Tomorrow, June 18, as Sounders FC hosts LAFC in a nationally televised contest on ABC (12:00 p.m. PT / ABC, ESPN Deportes, 93.3 KJR FM, El Rey 1360 AM), the club recognizes and celebrates Juneteenth, the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States, with a variety of matchday activities.
The match is also a continuation of the Rave Green’s Summer With The Champs. With a stretch of five home matches over the next four weeks, Summer With The Champs is an invitation to fans – young and old, new and established – to come out to experience summertime fun at Lumen Field with Sounders FC through enjoying a variety of entertaining matchday themes and elements. The festivities culminate on July 9, when the Rave Green will unveil the team’s 2022 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League banner in the rafters at Lumen Field and celebrate their historic continental title ahead of taking on archrival Portland.
Saturday’s match, presented by matchday sponsor Captain Morgan, kicks off at 12:00 p.m. PT, with gates opening at 10:30 a.m. PT.
With a busy day in Seattle sports – featuring a Mariners doubleheader with games at 1:10 p.m. PT and 7:10 p.m. PT and OL Reign at 7:00 p.m. PT – fans should plan for heavier traffic than usual in SoDo and are encouraged to arrive early and consider public transportation options, such as the SoundTransit Sounder train, which is running a special service. In addition, due to a construction project, I-405 is fully closed in both directions this weekend between Northeast Fourth Street and Southeast Eighth Street in Bellevue, which is expected to increase travel times and congestion.
Outside of the stadium, fans can look forward to the return of club pre-match programming in Occidental Square Park for the first time since 2020. Newly dubbed SoundCheck, the programming is scheduled from 10:00-11:00 a.m. PT on Saturday. Fans can stop by the park to enjoy a party atmosphere, with music by local bands, Sounders DJs and SoundWave, participate in family-friendly activities, win Sounders FC prizes and more.
The Emerald City Supporters’ March to the Match then departs Occidental Square Park at 11:00 a.m. PT on its way to Lumen Field.
Outside the northwest gates, fans can stop by the Continental Tire booth for the chance to win a free scarf. Western Washington Toyota Dealers is also onsite with a vehicle display and handing out free clear bags to fans.
Inside gates, in the North Plaza, fans can find featured food truck Zuri’s Gourmet Donutz. Sourced in partnership with Intentionalist, these trucks support local diverse-owned small businesses.
By the North Plaza steps, the Rave Green’s SEATTLE letters are wrapped with a new look to celebrate Juneteenth and adorned with a giant “We the People” scarf, in collaboration with the Northwest African American Museum (NAAM).
The North Plaza, Northwest Marshalling and West Concourse of the stadium are also where fans can find a selection of interactive games and activities, including:
• Face Painting – Fans can receive a free soccer-themed face painting.
• Pose with a Pro – An augmented reality experience that allows fans to have a virtual meeting with their favorite Sounders FC player, alongside a digital video of their encounter to share online.
• 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.
Sounders FC’s charitable arm, RAVE Foundation, adds some color to the concourse with a Goals for Art exhibit, presented by WaFD Bank and featuring artwork created earlier this week by youth from NewHolly, a culturally rich, diverse and thriving Seattle Housing Authority development located between Beacon Hill and Rainier Valley. At Wednesday’s groundbreaking event for two new RAVE small fields at NewHolly, artist Jeremy Bell led young residents in a Goals for Art workshop, one of RAVE’s popular programs. In Goals for Art, children create art that is ultimately used on and around their own RAVE community field. An art program inspired by soccer, Goals for Art fosters social-emotional wellness and belonging while affirming children as stakeholders in their communities.
An interactive "We the People" art piece located near the Goals for Art exhibit allows fans to stop by to color the poster and share what "We the People" means to them.
Fans shouldn’t forget to make time to take a photo with the 2022 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League trophy, which is on display and available for photo opportunities on the East Concourse.
Military members and their families will be on the field to assist with the Rave Green’s pre-match ceremonies and, ahead of kickoff, Sounders FC welcomes NAAM’s African American Cultural Ensemble (ACE) to perform the powerful hymn “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” following by ACE soloist Tommie Burton performing the national anthem.
Immediately before kickoff, in celebration of Seattle securing a spot as a host city for the FIFA World Cup 2026, “Scarves Up!” is being led by SEA 2026 bid committee member and Sounders FC Chief Operating Officer Maya Mendoza-Exstrom, along with several youth from the NewHolly community.
On the field, players are wearing special adidas Unity warmup tops, followed by game jerseys that feature special Juneteenth-inspired jersey numbers. The number art was designed by Judah, a Black queer artist from Childersburg, Alabama, and the vibrant yellow, green and red color palette represents the blood, soil and prosperity of Africa and its people.
All game-worn Juneteenth jerseys from across the league will be available for fans to acquire via an online auction from June 20 – July 5. Proceeds from the auction benefit organizations supporting and uplifting Black communities in the markets of MLS clubs, with Sounders FC’s proceeds RAVE Foundation’s mission to bring free play fields and soccer experiences to youth furthest from play equity, with a focus on serving youth in the Black community. Additional auction information, including how to place a bid, is available on MLSauctions.com.
Activities for fans don’t end after the match. From 2:30-6:00 p.m. PT, in between the day’s Sounders FC and OL Reign matches, fans can join Sounders FC, OL Reign and Intentionalist in supporting Black-owned small businesses, with an afternoon of food, beverages, live music and games all taking place on Occidental Avenue South, outside of WAMU Theater.
Black-owned food trucks will be onsite serving a variety of delicious fare with special deals for customers, including: Zuri’s Gourmet Donutz (free donut for first 50 customers), Umami Kushi (free pan for first 50 customers), Taste of Congo (free meal for first 25 customers), Afella Jollof (free meal for first 25 customers) and Ma and Pops (free popsicle for first 50 customers). A beer garden is also available, featuring beer from Métier Brewing Company, the first Black-owned brewery in Washington. In addition to live music and family-friendly games, Sounders FC’s CCL trophy will also be on display.
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.
