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          This is the way: MLS Opening Weekend full of tifos, atmosphere, celebrities and Mandalorians

          • Chris Wright, Toe Poke writerMar 3, 2020, 09:29 AM

          The 2020 MLS season kicked off last weekend, and as you might expect, the Opening Weekend celebrations across the league were boisterous to say the least. Fans were out in force, with enormous tifos and banners aplenty adorning almost every single stadium as the grand kickoff approached.

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          Indeed, the Seattle Sounders staged an elaborate tifo before kickoff, with fans unfurling huge newspapers to encourage their team -- who won the 2019 MLS Cup -- to "keep writing history."

          Elsewhere in Cascadia, things were simmering nicely in Portland, as a belting rendition of the national anthem preceded a booming atmosphere at Providence Park prior to the Timbers' opener against Minnesota United.

          A tifo was also unveiled that borrowed heavily from "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" (Goose Hollow being the neighborhood the Timbers call home) featuring a headless man holding a flaming football.

          Timbers fans also paid an emotional tribute to Jimmy Conway, the former player, coach and club legend who died last month at age 73.

          Orlando City created an intimidating atmosphere for visitors Real Salt Lake with a giant tifo of Jordan Belfort, also known as the Wolf of Wall Street, with arms splayed above a ticker displaying Orlando's all-time stats listed underneath and the message of: "We're not F'ing leaving."

          The San Jose Earthquakes welcomed their boisterous ultras back onto the curva at the Earthquakes' Stadium ahead of their game against Toronto.

          The club also held back tears after realizing this would be veteran servant Chris Wondolowski's final Opening Day before he retires at the end of the campaign.

          In Quebec, the Montreal Impact hit the Revolution where it really hurts by deploying a banner that besmirched New England's subpar cuisine. Written in French, the message reads: "Your maple syrup is weak." Ouch.

          Down in Nashville, things got biblical at Nissan Stadium, with supporters quoting Moses in a subtle bid to inspire their players to victory. Alas, it didn't work, as Atlanta United left Tennessee with a 2-1 win and all three points.

          The Music City side also reached out to its own personal Jesus, but Johnny Cash was as ineffective against the Five Stripes as Moses.

          The Houston Dynamo geared up for an Opening Day clash with the LA Galaxy by welcoming their guests to "Hustle Town" via a large, lively tifo. What followed was a decidedly underwhelming 1-1 draw.

          The Galaxy were also well represented on the road, with the away section pumping out the chants and waving their flags with gusto all game.

          While the Galaxy were out of town, the stars were out in Los Angeles as LAFC played host to Inter Miami. David Beckham was joined by his wife, Victoria, to watch the club he co-founded play their inaugural game.

          A host of celebrity fans were also in tow at Banc of California Stadium to support Miami, including actresses Liv Tyler and Eva Longoria.

          Beckham's side were also cheered on by chef Gordon Ramsay, who was sporting his pink Inter scarf up in the stands.

          The historic fixture ultimately ended in a hard-fought 1-0 defeat for Inter, but that did little to diminish the feverish atmosphere accentuated by their supporters.

          Before the glamour tie kicked off, LAFC ramped things up with a brilliant Star Wars universe tifo featuring the Mandalorian and Baby Yoda.

          However, last year's Supporters' Shield winners weren't the only club to run with the Star Wars theme, as FC Dallas also unfurled a nearly identical banner to simultaneously declare that their way was "the way" too.