SEATTLE, WASH. – With over 63,000 expected in attendance and a sharp 2:01 p.m. PT kickoff time scheduled, Seattle Sounders FC is encouraging fans to arrive early at CenturyLink Field for Sunday’s Cascadia Cup clash with the Portland Timbers (ESPN, KIRO Radio 97.3 FM, El Rey 1360 AM). Coverage for the nationally televised event begins at 1:30 p.m. PT with a 30-minute pregame show on ESPN. A bevy of matchday festivities are taking place ahead of Sunday’s kickoff, including a Golden Scarf presentation to FIFA Women’s World Cup champions Hope Solo and Megan Rapinoe, along with a Season Ticket Member Appreciation Party at THE NINETY.
In the second full-stadium match of the season, fans are encouraged to be in their seats early for Sunday’s 2:01 p.m. PT kickoff. In addition to the Golden Scarf ceremony, presenting matchday partner Forza Motorsport 6 exclusively on Xbox One, is leading a full set of festivities that are taking place surrounding the club’s penultimate Cascadia Cup fixture of the season.
MATCHDAY: 2015 MLS - Sounders FC vs Portland Timbers
Additionally, volunteers from the Red Cross will be on-site to collect donations to support the fight against the Western Wildfires in Oregon and Washington. To help people affected by the recent wildfires like those in Washington & Oregon, make a donation to the American Red Cross Western Wildfire relief.
ESPN’s 30-minute pregame show begins at 1:30 p.m. PT, with Adrian Healey, Taylor Twellman and Allison Williams onsite ahead of the sharp 2:01 p.m. PT kickoff. The match marks the third all-time meeting between Seattle and Portland with over 60,000 in attendance, as well as the third match this season between the two sides broadcast live on national television.
Sounders FC is hosting a Season Ticket Member Appreciation Party prior to Sunday’s match from 11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. PT at THE NINETY, Sounders FC’s event space located at the club’s Pioneer Square headquarters. The event offers Season Ticket Members the opportunity to renew their 2016 season tickets in-person with a Sounders FC Fan Relations representative. Season Ticket Members must present their MatchPass for entry into THE NINETY, which features a raffle for prizes, custom t-shirts for the first 2,000 attendees, a Sounders FC-animated GIF photo booth, Sounders ‘Til I Die temporary tattoos and a meet-and-greet with Sounders FC 2 players in attendance. Season Ticket Members that renew in-person at the event can enter to win autographed items and a chance to participate signature MatchPass experiences at Sunday’s match. Supporters that cannot make it to THE NINETY can renew in-person at CenturyLink Field at the interior customer service window located outside of section 140 beginning at 12:30 p.m. PT until the end of halftime.
Prior to kickoff Sunday afternoon, FIFA Women’s World Cup champions and Seattle Reign FC players Hope Solo and Megan Rapinoe are being honored in the second Golden Scarf celebration of the 2015 season, after former NBA player Jason Collins was honored on June 20 against San Jose. Solo and Rapinoe recently won the U.S. Women’s National Team’s third all-time FIFA World Cup title with a dominating performance in Canada back in July.
In addition to the Golden Scarf presentation, fans are being encouraged to be in their seats prior to the 2:01 p.m. PT kickoff to witness a tifo display from the Emerald City Supporters in the south end of CenturyLink Field following the national anthem. The club will also observe a moment of silence to honor those whose lives have been affected by the Western Wildfires of Washington and Oregon.
Presenting matchday partner Forza Motorsport 6, available in stores starting September 15 exclusively on Xbox One, is offering fans the chance to demo the game in Soccer Celebration from 12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. PT. Those that participate have the chance to win Forza 6 and Xbox One prizes, including the experience of sitting in the Forza Motorsport 6 sideline seats during the match. Forza Motorsport 6 is also handing out giveaways to entire rows throughout the match every 10 minutes on the sixes. Nine lucky rows will be announced on the hustleboards, beginning in the sixth minute and concluding in the 86th minute, with winners receiving $10 Xbox Live gift cards.
Throughout the week, fans have the opportunity to enter and win a Forza Motorsport 6 limited edition Xbox One console, a copy of the game, as well as a pair of tickets to Sunday’s match and a gameday parking pass. Those wishing to enter must text “XBOX1” to 90177 before Friday, August 28 at 11:59 a.m. PT.
Windows 10 is inviting fans to be a part of Sounders-Timbers history this week by posting a photo of themselves on Instagram using the hashtag #SEAvPOR. Photos posted on Friday, August 28 and Saturday, August 29 are being printed and added to a nine-foot photo-mosaic mural commemorating the 40-year rivalry between Seattle and Portland.
The completed mosaic containing over 3,000 fan photos is being revealed at Sunday’s March to the Match at 12:00 p.m. PT in Occidental Park. Fans are invited to view the progression of the mural at Westlake Plaza between 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. PT on Friday and Saturday, as well check out Windows 10 and see the 10 Great Moments Locker Room, a photo display of some of the most iconic moments in the history of the Seattle-Portland rivalry. Sounders FC captain Brad Evans is scheduled to be at Westlake Plaza on Friday between 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. PT to meet fans and celebrate more than 40 years of soccer in the Pacific Northwest. For complete information on the event, visit SoundersFC.com/Windows10.
In addition to the unveiling of the Windows 10 mosaic mural, festivities for Sunday’s March to the Match festivities include a performance by Seattle-based alternative rock group Duke Evers at 12:15 p.m. PT in Occidental Park. The March itself, one of the best traditions in American sports started by the Emerald City Supporters, departs from Occidental Park at 1:00 p.m. PT for CenturyLink Field.
Fans don’t have to wait until Sunday to get their fill of Seattle-Portland soccer, as athletes from Special Olympics Washington and Special Olympics Oregon are taking part in a Sounders-Timbers unified five-v-five match. The match kicks-off from Starfire Stadium at 12:00 p.m. PT and marks the second leg in the annual rivalry series, after the Special Olympics Washington Sounders Unified team won the first leg by a score of 6-3. The Special Olympics match is just the first in a full slate of rivalry fixtures between Sounders FC and Timbers supporters, with the annual clash between Emerald City Supporters FC and Timbers Army FC taking place Saturday afternoon at Starfire Sports. The Men’s II match kicks-off at 2:00 p.m. PT, followed by the Women’s match at 4:00 p.m. PT and the Men’s I match at 6:00 p.m. PT.
Sounders FC caps an eight-match month of August on Sunday with the third and final MLS regular season showdown with Cascadia rival Portland Timbers. Kickoff is set for 2:01 p.m PT on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field, with national television coverage beginning on ESPN at 1:30 p.m. PT.
