Seattle Sounders Inaugural Game

On March 19, 2009, I was lucky enough to attend the Seattle Sounders FC inaugural game, which was also the Major League Soccer season opener. The Sounders played the New York Red Bulls in front of a packed house.


Season ticket holders received their inaugural game tickets attached to a bright green Seattle Sounders scarf with the team logo and Sounders in huge letters. As a result, the crowd was awash with lime green. Others were festooned with similar lime green Sounders paraphernalia. The crowd was great - everyone excited and anxious to see the brand new major league soccer team. But the crowd was also much less rowdy than your typical Seahawks game crowd, so there was no worry of a fight two rows in front of you or beer spilled down your back from the drunk fan behind you.

I love sports - especially the camaraderie of hanging out with friends watching your team battle against a rival. But I must say, as much as I like football or basketball and sometimes even baseball - soccer is the only major league sport I ever myself played competitively for a long period of time. This makes the game SO much more fun to watch. I know the positions and what they do; what a header feels like; what fancy footwork can be used to trick the opposing team; and simply how awesome and exhausting soccer is. I really enjoyed the game and cannot wait to see more games in the future.

Our fantastic goalie Kasey Keller keeping good care of the Sounders goal. He saved our butt a couple times this game and proved he's dynamite.
The Sounders got off to a great start and beat the New York Red Bulls three to zip. In soccer, this is by all means a good solid route. And what a great beginning to our brand new major league sports team. I see a bright future for these guys (though my crystal ball is not always accurate). And how cool is it that the Sounders have sold more season tickets than any other major league soccer team in the U.S. ever? Wow. Pretty incredible.

The Sounders outplayed and outran the Red Bulls. The Sounders beat them to the ball almost every time; took more shots on goal; and played tougher throughout the game.

Goal! Third goal of the game was a spectacular one - and the crowd went wild!