Seattle Sounders at Emerald Queen Casino Pitch at Lumen Field
Going to a Seattle Sounders match is not what you'd expect from soccer in the United States. Picture this: Thousands of fans from the Emerald City Supporters group chanting "Seattle Sounders, here we go!" to the tune of The Beatles' "Yellow Submarine" at one end of Lumen Field. At the other end of the stadium, thousands of fans from The North End Faithful sing atop the thundering beat of the in-stadium Sound Wave Marching Band.
Some may say that the vibe feels decidedly European, and global soccer site Copa90 called the Sounders experience the "Most Incredible Fan Culture in the US." In fact, much like in Europe, the Sounders FC Alliance allows season ticket holders and fans to vote on team management decisions.
Considering that the 2016 and 2019 MLS Cup Champions did not miss the playoffs for the first 10 years since the team's inaugural season in 2009, it's easy to imagine why Sounders fans are so passionate about their team and flat-out expect greatness on the pitch.
Seattle Sounders History
Joining the MLS as an expansion team in 2009, the Seattle Sounders are a Western Conference powerhouse who have won four U.S. Open Cups, one Supporters' Shield (2014) for having the best record in MLS, and two MLS Cup Championships in 2016 and 2019.
Jordan Morris was named the 2019 MLS Comeback Player of the Year after recovering from a torn ACL that sidelined him for nearly all of 2018. The Sounders earned the No. 2 seed in the MLS Western Conference and qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs for the 11th straight season.
The Sounders play their home games before a 41,000-capacity crowd on the Emerald Queen Casino Pitch at Lumen Field in downtown Seattle, also the home of the NFL's Seattle Seahawks. The team's majority owner is Adrian Hanauer, and minority owners include comedian Drew Carey, the estate of Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, and film exec Joe Roth.
The Sounders' players academy has produced USMNT studs in Jordan Morris and Newcastle United defender DeAndre Yedlin.