Ahead of the Seattle Sounders’ match at LAFC in their inaugural game at the new Banc of California Stadium (6 p.m. PT; FS1, YouTube TV, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM), SoundersFC.com caught up with LAFC goalkeeper and former Seattle Sounder Tyler Miller. Miller, who spent two and a half years with the Sounders and won the 2016 MLS Cup, talks about his transition to LAFC, coming back to Seattle to play, hanging out with Jordan Morris in Los Angeles and more. NOTE: This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.
SOUNDERSFC.COM: How has the transition to LAFC been?
MILLER: It’s been good. Coming from Seattle to here, we weren’t really sure what everything was going to be like. There was obviously a lot of growing pains throughout the move. We started at UCLA, we didn’t have a facility, we didn’t have a stadium, we had to play six away games. But overall, I think everybody has taken it in stride and we’ve done well so far going 4-2.
SOUNDERSFC.COM: How has the move to Southern California been for you personally?
MILLER: I’ve enjoyed it a lot, I’m really loving LA. I live nine blocks from the beach, so it’s not a bad life for me down here. I’ve got a lot of friends down here too, so it’s been a nice transition for me.
Miller with the Sounders against D.C. United last July | USA Today Sports
SOUNDERSFC.COM: What was it like coming to play the Sounders in Seattle and being an opponent, staying in a hotel room and having to use the visitor’s locker room?
MILLER: It’s funny because I was talking with Walker [Zimmerman] and he was telling me all about the pregame meal and how [the hotel] has a really nice salad bar. He expected me to know everything about it, but I didn’t know what was he was talking about because clearly I’ve never been in the away hotel before. [Laughs]. There was a lot of emotion going into that game for me. My parents were coming out for the game and seeing everybody who I had built up a good two and a half years of a relationship with. It was a good experience for me. Coming away with a win, too, made it all the more special.
SOUNDERSFC.COM: Did you get a chance to do anything fun while you were up here or eat at any of your favorite restaurants?
MILLER: I got to go Momiji in Capitol Hill. That was one of my favorite sushi spots, so that was a good time with my parents.
SOUNDERSFC.COM: How weird was it knowing you were going to play your first game with LAFC against your old team who you just went to MLS Cup with only a couple months before?
MILLER: It definitely was. The first moment [the home openers] got released, I was actually sitting next to Chad Marshall. We were sitting on Chad’s couch and just laughing at how funny it is that our first game will be in Seattle against those guys. It was a funny circumstance that that’s how it worked out. It was nice because I was able to come back and the fans gave me a nice applause. I was able to say hi to everybody and they were lighthearted and in a good mood, so that was a nice moment for me.
Miller with LAFC playing against Seattle in the 2018 season opener | USA Today Sports
SOUNDERSFC.COM: How was it hanging out with Jordan when he visited you in Los Angeles when he got his ACL surgery?
MILLER: We got to go out to dinner and spend some time together. I want to be there for Jordan because he’s going through a tough time right now. It’s nice that he was able to come down here and we were able to just spend some time together and take his mind off everything and just be there for him. At the end of the day, we are just humans and we’re friends. You take soccer out of the equation and we’re still just a bunch of guys being friends and hanging out and joking about everyday life.
SOUNDERSFC.COM: What is it like having so many Seattle connections down there with Calum Mallace, Aaron Kovar, equipment manager Scott Tranilla and Assistant Coach Ante Razov?
MILLER: It’s almost like a second home for everybody from Seattle. Everybody came down here and slowly but surely the staff got built up and a few players got added on. It’s really been a nice transition in terms of, ‘Who am I going to hang out with? Am I going to have friends? Where am I going to live?’ I was able to talk to all of those guys and we were able to coordinate and we probably hang out at least once a week. It’s been a good way to transition.
SOUNDERSFC.COM: What atmosphere are you expecting on Sunday at the new Banc of California Stadium?
MILLER: I think it’s going to be incredible. The fans in L.A., they’ve been behind this club for three years now. It hasn’t been like, ‘Oh, the team’s here, now we can get behind it.’ The fans have been building their base and their supporters over the course of several years, so I think on Sunday it’s going to be an insane atmosphere. It’s going to be a really special culmination for LAFC and the club and the supporters most importantly.
