As Sounders FC kicks off a three-match homestand this Saturday – hosting the New York Red Bulls before a midweek battle against the San Jose Earthquakes next Wednesday, followed by the club’s highly anticipated doubleheader matchday with OL Reign against the Portland Timbers and Portland Thorns, respectively, next Saturday – the club and matchday sponsor Providence are teaming up as part of Mental Health Awareness Month to present the Providence Mental Health Awareness Match.
This Saturday’s match (7:30 p.m. PT / Apple TV, 93.3 KJR FM, Sirius XM FC, El Rey 1360 AM) features a variety of special activations and matchday elements designed to help explain mental health and wellness, provide actionable steps to support mental wellbeing, inform fans about Sounders FC and Providence’s commitment to mental health and reinforce the two organizations’ commitment to Renton School District.
Stadium gates open at 6:00 p.m. PT. Fans wishing to take part in the Emerald City Supporters’ official March to Match should gather in Occidental Square Park, with the march departing at 6:30 p.m. PT on its way to the stadium.
Sounders FC encourages fans to utilize alternate forms of transportation to attend matches. For those cycling to the game, Sounders FC offers a complimentary bike valet program presented by Providence, as Providence extends its green initiatives through its partnership with Sounders FC. As part of Providence’s vision of health for a better world, it is committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions in an effort to become carbon negative. Across the health system, Providence is making meaningful changes that have reduced emissions by 11.5 percent per year, compared to its 2019 baseline. More about Providence’s commitment to environmental stewardship and progress can be found here.
The bike valet program is available at all of Sounders FC’s MLS regular-season matches through September 1. Located on Occidental Avenue near the north parking lot of the stadium, bicycles can be parked with the bike valet – operated by Cascade Bicycle Club – starting two hours before kickoff and must be claimed no later than one hour after the final whistle.
Fans are reminded that Sounders FC is partnering with CLEAR again this season to help entry into Lumen Field go quickly and smoothly. Just download the free CLEAR App, sign up and then enter through designated CLEAR lanes located at the northwest gates.
Once in the stadium on Wednesday, fans will notice signage throughout the concourses and on stadium video boards tailored to providing mental health tips and sharing the Providence Mental Health Pledge, which encourages people to support mental health awareness in their own lives and communities.
In Lumen Field’s North Plaza, the new Providence Challenge matchday activation is present. At this space, fans can test their soccer and mental skills through three different agility drills and enter by taking the Providence Mental Health Pledge. All participating fans are entered to win an autographed Sounders FC jersey or a pair of tickets to an upcoming home match.
Alongside the Providence Challenge at Saturday’s match is **Work2BeWell**, Providence’s mental health and wellness program focused on providing mental health resources and education for teens, parents and educators. Work2BeWell’s goal is promote teen wellness across the country and work to normalize the conversation about mental health, reducing the stigma that surrounds it. At the Work2BeWell booth, fans can learn more about this important program and receive free giveaways, including a branded bucket hat and ring wallet.
Sammy the Sounder is also spending time in this area to engage with fans and provide “Free Hugs for Mental Health” for anyone interested.
Throughout the stadium, fans can purchase tickets for Sounders FC’s 50/50 raffle. New this year and taking place at every home match, 50/50 tickets are sold from the time gates open through the 50th minute of play. The fan with the winning ticket receives 50 percent of the total amount raised through the raffle sales of the match, with the other 50 percent typically benefiting RAVE Foundation, the official charitable partner of Sounders FC. The winning raffle number is announced between minute 70 and 80 each match and posted to RaveFoundation.org/5050, where more details and official rules can also be found. In celebration of this weekend’s match theme, Providence caregivers are volunteering as 50/50 raffle ticket-sellers and Work2BeWell is the beneficiary of Saturday’s 50/50 raffle earnings, supporting the valuable work that the program is doing in the youth mental health space.
Fans on Saturday can enjoy the continuation of Sounders FC’s BIPOC and diverse-owned food truck and pop-up restaurants, presented by First & Goal Inc. and Levy. Curated by Intentionalist, these local small businesses align with Sounders FC’s social impact and cultural calendar, giving fans the opportunity to discover new culinary delights with food trucks in the stadium’s North Plaza and a pop-up restaurant location in the PNW Marketplace concessions area, located in the east concourse outside of Section 113. In the month of May, featured businesses are all AANHPI-owned, in recognition of AANHPI Heritage Month.
