait since October, when the Locomotive season finished in the playoffs against Colorado Springs, "It's been hard," Garcia said. "Just watching soccer on TV, it's not the same as being here."
Fans line up for food and snacks at the El Paso Locomotive FC season home opener at Southwest University Park on March 7, 2026.
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On the other hand, the last few months have flown by for new Locomotive general manager Mike DiGuilio, who began interviewing in November and was hired in December.
The time between his arrival in El Paso and the opener felt like "about 15 minutes," he said. "I was out here in mid-November, meeting people and having those discussions about if this was a good fit. Then we blink and it's March 7. It has been fast but really good, really, really good."
Fans visit the El Paso Locomotive FC gift shop in Southwest University Park during the 2026 season opener on Saturday, March 7, 2026.
As for his feeling on his first Locomotive match day, "They don't get much more exciting than this," he said. "I refer to it as good nerves. Not often do you get to have those good nerves in your stomach where you wake up and it's a privilege to do it."
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When the team came onto the field for warmups a little less than an hour before kickoff, they exchanged hand slaps with "Ted Lasso" actor Cristo Fernandez , who is with the Locomotive on an informal tryout that will run into next week. He participated in El Paso's preseason friendly last week against New Mexico but is not on a contract and was not eligible to suit up against Colorado Springs.
Bret Bloomquist can be reached at bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; @Bretbloomquist on X.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso Locomotive begin 2026 season in front of excited fans
