“That’s Chicago—being guapo, brave, no matter what in the face of adversity.”
THOUSANDS OF BROTHERS READY TO GIVE EVERYTHING FOR THE CLUB
“Nueva Chicago is that love that stays in your mind and heart all the time, everywhere,” Dani says, smiling as he recalls his first trip to Nueva Chicago Stadium.
He skipped school that day, sneaking in with his friend Matías, who had already filled their classroom with terrace chants and stories of the Torito—the little bull. “I fell in love with the green and black the moment Matías lent me one of his countless jerseys, and I saw the fans and their incredible display.”
Nueva Chicago is the beating heart of Mataderos, a working-class neighbourhood in Buenos Aires known for its slaughterhouses, bustling cattle market, and proud, no-nonsense attitude.
The club’s colours cover the streets, walls, and shopfronts. On match days, Avenida de los Corrales becomes a festival of drums, trumpets, fireworks, and smoke bombs.
“The neighbourhood is the club’s identity, and the club is the neighbourhood’s identity,” Dani explains.
“It’s about knowing you’ve got thousands of brothers ready to give everything for the club.”
There’s pride here, but also resilience. Dani talks about Christian “Gomito” Gómez, the club legend who returned after relegation to drag Chicago back to the top flight.
“That kind of dedication drives fans wild. It’s like we always say: ‘The people never forget those who don’t betray them.’”
But it’s not all about winning. Dani tells us about a recent defeat in the Copa Argentina. “The team played badly, lost 2–0, and yet the fans stayed 40 minutes after the final whistle, singing like we’d just won the title. That’s Chicago—being guapo, brave, no matter what in the face of adversity.
It was a pleasure for The Atlantic Dispatch to sit down with Dani and hear about his love for Nueva Chicago, Mataderos, and the football culture that defines his life. In our time together he discusses, wild match days, Sunday afternoons at the Feria de Mataderos, and why every corner of the neighbourhood lives a lo Chicago.
MATADEROS IS GREEN AND BLACK
My first memories with Nueva Chicago are tied to Matías, a great friend. He used to teach us football chants at school, spread his passion, and one day invited me to the stadium.
We had to skip class and sneak in because I didn’t have a membership card. I fell in love with the green and black from the moment Matías lent me one of his countless jerseys and I saw the fans and their incredible display.
Mataderos is green and black. Its streets, walls, and shops are marked with our colours. On match days, this intensifies. There’s a powerful sense of community that brings us together from different parts of the city.
The heart of Mataderos is Avenida de los Corrales, a wide cobblestone avenue lined with tall trees and a boulevard in the middle.
People take over the public space, turning every corner into a festive spot where we gather, share, and start cheering.
Like any true gathering, there’s always wine, bread, and asado. The neighbourhood transforms into a huge celebration with drums, trumpets, fireworks, and smoke bombs.
WELCOME TO THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE
The neighbourhood is the club’s identity, and the club is the neighbourhood’s identity. Our neighbourhood is home to slaughterhouses, the cattle market, and the butchers. The bull is our symbol.
Years ago, players would enter the stadium and be greeted by a mural of an angry bull with a string of sausages and the phrase “Welcome to the slaughterhouse.”
Mataderos is a working-class neighborhood, rich with stories of struggles for better wages and working conditions. It’s a tango neighborhood, full of proud people who stand strong through tough times, always hoping for the best. In Mataderos, life is lived a lo Chicago.
Every Sunday, the Feria de Mataderos takes place, where you can buy crafts and enjoy traditional foods while listening to Argentina’s folkloric music, like zambas and chacareras.
If Nueva Chicago is playing, heading to the stadium becomes a must, just to witness the boundless passion of our people. If everything goes well, the day ends with a choripán or a pizza at El Cedrón.
THE PEOPLE NEVER FORGET THOSE WHO DON’T BETRAY THEM
There’s no doubt about it: everyone deserves a Christian “Gomito” Gómez in their life.
Gomito came through our youth system, debuted with our club, and became a clear, precise, and decisive player.
But what fans will always remember is that Gomito returned during Nueva Chicago’s darkest hour, after relegation.
He didn’t just come back—he led us to two promotions in the same year, bringing us back to the top division of Argentine football.
That kind of dedication drives fans wild and sums up perfectly in one phrase: “The people never forget those who don’t betray them.”
THE ECSTASY WHEN WE WON WAS INDESCRIBABLE
Every goal celebration is unforgettable to me because we merge into a human wave with everyone around us, whether we know them or not.
But last year, one moment stood out. We were playing against Temperley. Two of our players were sent off early in the second half, but we were winning 1–0 in a crucial match.
After the second red card, the fans became an extra defender. We shouted for 45 straight minutes as if we were on the pitch ourselves. The ecstasy when we finally won was indescribable.
ALL OF OUR THANKS TO DANI WHOSE IMAGES OF NUEVA CHICAGO CAN BE FOUND ON HIS INSTAGRAM PAGE: chicagoanalogico