Throughout the 2025 MLS regular season, the Sounders selected 11 home fixtures to host its First Match On Us campaign, an initiative geared toward people who have never experienced the electric feeling of a matchday at Lumen Field. By registering HERE, new fans can opt in for a free ticket and experience all that a Sounders matchday has to offer.
Saturday marks the club’s third-ever First Match On Us event when the team takes on St. Louis CITY SC at home (7:30 p.m. PT; Watch on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, 93.3 KJR FM, El Rey 1360AM). Whether it be the incredible atmosphere driven by the team’s supporters, or Seattle’s current unbeaten streak, this match is bound to be an unforgettable one. And by signing up for First Match On Us, first-time fans will have the opportunity to receive exclusive perks through giveaways and special activations including a free scarf, a coupon for 50% off The Anniversary Kit at the Pro Shop, a first match photo station, enter-to-win contests and more.
Take it from First Match On Us attendee Elian Castillo who went to the Sounders’ 3-0 win over Nashville SC on April 19: It’s “special.”
“Not only did the team make it special because they blew those guys out of the pond, but also the people around [me]... Watching them cheer, to the top of their lungs, screaming. And then I see myself screaming, and then I see other people screaming along with me, that kind of stuff. It makes me want to buy another ticket,” he said.
Castillo went to the match without ever attending an MLS contest. While he’s been in the Seattle area for almost a decade, attending a Sounders match was not on his radar until the recent launch of the campaign.
The matchday exceeded his expectations.
“It feels like you're in Europe, you know, watching El Clasico. I was stoked. I was happy,” he said. “[The Sounders] have a very strong fan base, and it's loud. I've been to a few games, big games, where there were a lot of people, more than there, and the amount of people that were at this game was just damn near as loud as what I've experienced in Europe, and that really caught me off guard a lot.”
It was the fans in particular that made his experience worthwhile. The 25-year-old describes himself as someone who is typically shy, but went out of his comfort zone to attend the match alone. The supporters around him made sure that his time at Lumen Field was not only a comfortable environment, but an exciting one as well.
“The people are so nice, so genuine, so kind, very helpful, “ said Castillo. “They're very involved with the game and what's going on with the team. It feels at home. The cheering and the moments of slightness, you know, mishap or whatnot, the cheering is just always there, the support and then just striking conversations with strangers.”
First Match On Us
This is your invitation to the world’s game—a chance to see why Sounders FC matchdays are like no other. Whether you’re new to Seattle, new to soccer, or just curious about the Sounders, this is your opportunity to join thousands of passionate fans and be part of something unforgettable.
Despite Castillo’s curiosity that came with never attending a Sounders or MLS fixture, the California native entered April 19th’s match with uncertainty given his previous exposure to the atmosphere that makes up European soccer matches. But after the 90 minutes of matchplay, he left Lumen Field not only as a Sounders fan, but knowing he will be back for future matches.
“[This was] long overdue,” said Castillo. “I would have to double down with the Seattle Sounders. I'm Seattle all the way through.”
When asked to rank how likely he would recommend the First Match On Us experience to others, Castillo provided a resounding yes.
“If I would say anything to anybody, don't knock it until you try it, because that's what I was doing,” said Castillo. “I was [initially] knocking it, [thinking], ‘American games, they're not going to be like European games. They don't have that energy.’ I was wrong. The Seattle Sounders proved me wrong, and the fan base, especially the fan base, because they rocked the heck out of that stadium.”
