SEATTLE, WASH. – As Seattle Sounders FC closes out its regular-season slate this Sunday in a dramatic full-stadium showdown with Real Salt Lake at CenturyLink Field (1:00 p.m. PT / ESPN, 107.7 The End, El Rey 1360 AM), the club encourages fans to arrive early to take advantage of the wide array of Fan Appreciation Day activities occurring before and throughout the decisive clash. Across the entire league, Decision Day features simultaneous kickoffs with postseason positions on the line and, in the competitive Western Conference, the Rave Green can clinch a place in the Audi 2016 MLS Cup Playoffs with a win, as well as a loss or draw by Portland or Sporting Kansas City.
Immediately prior to kickoff, longtime Sounders FC defender Zach Scott – often referred to as “Mr. Sounder” as a nod to his 15 years representing Seattle soccer – is being honored with a Golden Scarf in recognition of his storied career. Scott intends to retire following the conclusion of the 2016 season.
Gates open at 11:30 a.m. PT, with the first 20,000 fans to arrive at CenturyLink Field set to a receive one-of-a-kind Scott bobblehead, presented by Xbox. As the match’s presenting sponsor, Xbox: Gears of War 4 is also offering additional matchday activities that allow fans to combine their love of gaming and Sounders FC, as the team debuts its exclusive Gears of War 4-themed kits at home.
To dress like their favorite players, fans can also bring in their Pacific Blue jerseys to The Pro Shop at CenturyLink Field on Sunday to have it embellished with the Gears 4 mark. This special service is only available on October 23 and takes place while supplies last. There are also a limited number of authentic Pacific Blue Gears 4-themed jerseys available for purchase on-site.
Fans can demo the Gears of War 4 game at the Xbox booth in the northwest concourse and can take photos with their squad in the Gears of War 4 photo booth. Just for participating and sharing photos via Twitter or Instagram with #XboxPhotoContest, fans are entered to win an Xbox One S Gears of War 4 Bundle and a limited edition Gears 4 Seattle Sounders FC jersey.
A bevy of other giveaways for fans are set to take place throughout the match, including:
- 37 Xbox Gears of War 4 prize packs, each to include a Pacific Blue Gears 4 embellished jersey, Xbox One backpack and Gears of War 4 Ultimate Edition
- Two Delta Air Lines round-trip tickets
- 20 McDonald’s $15 Arch Cards, provided by McDonald’s Restaurants of Western Washington
- 30 Starbucks $10 gift cards
- 40 Chipotle free burrito, burrito bowl, salad or order of tacos certificates
- One BECU $350 MasterCard Gift Card, four front row seats and four Field Club passes to the first Sounders FC 2016 playoff match (play-in or conference semi-final)
- One SUBWAY® $100 gift card, provided by SUBWAY® Restaurants of Western Washington
- 20 Oberto Beef Jerky packages
- 500 Delta Dental Oral Health Kits
- One team autographed Olympic White jersey, provided by adidas
- 20 co-branded 76 and Sounders FC scarf and a 76-branded t-shirts
- One TireBuyer.com $200 credit toward a set of new Continental Tires
- One TireBuyer.com $100 credit toward a new set of Continental Tires
- Four tickets to the 2017 Sounders FC regular-season home opener, provided by StubHub
- 600 StubHub portable phone chargers
- One Hyatt one-night getaway package, including a one-night stay for Hyatt at Olive 8, $100 Elaia Spa gift card and a $100 Urbane Restaurant gift card
- One Hyatt two-night getaway package, including a two-night stay for Hyatt at Olive 8, a $100 Elaia Spa Gift Card and a $100 Urbane Restaurant gift card
- 200 soccer balls, provided by adidas
Halftime also includes the club’s presentation of its MatchPass Fan of the Year Award. This is the fourth season that Sounders FC has honored a Season Ticket Member with the coveted award. The recipient is set to receive a trip for two to a 2017 road match.
Beginning at 11:00 a.m. PT on Sunday, fans can also stop by The NINETY to celebrate Fan Appreciation with additional giveaways, free pizza and drink specials that include a Sounderita by El Jimador, an Official Partner of Sounders FC, and glasses of Sounders FC wine by Columbia Crest, the Official Wine Partner of Sounders FC. The NINETY will also be distributing fan-favorite Alcatel Player Emojis and special Rave Green leis to further show support of Scott, a proud Hawaiian.
March to the Match activities begin in Occidental Park at 10:45 a.m. PT, as Seattle natives The Hoot Hoots perform for fans, followed by a Decision Day Chalk Talk hosted by Jason Rantz and featuring Sounders FC special guests. The March itself, one of the best traditions in American sports started by the Emerald City Supporters, departs from Occidental Park at 12:00 p.m. PT for CenturyLink Field.
Sunday's kickoff is slated for 1:00 p.m. PT as part of MLS Decision Day, and is being carried nationally on ESPN – one of only two nationally broadcast matches on the day, along with FC Dallas’ match at the LA Galaxy on FS1. Fans can also tune into 107.7 The End and El Rey 1360 AM for radio coverage of the match. Currently fifth in the Western Conference, Seattle (13-14-6, 45 points) can take control of the fourth position with a win over Real Salt Lake (12-11-10, 46 points). Tickets are still available for Sunday's full-stadium match and can be purchased via the following link: http://sndrs.com/zeqq.
