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 seven recognized supporters groups for Sounders FC including Emerald City Supporters, SoCal Sound, Gorilla FC, North End Supporters, and Immortal Fury.[1]
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The Sounders limited Century Link 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 has been increased multiple times with it currently set at 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 made the 50 Best-Supported Clubs as per World Soccer Magazine ranking number 50.[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]
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 is a group which supports Sounders FC and also sits in the south end of Qwest Field in section 120.[9] They are an anti-FA 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 dollars with the help of players Steve Zakuani, Patrick Ianni, and James Riley.
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.
Immortal Fury was founded in March 2008. It was formed in the fashion of South American torcidas, focuses on bringing color to the south end of the stadium by displaying the national flags of several countries.[13] Flags from Colombia, Sweden, and France can be seen in this section.
Carey also requested that Sounders FC have their own marching band. They are the first club in the MLS to have one.[14] This led to the creation of the Sound Wave, a 53-member marching band consisting of brass and marching percussion.[15] The band plays music from multiple genres such as Latin, rock and pop,[15] and sits with the supporters in the north end of Qwest Field.[16] The March to the Match, in which fans march from Occidental Park to Qwest before each home game, is led by the Sound Wave.[17]
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.[18] In 2004 the fan-based Cascadia Cup was created to formalize the competition between the Seattle, Portland, and Vancouver USL teams.[19]
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.[20]
The ECS notes that the Timbers Army are among their biggest rivalries.[21][22]
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