Wednesday’s featured North Plaza food trucks are Big Boys Kainan, serving up delicious Filipino / Hawaiian fusion, and Tabassum, bringing classic Central Asian street food to Lumen Field with its Uzbek cuisine.
The PNW Marketplace features Exotix Snacks and Goods, sharing authentic Ilocano-style Filipino and Guangzhou-style Chinese food along with unique snacks, and Puffy Pandy, offering colorful and tasty mini macarons.
In the North Plaza and stadium concourses, fans can explore and participate in a wide variety of activities, which on Saturday include:
• The Providence Challenge – Fans can test their soccer and mental skills through three different activities at The Providence Challenge, as well as having the opportunity to take the Providence Mental Health Pledge to promise to better their mental health. All participating fans will be entered to win an autographed Sounders FC jersey or a pair of tickets to an upcoming home match.
• * Crossbar Challenge, Presented by Western Washington Toyota Dealers –* The first five fans to hit the crossbar in this interactive skills challenge earn a chance to take a kick on-field at halftime. If a fan hits a crossbar at halftime, Western Washington Toyota Dealers donates $1,000 to RAVE Foundation.
• Sounders Penalty Kick – A digital activation where fans get five chances to score a goal against a virtual goalkeeper.
• Soccer Skee-ball – This activation allows fans to play a soccer-themed version of Skee-Ball, kicking a ball down a ramp, rather than rolling it, in order to score as many points as possible.
• Soccer Billiards – Fans can play a soccer-themed version of pool, challenging a partner and kicking colored soccer balls into the oversized pool table pockets before their opponent does.
• RAVE 2026 Kick Experience – Learn about RAVE Foundation’s 26 Fields by 2026 campaign and attempt to kick a soccer ball through a hole.
• FIFA Gaming Station – Challenge an opponent to a friendly match of FIFA ’23.
• Pose With A Pro – This augmented reality photobooth places fans in photos with their favorite players.
• Sit & Soccer – A one-on-one table soccer game where fans attempt to outscore their opponent.
• Scarves Up! Photo Activation – Raise a scarf and recreate the club’s iconic matchday moment in this new photobooth.
• Sounders ‘Til I Die Instagram Wall – Themed photo opportunity for fans to grab the perfect social media shot.
During the pregame period and throughout the match, fan engagement on the videoboards is being led by special junior matchday emcees Cora Supasasit and Langston Gary, seniors and student leaders from Renton High Schools. Providence and Sounders FC have partnered with Renton School District to develop programs and services as part of a long-term commitment to address youth mental health.
Fans will also hear from Sounders FC players via videoboard messages during pre-match and halftime, as favorite athletes share mental health tips and answer questions about how they work on their own mental health.
Saturday’s RAVE Community Kids of the Match – recognized on-field at every match during the pregame period – include a group of students from Highlands Elementary in Renton. Highlands served as the location of a recent “feelings”-themed school assembly for kindergarten and first grade students, presented by Sounders FC, RAVE Foundation and Providence.
Fans should plan to be in seats ahead of kickoff to enjoy all of Sounders FC’s pre-match traditions, from Boom, Boom, Clap to player lineup announcements.
Sunday’s national anthem is being performed Sounders matchday regular Jonathan Wright, who is also a proud Providence employee. Ahead of the anthem, members of the Renton High School Jazz Band are performing a rendition of “What the World Needs Now.”
The “Scarves Up!” moment is being led Renton School District Superintendent Dr. Damien Pattenaude, alongside Providence Work2BeWell Program Director Jawanza Hadley and Work2BWell student leader from Shorewood High School, Hailey Zaw.
At halftime, RAVE Foundation is sharing the announcement of a new RAVE mini-pitch at Renton’s Tiffany Park, supported by Providence’s Well Being Trust and Work2BeWell program. Joining Sounders FC and RAVE for this announcement are youth from Renton’s Parks and Recreation programs who live near the Tiffany Park neighborhood.
For further information regarding any of the activities mentioned here, please contact a member of Sounders FC Communications. To learn more about Sounders FC matchdays, health and safety and how to be prepared to attend a match, visit SoundersFC.com/Matchday/Know-Before-You-Go.
Single-match tickets for each of the club’s remaining MLS home matches are currently on sale. In addition, Sounders FC Season Memberships and Partial Season Ticket Packages are still available. To purchase single-match tickets or any other ticket packages, fans can call 877-657-4625 or email Sales@SoundersFC.com. Complete information on all Sounders FC ticket packages can be found via SoundersFC.com/Tickets.
