Seattle Sounders - March to the Match

Continued from previous post.

On the ECS forums advise had been given that drinks should be finished by 6.30pm so that the "march to the match" could be joined. I wasn't quite sure where this was taking place so I just headed outside with the fans and made my way over to Pioneer Square, normally home to Seattle's homeless. These bums had cleared out and the Sq was starting to fill up in green clad Sounder's supporters. I've been to a few football matches over the years including a visit to Wembley but I had never witnessed anything like this. A marching band was playing in the centre of the square while the fans formed up into rows. 

Those with banners were to the front. Then the chanting. I can't remember them all but "fight or die" and "studs up Sounders" spring to mind. Finally we were off. The march had begun. Well I say march but really more of a stroll. At one point I saw a younger fan pull his scarf up over his face. I feared a kick off of some style or other but moments later a smoke canister was set off filling the street with a green haze.

Not really hardcore covering the face to avoid smoke. The route of the march wasn't long but we did go past FX McCory's, a Seattle bar with what I can only describe as a wall of whiskey. A fun time could be had in there. As we approached the CentryLink Field carpark the march just sort of broke up. It was certainly the strangest way I had arrived at a ground but good fun. I found the "will call" window to collect the match tickets. The woman behind the screen took great delight in making me confirm my address. The words Isle of  Man seem to be comic gold in The Emerald City.

The march hadn't taken as long as anticipated so a good look around shops inside and outside the ground was possible a beanie was purchased as was beer which can be drunk while watching the match. 

I can't recall to much about the game itself as the football wasn't to a very high standard but the atmosphere inside the ground made by the nearly 40,000 fans was great. Being in the Brougham End the ECS chanting was none stop. Again "fight or die" and "studs up Sounders" were there along with others. This constant chanting was led by guys at the front of the stand on raised platforms with their back to the game. They were helped out by a fellow not too far away from my seat whose energetic chanting and leaping around caused his tan coloured shirt to become darker with sweat.

The Sounders lost 1-2 to the Earthquakes but was an experience the whole match day was an eye opener. The American sure do know how to put on a show.