Tomorrow, Saturday, September 10, as Sounders FC hosts Austin FC (5:00 p.m. PT / FOX 13+, Univision-Seattle, Prime Video, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM), the club celebrates its unique Democracy in Sports ethos as it kicks off the Sounders Ballot for Season Ticket Members. The Rave Green are also formally introducing the Emerald Queen Casino Pitch at Lumen Field on Saturday. Announced earlier this week, the new naming rights deal expands an already successful relationship between Sounders FC, the Puyallup Tribe of Indians and the tribe’s Emerald Queen Casino.
A special pitch blessing ceremony performed by Puyallup Tribe Cultural Director Connie McCloud is scheduled to take place before kickoff as part of the match’s opening ceremonies.
With a Seattle Mariners home game scheduled for 6:10 p.m. PT on Saturday and continued Washington State Department of Transportation Revive I-5 work taking place, fans and media are encouraged to arrive early to Lumen Field to avoid increased traffic closer to kickoff. Sound Transit is offering a special matchday Sounder Train service to assist with transportation.
Outside of the stadium, fans can look forward to SoundCheck in Occidental Square Park. This public pre-match event is scheduled from 2:30 – 4:00 p.m. PT. Fans can stop by the park to enjoy a party atmosphere with games, Sounders trivia and prizes and a special performance by the Smokey Brights.
The Emerald City Supporters’ March to the Match then departs Occidental Square Park at 4:00 p.m. PT on its way to Lumen Field.
Inside the stadium, Allstate is upgrading seats at the match for two lucky winners plus a guest. Fans can enter the Allstate upgrade by scanning the QR code from signage posted around the stadium before kickoff. Winners are notified shortly after the match begins and are also given the opportunity to take part in the “Final 20” experience, taking in the final 20 minutes of action from pitchside.
Season Ticket Members can cast their Sounders Ballot at voting booths located in the Northwest Field Plaza. Launched earlier today, the Sounders Ballot gives the club’s Season Ticket Members – collectively known as the Alliance – the opportunity to cast votes on several referendums related to team and Alliance business. Headlining the Sounders Ballot is the 2022 General Manager Vote, which gives the Alliance the opportunity to cast a vote of retention or no confidence in the club’s general manager every four years of that executive’s tenure.
Championed by Drew Carey as a condition to joining the newly minted Sounders FC ownership group in 2008, Democracy in Sports is a pillar of the franchise that believes that fans of the team are empowered to have a real, tangible say in the organization and the right to determine the overall course of the team. This ethos is highlighted by the General Manager Vote, which takes place every four years of a given executive’s tenure. Current General Manager & President of Soccer Garth Lagerwey, hired ahead of the 2015 season, was retained following his first General Manager Vote in 2018 and now faces his second.
In addition to the General Manager Vote, the Sounders Ballot includes the following items:
• Constitution: Alliance Members can vote on amendments to the Alliance Constitution, presented by Alliance Council.
• Humanitarian of the Year: Alliance Members can vote on the player representative from Sounders FC, Tacoma Defiance and Sounders FC Academy to be named Humanitarian of the Year for their respective playing level.
• Fan-Funded Field: Alliance Members can vote on the official name for the Fan-Funded Field being built next season. Fans can continue to donate to this cause here.
• Scarf Vote: Alliance Members can vote on the design of the 2023 Alliance Member Scarf that 2023 Alliance Members receive at the beginning of next season.
Season Ticket Members can cast their ballots in person at home matches tomorrow and September 27, as well as the option to submit via SoundersFC.com/Ballot. Voting closes at 5:00 p.m. PT on September 28.
King County Elections joins Sounders FC’s voting and democracy-themed matchday with a booth in the Northwest Plaza where fans can stop by register to vote and receive more information about voting and elections in King County.
The featured North Plaza food trucks on Sunday are Swagg-n-Wagon, serving bone strips, wings and fries, and VeGo Eatz, a Black-owned vegan food truck, voted best vegan food in the Tacoma area. Sourced in partnership with Intentionalist, these trucks support local diverse-owned small businesses.
Ahead of kickoff, fans will notice a new look on the pitch, with EQC and Puyallup Tribe branding on display in various notable ways throughout Lumen Field, including the center circle, player tunnel, upper-level seating and more.
Earlier this week, Sounders FC announced a new pitch naming rights deal with the Puyallup Tribe of Indians’ Emerald Queen Casino, making the Rave Green’s new home matchday pitch the Emerald Queen Casino Pitch at Lumen Field.
In celebration of this partnership, hundreds of members of the Puyallup Tribe are attending the match on Saturday, with Puyallup Tribe Cultural Director Connie McCloud performing a pitch blessing as part of the match’s opening ceremonies.
As players take the field, the Zulily Dream Team is back in action for the first time since 2020. This matchday staple provides youth escorts for each of the Starting XI of both teams.
Saturday’s national anthem is being performed by Jonathan Wright, while, immediately before kickoff, “Scarves Up!” is being led Seattle Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu.
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.
