Seattle has a new team.  With the Sonics gone and the Mariner’s and Seahawk’s much to be desired the Sounders FC futbol team has been all the talk around the city.  It’s kind of crazy really.  Not being a huge soccer fan myself (I’ll watch Kevin’s games but there’s no way you’ll catch me up at 6am on a Saturday to watch a game being played in Europe) I have been extremely impressed with the Sounders organization and what they’ve done to build excitement in and around Seattle.

Before the season even started they tapped in to the reality tv niche and added a player to the team by turning it into a reality type show.  Fans could vote, they travelled around the state holding try outs, etc.  It was a pretty smart way to get non-Seattle-ites pumped for the MLS team. 

They’re also trying to keep the European feel to the sport and are mimicking long standing soccer traditions.  Like the scarves, the chants and the “march to the match.”  Every home game, 90 minutes before the match, everyone gathers together in Occidental Park, gets fired up, then marches to the stadium.  We joined the march for the home opener on Thursday.  It was fun!  Everyone was so excited and a lot of people already knew the team specific chants.  As we walked, everyone held their scarves up above their heads.  And EVERYONE had one – even me, thanks to Kevin!

The game itself went by pretty quick.  It was a little boring because you’re pretty much just watching guys run back and forth, back and forth.  The goals were exciting though- we had 3 to the Red Bulls 0 to win the match.  And, in all honesty, I was actually quite content watching the guys run back and forth, back and forth, because I got kettle corn.  Your trick worked Kevin.  I felt legit with my scarf and I got to pig out on kettle corn.  When’s the next match?!