smsupers

We are not fans. We are supporters.

We support our players, our club, our city, our region and our league. We support the growth of soccer in the United States and the Americas. We support the health of soccer, futbol, football, calcio — the world’s sport — globally. We know how football influences and shapes our character. We’ve seen the immense impacts this game (game?!) has had on all cultures and peoples, in times of both extreme jubilation and intense despair. We’ve ridden ups and downs in life and sport — and we clutch for more. We challenge, congratulate, curse, cry and communicate in the same language, regardless of the dialect used to form verbs.

We see the spectrum of humanity’s beauty and ugliness in this sport. We know soccer makes our lives more complete, more informed. We know football opens opportunities, hearts and minds. We want to share soccer with as many people as possible. We want to ensure football executes its enormous social responsibility. We want to be a part, while we can, of shaping soccer into a sport we can leave for future generations and know it’s accomplishing so much more than simple entertainment. We’re proud to be ambassadors of soccer and the northwest through our Sounders lifestyle — we lead by example.

Sounders ’till We Die.

Community

Emphasize community involvement in the Sounders and the responsibility of sport locally and globally. Beyond representing the exceptional (and cumulative) efforts of pacific northwest residents, being obvious and entirely feasible, Sounders FC must — at its core — take large-scale and intense initiatives to act responsibly in our world and remain true to its Cascadian roots.

Local food and beverages in Qwest. Support Dave Clark’s efforts, where he makes a sensible case for better beer selection in Qwest.

Implement full use of biodegradable cups, trays, utensils, etc….

Portland and Vancouver will struggle to capture local markets, let alone regional. Around the Northwest, it is clear the Sounders are well on their to way to becoming ‘the region’s franchise’ — let’s seal the deal.

• Club represents identity of Seattle, Cascadia and Pacific Northwest fanbase.
• Request greater accountability in coverage and match scheduling from FSN’s regional broadcasting.
• Need to reflect in all aspects of club from players to stadium environment (stadium environment should be front office priority as well).

State of Washington passes Sounders FC resolution, acknowledging just how valuable a member of our community the club is.

Stadium Experience

The organically-generated decibels and atmosphere at Qwest already brings tears to my eyes. It will grow as the entire stadium learns chants, songs and etiquette unique to Sounders matches. The pregame atmosphere for the inaugural match with Red Bull was unrivaled by the rest of the season in my mind. Yes, it was fueled by a year of building anticipation and a community’s dreams coming to realization, but what really fired me up were Red Bull supporters in the streets and pubs. Having a physical reminder — gently putting a face to the enemy, if you will — that their are other people who care almost as much as we all do about the Sounders about their club makes for a more dynamic experience before, during and after the match. In the stadium, a strong contingent of visiting supporters guarantees the energy of both sides playing will be represented, and the ebbs and swells of the game on the pitch will be rightly magnified. The voice, songs and chants of supporters influence the players while simultaneously offering an outlet for emotions, opinions and anything that needs to be communicated by the supporters. [why it's better w/away supporters present...intensity of emotion w/something physical to focus on, connection,

To really, truly and fully capture the intensity of the event, both sides must have each other to play off ... compare to euro environments?. Romping in the park with your buddies is lots of fun, it's much more fun if the kids you stole the cookies from are watching inside the fence.

Encourage away support:

• Sounders front office should assist in ticket procurement for as many traveling Sounders supporters as possible.
• When able, Sounders front office should recommend accommodations, arrange deals and, eventually, provide complete traveling packages. (This is also a way to generate further revenue from away matches.)
• Away supporters in Qwest should be accommodated and assisted. From providing travel documents specific to 'soccer supporters visiting Seattle' with a variety of lodging options provided, bars (an established 'away' bar?), restaurants and activities (the Seattle Chamber of Commerce will surely be interested in helping...) to facilitating ticket sales through the visiting teams' front offices, visiting Seattle for a Sounders match can be made straight-forward, stress-free and a proud representation of our beautiful city and residents.
• Away supporters deserve as many tickets as they want until Qwest is at capacity.
• @asoc on the ECS boards made the off-hand remark:
  

  The FO [Front Office] needs to do what DC does with away supporters. Put them in the upper bowl by themselves. The more away supporters the better.

  I couldn’t agree more. Until the stadium is filled, let’s set aside the Hawk’s Nest for away support. The Nest provides a big enough block of tickets together that I challenge an away side (until Portland and Vancouver join…) to fill it. Also, the Nest would not look horrible and empty if not filled as it’s a separate structure and away supporters can pack the front, so unlike having empty seats in the middle of a bowl section a half (or less) full Hawk’s Nest is not detrimental to stadium atmosphere.

Build Chant Repertoire of Entire Stadium:

• devote section of blog to video/audio/lyrics of chants –> ECS videos, chants for foundation
• print/distribute fliers with 2-3 common chants for ENTIRE STADIUM, with tickets from opening day
• chant examples: “when the spurs come marching in” (all of White Heart Lane knows and is in full chorus)
• we’re discussing the progress of Sounders stadium-wide and considering the most plausible songs to use in early campaigns to get everyone a-singin’ here

Tifo, two-sticks, flags, etc.:

• live art
• participatory art
• encourage cooperation between all sections of Brougham End
• GROW, GROW, GROW. In 2010 let’s pull off tifo that is coordinated between both ends of the stadium and covers both entirely.
• Immortal Fury has a Flag Initiative that is awesome — they help get simple green/blue flags into whichever section wants them!
• building community –> inside and outside of the stadium

Sporting

Fill Qwest to 63,000+ capacity by playing football with style and by winning. It’s a simple formula, but proven to be highly successful, but execution requires total supporter commitment and a clear technical vision on the part of the front office.

Player Development:

• YOUTH ACADEMY
• capitalize on Washington’s soccer players and the region’s strong lower-division clubs
• develop, build, retain, sell … some will stay, others will go. stardom and american quality + transfer cash = Sounders dominance

Sounders must remain fiscally sound and profitable, while re-investing significantly in club infrastructure.

Insure continued success of league while encouraging more club freedom and player rights.

Commitment to promoting CONCACAF Champions League (CCL) and increasing the prestige of CCL and US Open Cup

• expanded rosters
• Use — current until Qwest is entirely open (three years?) — capacity for all league, CCL and US Open Cup (tournament proper) matches.
• international soccer … the seattle market wants, understands and is ready to slam seven home against some motha’ f-in Pachuca or someone from Mexico next spring.