Penya’s purpose, policies, and practices

Original text: August 12, 2018; updated on February, 3, 2023, and July 8, 2026.

Background

In the fall of 2009, a small group of FC Barcelona fans decided to create a “Penya” (supporters’ club) in order to unify local supporters and help share the passion for FC Barcelona in the Washington, DC area. Since then, our membership has been growing steadily and we continue to welcome new members. We meet for every Barça match and aim to organize other social activities related to soccer and the club. The Penya was granted official status by FC Barcelona on January 17, 2011.

Purpose and values

The purpose of Penya Barcelonista Washington DC is to help foster, maintain, and improve the representativeness and public profile of FC Barcelona in Washington DC and to promote the FC Barcelona’s traditional values and a sense of fellowship among its members and supporters in furtherance of its aims.

To achieve its purpose, the Penya schedules regular gatherings to view FC Barcelona matches, arranges other social opportunities for FC Barcelona supporters, and provides volunteer support to charitable events, some related to soccer, in Washington, DC.

Funds raised by sales of membership or merchandise or by private donations are used for one of the following purposes:

  • Support of our charitable partners (e.g., DC SCORES)
  • Operating costs of the Penya (i.e. web hosting, membership cards, and promotional items)
  • Special events and gifts for supporting members
  • Decorations for our host location

By definition, an official FC Barcelona penya must be a not for profit organization and we are no exception to this rule. Personal profit is hereby excluded from all activities.

Membership

Penya DC  sells individual and family memberships on a season by season basis (June to May).  New memberships generally include the following benefits:

  • Penya DC membership card and scarf 
  • Discounts on food and drinks at our host location during Barça matches
  • An ability to reserve tables for important matches 
  • Invitations to “Supporting Members Only” events 
  • An ability to participate in Penya raffles 

Ensuring a quality match day experience is one of our fundamental aims. We hope that our members will attend several matches per season to help contribute to the collegiality and community atmosphere during a match.

We expect that all members will extend respect and courtesy to other members, visitors and employees of Elephant & Castle. Inappropriate behavior may lead to cancellation of membership. We encourage our members to notify a board member if they witness or experience treatment that is not in keeping with this fundamental expectation.

The Board examines the Penya’s financial situation on an ongoing basis and, at the end of the season, reviews the need to readjust the cost of membership for the upcoming season. The key factors for determining the annual cost of membership are ensuring an enjoyable membership match day experience for the Penya’s members and supporting our charitable partners.  

Membership renewal policy

Membership renewals are available for a lower price than that of an introductory membership and include all of the above listed benefits with the exception of the scarf. Periodically the penya will offer a renewal gift.

Members are eligible to the lower, renewal rate when maintaining their membership consecutively from season to season without interruption.   

Grace period for renewals

A previous member may renew at the lower, renewal rate provided the gap since their last membership was for no more than one season; a member during the season before last season.  

When membership has lapsed for more than one season, individuals/families must re-join the penya with a new membership.

The board of directors

Composition

The board members of the Penya include, but are not limited to, a president, a vice president, a secretary, and a treasurer, and such other members as the board may from time to time appoint. The number of officers and at-large members are at least five (5) but no more than seven (7). No more than two board members may be related or in the same household. The president, vice president, secretary and treasurer are elected by the Penya members; at-large board members are chosen by and serve at the pleasure of the board.

To be eligible to be a board member, a person will have been a member of the Penya for at least two consecutive seasons; be a Penya voting member; not have his or her membership suspended or be concurrently serving on the governing board of another official supporters’ club of FC Barcelona; and will meet any applicable position-specific requirements set forth in the Penya’s bylaws. Officers of the board (president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer) serve three- (3) year terms. Each officer’s term begins at the start on June 1st (start of La Liga season) and continues for three (3) years until a successor is elected or qualified. According to FC Barcelona regulations, the president must also be a current “soci” of FC Barcelona.

All board members must (i) ensure that the Penya is meeting its ongoing requirements as an official supporters’ club of FC Barcelona, and (ii) take any reasonable act to ensure that the Penya does not lose official supporters’ club status or any reasonable act to regain official supporters’ club status in the event it is lost (unless such acts would otherwise be prohibited by law).

Responsibilities

Each officer role has a defined set of responsibilities set in the Penya’s bylaws. In addition and generally speaking, it is expected that all board members will contribute in the following ways:

  • Attend at least 50% of match viewings at Elephant & Castle 
  • Welcome newcomers and answer questions about memberships and Penya events 
  • Sell memberships and distribute membership materials
  • Help place decorations at our host location for match viewings
  • Assist with planning and execution of special events

Match viewings

We gather to view all FC Barcelona matches that are available on the main sports networks (e.g., ESPN+, CBS Sports, and others). In the case of very early start time (before 10AM), we may opt not to organize a viewing. 

Host location: 

Elephant & Castle, 1201 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC.  After spending about 10 years at the 19th and I Streets Elephant and Castle, this location closed in 2021 and we relocated to the Pennsylvania Avenue one. This venue was originally chosen due to the family-friendly environment and lack of competition with other sports viewings during typical Barça match times. 

Penya game day viewings are open to the public for most matches except member-only events where reservations are required. Arrangements for member only events are coordinated with the management of Elephant & Castle. Notice of a game day viewing that is restricted to members only will be notified by email and posted on the Penya’s social media sites. 

Members-only events such as El Clásico matches require current membership to be able to reserve a spot. 

Website, social media and e-mail 

The Penya maintains and uses various mechanisms to disseminate information about Penya activities.  Our current web and social media outreach mechanisms are: 

Partnerships and affiliations

When considering partnerships, affiliations, and activities for our Penya, the top priorities will be maintaining the values of our Penya and FC Barcelona while considering the potential benefits for our supporting members. Under no circumstances should partnerships, affiliations and activities be considered which are designed to promote the individual interests of a Penya member or which carry the perception of benefiting an individual Penya member.

Promotional products and gifts

When considering the purchase of  promotional items and gifts, we take special care to ensure that they are of high quality and produced locally according to ethical standards of production. We make special efforts to consider the ideas of our supporting members if they show a special talent and interest in contributing an idea for a product design. 

Commitment

Board members are committed to the well being of the Penya and its members. To that effect, board members are bound to follow and fulfill all the provisions described in this document and in the Penya’s current bylaws. 

Penya Washington DC’s bylaws

The Penya’s board updated its bylaws and the membership approved the updated bylaws by a 2/3 majority in February 2026 and subsequently approved by FC Barcelona as well. In addition, the board also drafted a new code of conduct for its members.