The Joe Roth Golden Scarf
In the club's inaugural 2009 MLS season, Sounders FC established a tradition that displays the intense passion of Seattle’s soccer community.
To honor that passion, the club recognizes individuals before select matches with the Golden Scarf. Sounders FC aims to honor members of the community who are either part of the soccer scene or have done remarkable things for it in Seattle.
In 2019, the Golden Scarf was renamed the Joe Roth Golden Scarf in honor of Sounders FC’s inaugural owner Joe Roth. Roth’s vision to bring MLS to Seattle and his indelible impact on Sounders FC represent the types of traits the Golden Scarf was created to recognize.
The club selects a member of the community that is presented with a special gold scarf, which has come to symbolize the game of soccer, which they raise over their heads, signaling to the fans to do the same. Because of the arrangement of the ceremony, the club also has the opportunity to honor a presenter as well.