Seattle Sounders FC supporters

Seattle Sounders FC, a Major League Soccer club established in 2007, has gained a reputation for having passionate supporters since its inaugural season in 2009. There are four recognized supporters groups for Sounders FC: Emerald City Supporters, Gorilla FC, North End Faifthful, and Eastside Supporters.[1][2]

Demographics

The Sounders limit the capacity of Lumen Field capacity for most MLS matches with certain seating sections covered with tarpaulins to provide "a more intimate atmosphere" and opens the entire stadium for international friendly matches.[3][4] Initially, the capacity was limited to 24,500 before the start of the inaugural season.[3] However, due to high demand, capacity was soon increased multiple times, reaching 35,700 for the 2010 season.[4][5][6]

In their debut season, the Sounders amassed the largest average attendance in the league with 30,943 fans.[7] Sounders FC also was rated as the No.50 Best-Supported Club by World Soccer Magazine.[8] In 2010, the Sounders capped their season ticket capacity at 32,000. By late January, there were fewer than 1,000 season-ticket packages remaining.[7]

Supporter Groups
Fans waving flags and unfurling a large green and blue tifo behind a goal.
Emerald City Supporters unveil a tifo prior to the club's inaugural game

Emerald City Supporters
Main article: Emerald City Supporters

The Emerald City Supporters (ECS) is an independent supporters group that was formed in 2005 to support the USL Sounders. They are currently the largest supporter group and are located in the southern "Brougham End" of the stadium in sections 121–123.[9][10] The group is known for their displays of tifo and chanting. In addition, the supporter group is an umbrella organization with several sub-supporter groups mostly in different geographical locations such as Los Angeles, Miami, and the northeast metro corridor. As of 2017, the ECS had 5,000 members.[11]

Gorilla FC
Main article: Gorilla FC

Gorilla FC is a group which supports Sounders FC and also sits in the south end of CenturyLink Field in section 120.[12] They are an antifa (Anti-fascism) support group who categorizes themselves as an anti-racist, anti-sexist, and anti-homophobic supporters group.[13] The group is also active in local charitable causes. In the wake of the Haiti disaster, Gorilla FC raised over $20,000 with the help of players Steve Zakuani, Patrick Ianni, and James Riley.

North End Faithful

North End Faithful, originally named the North End Supporters, was founded in April 2009 with hopes of uniting the fans of the north end sections of the stadium. They had 55 members by the end of the month and were primarily organized online.[14] NEF primarily sits in the north end of the stadium beneath the "Hawks Nest" in sections 100 and 144–152.[15] They also sit in the upper sections of 100, 101, 102, 142, 143, and 144.

Eastside Supporters

Eastside Supporters was founded in 2010 and became officially recognized by the alliance council in 2011. The majority of its members are residing or working east of Seattle. Eastside Supporters is a family friendly supporters group always making sure its viewing parties are all ages. The Eastside Supporters section is in 149 and 150 in the "Green Zone" but the majority of its members are located all over the stadium.

Sound Wave
Sounders FC's marching band, The Sound Wave, partaking in the March to the Match

Drew Carey also requested that Sounders FC have their own marching band. They are the first club in the MLS to have one.[16] This led to the creation of the Sound Wave, a 53-member marching band consisting of brass and marching percussion.[17] The band plays music from multiple genres such as Latin, rock and pop,[17] and sits with the supporters in the north end of CenturyLink Field.[18] The March to the Match, in which fans march from Occidental Park to CenturyLink before each home game, is led by the Sound Wave.[19]

Rivalries

The Seattle–Portland and Seattle–Vancouver rivalries formed in the years that the NASL-Sounders and USL-Sounders were playing in Seattle. These geographic rivalries are expected to continue when the MLS awards teams to both Portland and Vancouver for the 2011 season.[20] In 2004 the fan-based Cascadia Cup was created to formalize the competition between the Seattle, Portland, and Vancouver USL teams.[21]

The fan-created Heritage Cup competition with the San Jose Earthquakes was begun in the 2009 MLS season. MLS teams that carry on the names of their NASL predecessors are eligible to compete. The results of their league matches determine the winner.[22]

The ECS notes that the Timbers Army are among their biggest rivalries.[23][24]

References
  1. Evans, Jayda (March 14, 2020). "Sounders fans are still trying to maintain sense of community with MLS season on hold due to coronavirus". The Seattle Times. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  2. "Sounders FC Supporter Groups". Seattle Sounders FC. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  3. "MLS awards Seattle expansion team for 2009". Major League Soccer. November 17, 2007. Archived from the original on February 2, 2008. Retrieved April 10, 2008.
  4. Ruiz, Don (June 27, 2009). "Qwest seating increased for hot-selling Sounders". The News Tribune. Archived from the original on January 5, 2013. Retrieved November 11, 2009.
  5. Romero, José Miguel (October 29, 2009). "Freddie Ljungberg is MLS Player of the Month, and game is sold out". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on November 22, 2009. Retrieved February 4, 2010.
  6. Romero, José Miguel (January 7, 2010). "Keeping Sounders FC together is key to long-range success". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on January 30, 2010. Retrieved February 4, 2010.
  7. "Seattle set to shatter own attendance record". CNN. January 28, 2010. Archived from the original on February 1, 2010. Retrieved May 23, 2010.
  8. "Attendance". Archived from the original on May 12, 2010. Retrieved February 24, 2010.
  9. "About ECS". Emerald City Supporters. WeAreECS.com. Archived from the original on December 2, 2008. Retrieved May 13, 2008.
  10. Campanario, Gabriel (March 11, 2011). "Color me sea green and sky blue". The Seattle Times. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  11. Greder, Andy (August 20, 2017). "Seattle's supporters culture is envy of league as Minnesota's buds". Twin Cities Pioneer Press. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
  12. Guzman, Monica (March 18, 2009). "The Sounders and Gorilla FC: New club, old sport". Seattle Post Intelligencer. Archived from the original on March 21, 2009. Retrieved December 14, 2009.
  13. "About". Gorilla FC. Archived from the original on August 18, 2021. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  14. "Know Your Sounders FC Supporter Groups Pt. 4". Seattle Met. April 28, 2009. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
  15. "North End Supporters". Members Association. Seattle Sounders FC. Archived from the original on May 1, 2009. Retrieved April 27, 2009.
  16. Romero, José (December 5, 2009). "Keeping it official". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on November 16, 2011. Retrieved December 14, 2009.
  17. "The Band". Seattle Sounders FC. Archived from the original on March 18, 2009. Retrieved March 1, 2009.
  18. Romero, José Miguel (May 30, 2009). "Golden Scarf presentation". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on June 30, 2009. Retrieved November 30, 2009.
  19. "March to the Match". Seattle Sounders FC. Archived from the original on March 25, 2010. Retrieved November 11, 2009.
  20. "Sounders FC get a rival—Portland awarded MLS franchise". KOMO-TV. March 20, 2009. Archived from the original on October 4, 2011. Retrieved May 25, 2009.
  21. "Soccer fans creating Cascadia Cup". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. March 31, 2004. Archived from the original on August 18, 2021. Retrieved October 15, 2009.
  22. "The Heritage Cup". Soccer Silicon Valley Community Foundation. Archived from the original on March 25, 2009. Retrieved July 12, 2009.
  23. Romero, José Miguel (August 8, 2003). "206 vs. 503: Soccer rivalry still simmers". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on January 12, 2012. Retrieved April 10, 2009.
  24. Romero, José Miguel (June 30, 2009). "Portland Timbers fans take rivalry with Sounders FC to another level". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on July 3, 2009. Retrieved June 30, 2009.
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