Sounders FC, the new soccer team from Seattle is the third team to share the Sounders name in the history of the city. The current team is now part of Major League Soccer.
The team’s first game was played yesterday evening at Qwest Field in Seattle where they defeated the New York Red Bulls, 3-0, in front of a sellout crowd. One local columnist, John McGrath, had this response to the team’s debut and fan reaction: “Wow!”
Since the MLS began business in 1996, filling the pro-soccer void in the U.S. left by the 1984 collapse of the North American Soccer League, it’s likely no crowd made more noise - or had more fun - than the crowd at Qwest Field did Thursday.
Coach Sigi Schmid sensed as much early in the first half, when he had trouble communicating with midfielder Brad Evans.
“We need hand signals,” Evans told the coach. “I can’t hear anything you’re saying.”
Said Schmid: “I’ve never had a player say that to me in an MLS Stadium.”
Applause and whistles erupted when Fredy Montero got the first goal in the new team’s history. Kasey Keller, one of the team’s goalies was quoted saying he was impressed by the season opener.
However, Keller has more to feel ecstatic about. While the offense scored three goals, Keller’s goalkeeping shut out the attacks by the Red Bulls and their star striker, Juan Pablo Angel.
You can check the team’s schedule by clicking here.
As you can see in the following videos, this was an amazing debut. It’s a shame I wasn’t there to attend the opening game. I’m a die-hard soccer fan and player.
on Mar 21st, 2009 at 1:17 am
Very impressive debut. Now let’s see if the crowds stick with them as the season progresses. If they do, it’ll be huge to have teams like them and Toronto FC who have such rabid fan bases!
on Mar 21st, 2009 at 1:46 am
I sure hope they do. I wasn’t very aware of Seattle’s history regarding the Sounders name until yesterday morning. I had come across a post made on a forum I help run. I ended up watching the game and it was indeed fantastic. Seattle has lost so many good businesses because of the economy so it’s very delightful that patrons still come out and spend money on a soccer event. It’s just a few hours where people can forget their problems and have fun.
The team has some eye candy which I’ll need to find.
on Mar 24th, 2009 at 2:42 am
Hopefully some day pro soccer teams in US will actually sell out stadiums on a regular basis, as opposed to the modified we-only-sell-seats-for-half-the-stadium “sell outs.”
on Mar 24th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
Remember though that during the course of a season soccer teams host about 20 home games including ‘friendlies’ and CONCACAF Cup games, not just 8-10 like NFL teams - so I’m not sure it is realistic to ever expect soccer teams to fill 70,000 seats for 20 home games.
Very few club teams anywhere have 70,000 seat stadiums to fill. Buildin 20,000 - 30,000 seat soccer specific stadiums is the way to go. It certainly has worked here in Toronto. I don’t think TFC would have been nearly as successful if they tried to play their home games in the 52,000 seat Rogers Centre. It is so much better to be playing games with the fans right on top of the players as they are at BMO Field. The 20,000 fans that pack that place for every home game have way more fun and make way more noise than we ever hear for the CFL Argos or Blue Jays playing down the road at Rogers Centre. And the waitlist for season tickets here now tops 14,000!