SEATTLE, WASH. - Following a break from league play, Sounders FC returns to MLS action tomorrow evening as it hosts D.C. United on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field (7:30 p.m. PT / Q13 FOX, KIRO Radio 97.3 FM, El Rey 1360 AM). Presented by adidas, Wednesday's pre and in-match festivities are designed to celebrate RAVE Foundation, the club's charitable arm.
Starting at 5:00 p.m. PT, fans can stop by The NINETY to view the team's trophy case and other items while enjoying a beer from Shawn O'Donnell's beer garden, or a special-edition "RAVE Green" cucumber-agave margarita, with a portion of drink proceeds benefiting RAVE Foundation.
At the March to the Match in Occidental Park, Matchday Insider host Jason Rantz is set to welcome Sounders FC alums Roger Levesque and Zach Scott to the stage for a Q&A at 6:00 p.m. PT. Both Levesque and Scott, in addition to their prodigious playing careers with Seattle, currently serve on the RAVE Foundation board. Following the Q&A, young fans have the chance to play futsal with both club legends from 6:30-7:15 p.m. PT in the stadium's Northeast Plaza, where a RAVE Octagon will be placed.
Throughout the match, fans have some unique ways to support RAVE's mission of using soccer as a vehicle to empower and inspire while strengthening the Seattle community. At any point in the game, fans can donate to the foundation's One Ball program - which aims to provide high-quality soccer balls to underserved children - by sending a single text message. Texting ONEBALL to 20222 provides a simple $10 donation to RAVE, ensuring that the organization can continue empowering children to be inclusive, healthy, safe and active with their very own soccer balls.
On the field during halftime, a taste of the One Ball program is on display, as nearly 100 children selected by local community centers take to the pitch to receive RAVE soccer balls presented by Levesque, Scott and members of Alliance Council.
In addition to giving via text, RAVE is also hosting a live matchday auction to raise funds for its endeavors. Most items are to be displayed in Soccer Celebration prior to the match, but fans can view the full listing of offerings at www.Sounders.Gesture.com. A wide variety of both items and personal experiences are being offered, from match-worn and autographed apparel - including the club's one-of-a-kind adidas Parley kits worn against the LA Galaxy in April - to the chance to play a round of foot golf with Roger Levesque, have a post-match meet-and-greet with Stefan Frei, spend the final 20 minutes of a match on the pitch, and many other exciting options.
Fans are able to bid via the website above or using their cell phones by texting SOUNDERS to 52182, which provides users access to the items and bidding interface. This allows all Sounders FC fans - whether at the match or keeping up with the team elsewhere - a chance to bid. The auction closes at the end of halftime.
In addition to all RAVE elements at Wednesday's match, Sounders FC is also offering fans a way to keep an eye on the progress the U.S. Men's National Team as it competes in the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup. The Stars and Stripes - whose roster includes Seattle forwards Clint Dempsey and Jordan Morris - are set to face El Salvador in the tournament's Quarterfinal Round on Wednesday evening in a 6:00 p.m. PT kickoff. The videoboards at CenturyLink Field are scheduled to show the first half of the match and, at the time that Sounders FC-specific programming takes over, televisions located throughout the stadium will continue playing the USMNT action.
After a 1-1 draw in an international friendly against Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt on July 8, the Rave Green return to league play against D.C. United, followed closely by a second home match four days later against the San Jose Earthquakes on Sunday, July 23 (7:30 p.m. PT / JOEtv, Univision-Seattle, ROOT SPORTS, KIRO Radio 97.3, El Rey 1360 AM).
