Seattle Sounders FC supporters

Seattle Sounders FC supporters are the supporters of the Major League Soccer club Seattle Sounders FC which was established in 2007 and played its first MLS season in 2009. There are four recognized supporters groups for Sounders FC: Emerald City Supporters, Gorilla FC, North End Supporters, and Eastside Supporters.[1]

Demographics

The Sounders limited CenturyLink Field's capacity for MLS games with certain seating sections covered with tarpaulins to provide "a more intimate atmosphere" and opens the entire stadium for international friendly matches.[2][3] Initially, the capacity was limited to 24,500 before the start of the inaugural season.[2] However, due to high demand, capacity was soon increased multiple times, reaching 35,700 for the 2010 season.[3][4][5]

In their debut season, the Sounders amassed the largest average attendance in the league with 30,943 fans.[6] Sounders FC also was rated as the No.50 Best-Supported Club by World Soccer Magazine.[7] 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.[6]

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

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 south end of the stadium in sections 121–123.[8] 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.

Gorilla FC

Main article: Gorilla FC

Gorilla FC is a group which supports Sounders FC and also sits in the south end of Qwest Field in section 120.[9] They are an antifa (Anti-fascism) support group who categorizes themselves as an anti-racist, anti-sexist, and anti-homophobic supporters group.[10] 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.

The North End Supporters

The North End Supporters was founded in April 2009 with hopes of uniting the fans of the north end sections of the stadium.[11] The NES primarily sits in the north end of the stadium beneath the "Hawks Nest" in sections 100 and 144–152.[12] 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.[13] This led to the creation of the Sound Wave, a 53-member marching band consisting of brass and marching percussion.[14] The band plays music from multiple genres such as Latin, rock and pop,[14] and sits with the supporters in the north end of CenturyLink Field.[15] The March to the Match, in which fans march from Occidental Park to CenturyLink before each home game, is led by the Sound Wave.[16]

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.[17] In 2004 the fan-based Cascadia Cup was created to formalize the competition between the Seattle, Portland, and Vancouver USL teams.[18]

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.[19]

The ECS notes that the Timbers Army are among their biggest rivalries.[20][21]

References

  1. ↑ http://www.soundersfc.com/Alliance/Supporter-Clubs/Supporter-Clubs.aspx
  2. 1 2 "MLS awards Seattle expansion team for 2009". Major League Soccer. November 17, 2007. Retrieved April 10, 2008.
  3. 1 2 Ruiz, Don (June 27, 2009). "Qwest seating increased for hot-selling Sounders". The News Tribune. Retrieved November 11, 2009.
  4. ↑ Romero, José Miguel (October 29, 2009). "Freddie Ljungberg is MLS Player of the Month, and game is sold out". The Seattle Times. Retrieved February 4, 2010.
  5. ↑ Romero, José Miguel (January 7, 2010). "Keeping Sounders FC together is key to long-range success". The Seattle Times. Retrieved February 4, 2010.
  6. 1 2 "Seattle set to shatter own attendance record". CNN. January 28, 2010. Retrieved May 23, 2010.
  7. ↑ http://www.soundersfc.com/News/Articles/2009/10-October/Attendance.aspx
  8. ↑ "About ECS". Emerald City Supporters. WeAreECS.com. Retrieved May 13, 2008.
  9. ↑ Guzman, Monica (March 18, 2009). "The Sounders and Gorilla FC: New club, old sport". Seattle Post Intelligencer. Retrieved December 14, 2009.
  10. ↑ http://www.gorillafc.com/about/
  11. ↑ http://www.blogger.com/profile/12309986145668309823
  12. ↑ "North End Supporters". Members Association. Seattle Sounders FC. Retrieved April 27, 2009.
    See also: North End Supporters homepage
  13. ↑ Romero, José (December 5, 2009). "Keeping it official". The Seattle Times. Retrieved December 14, 2009.
  14. 1 2 "The Band". Seattle Sounders FC. Retrieved March 1, 2009.
  15. ↑ Romero, José Miguel (May 30, 2009). "Golden Scarf presentation". The Seattle Times. Retrieved November 30, 2009.
  16. ↑ "March to the Match". Seattle Sounders FC. Retrieved November 11, 2009.
  17. ↑ "Sounders FC get a rival—Portland awarded MLS franchise". KOMO-TV. March 20, 2009. Retrieved May 25, 2009.
  18. ↑ "Soccer fans creating Cascadia Cup". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. March 31, 2004. Retrieved October 15, 2009.
  19. ↑ "The Heritage Cup". Soccer Silicon Valley Community Foundation. Retrieved July 12, 2009.
  20. ↑ Romero, José Miguel (August 8, 2003). "206 vs. 503: Soccer rivalry still simmers". The Seattle Times. Retrieved April 10, 2009.
  21. ↑ Romero, José Miguel (June 30, 2009). "Portland Timbers fans take rivalry with Sounders FC to another level". The Seattle Times. Retrieved June 30, 2009.
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