Actor Danny Trejo will be the honorary falconer for Sunday’s Los Angeles Football Club-Portland Timbers Major League Soccer game at Banc of California Stadium.
One of the team’s four falcons is released before the start of each game for a pregame flight at the center of the field, hunting a lure of the opponent’s crest.
Each falcon is named for a famous Los Angeles street, inspired by the team’s promise to, “Unite the world’s city through the world’s game: street by street, block by block, one by one.”
Olly, named for Olvera Street, is a female red-naped shaheen and has a 46-inch wingspan.
Sunny, named for Sunset Boulevard, is a female Barbary falcon, a breed known as one of the quickest falcons in the air and for relentless pursuits.
Fig, named for Figueroa Street, is a male Saker falcon, with a grandparent from the Mongolian mountains.
Mel, named for Melrose Avenue, is Fig’s brother and also a male Saker falcon.
The falcons visit schools and organizations to teach youth about falcons and their importance to the environment.
A very limited amount of tickets remain available and a sellout is expected. LAFC has sold out all eight of its MLS games at the 22,000-seat Banc of California Stadium.
LAFC’s 10-4-4 record is the best by an MLS expansion team since the 1998 Chicago Fire, which was coached by LAFC coach Bob Bradley and won the MLS Cup. LAFC is 5-0-3 at Banc of California Stadium.