Seattle filled with Sounders spirit ahead of hosting historic MLS Cup final on Sunday

SEATTLE, WASH. – The Puget Sound region’s support for Sounders FC reaches a fever pitch this weekend, as area businesses and institutions band together to support the club ahead of Sunday’s historic MLS Cup Final. The Rave Green are hosting Toronto FC at CenturyLink Field, and with an expected crowd in excess of 69,000, the game will mark the most-watched soccer game in Washington State history. Sunday’s match provides a chance for Sounders FC to win its second MLS Cup in four seasons, but this time on Seattle’s home turf, after having defeated Toronto at BMO Field in 2016 for the club’s first league championship.

The match is being nationally broadcast on ABC and Univision, with a prompt 12:08 p.m. kickoff, so fans are encouraged to be in their seats early to lend the Rave Green the homefield advantage for which CenturyLink Field is famous. 

A wide variety of civic activations are set take place throughout Seattle in the coming days, as community institutions join with the club to spread excitement and pride around the greater metropolitan area surrounding the MLS Cup Final.

GOVERNMENT ACTIVATIONS

The City of Seattle is hosting a flag raising ceremony on Friday, November 8 at 9:30 a.m. PT at City Hall, where Mayor Jenny Durkan and Sounders FC General Manager & President of Soccer Garth Lagerwey are hoisting a Sounders FC flag that is flying at City Hall through Sunday, November 10.

The King County Administration Building is raising its Sounders FC flag on Friday, November 8 at 12:00 p.m. PT, which is flying through Sunday, November 10. The flag raising is being hosted by King County Executive Dow Constantine.

Earlier this week, the
City of Tukwila
presented Sounders FC with a
proclamation
from Mayor
Allan Ekberg
declaring November 10, 2019 as “Seattle Sounders FC Spirit Day” in the city. Tukwila’s Starfire Sports has served as the club’s official training grounds since its beginning in MLS and even through part of its USL history.

COMMUNITY ACTIVATIONS

The Space Needle will fly a giant Sounders FC flag from Friday, November 8 through Sunday, November 10. The flag is being hoisted Friday morning by former Sounders Chad Marshall and Brad Evans, members of Seattle’s 2016 MLS Cup Championship team.

In addition to flying a flag, the Space Needle is adding Sounders spirit to Seattle’s skyline after dark by lighting up Rave Green from Friday night through the weekend.

Pike Place Market, one of Seattle’s most iconic and well-trafficked locations proudly displays its support for Sounders FC as it flies a Sounders FC flag from the Corner Market flagpole through the weekend.

Additionally, the famous Pike Place Market fishmongers are supporting their local club by donning Sounders FC gear and decorating their Market stall.

As in earlier playoff rounds, Market celebrity Rachel the Piggy Bank will again dress up with a Sounders FC scarf from Friday, November 8 through Sunday, November 10.

Sounders fans are encouraged to do their part to bring a second championship to the Rave Green by stopping in to take advantage of the area legend that promises good luck to those who rub Rachel’s snout and make a wish with their donation.

All donations to the Market Piggy Banks support services in Pike Place Market, so fans can give to a good cause while bringing luck to Sounders FC and capturing one-of-a-kind Seattle photographs.

The much-beloved Fremont Troll – a mixed media public sculpture designed by artists Steve Badanes, Will Martin, Donna Walter and Ross Whitehead – shows his Sounders spirit as he dons a Troll-sized scarf on from Friday, November 9 through Sunday, November 10. Fans are encouraged to stop by Troll’s Knoll Park for this one-of-a-kind Seattle photo op.

The Pacific Science Center is flying a Sounders FC flag and its courtyard dinosaurs are dressing in Sounders FC scarves on Friday, November 9 through Sunday, November 10. In addition, PacSci is offering 20% off general admission Saturday through Monday for those wearing Sounders gear and mentioning “Go Sounders” at the ticketing window. On matchday, face painting is being provided from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. PT.

Starbucks will fly a specially crafted giant Sounders FC flag from its corporate headquarters in Sodo from Friday, November 8 through Sunday, November 10.

Delta Air Lines, the official airline of Sounders FC, is giving passengers at various gates both into and out of Sea-Tac cobranded rally towels so that fans can show their support of the club even while they are traveling.

All Washington State Ferries sailing into and out of Colman Dock on Bainbridge and Bremerton routes from Friday, November 8 through Sunday, November 10 are flying Sounders FC flags. Earlier this week, the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy arrived in Seattle via ferry.

Seattle Aquarium displays a Sounders FC flag within its Window on Washington Waters display. This 120,000-gallon exhibit features a 20x40 foot viewing window into the sea life of Washington’s outer coast, and from Friday, November 8 through Sunday, November 10, the Sounders FC flag will spread team spirit even under the water.

Woodland Park Zoo flies a Sounders FC flag at its south entrance flagpole and will utilize Sounders FC soccer balls in enrichment activities for its penguins.

Argosy Cruises, a Seattle waterfront staple, is flying a Sounders FC flag on its Harbor Cruise vessel which takes customers on a tour of Elliott Bay with unique views of the city.

Cinerama trades its distinct red and blue for Rave Green and Sounder Blue, sharing a special Sounders FC message on its Fourth Avenue marquee through the weekend.

Easy Street Records
, a West Seattle institution, supports Sounders FC with a message on its distinctive
marquee
.

LIGHTING ACTIVATIONS

The Russell Investments Center, through building owner CommonWealth Partners, is set to light up the city’s waterfront. The building’s crown lighting will glow Rave Green from Thursday, November 7 through Sunday, November 10, and the building will feature a special Sounders FC-themed lighting on Saturday, November 9.

The building is once again displaying the special “Born In ‘74” lighting in tribute to year the Sounders were founded, complete with an 18-story “74” shining brightly in the windows along its west façade. The display should be fully visible roughly 40 minutes after sunset.

T-Mobile is going Rave Green for Sounders FC on Saturday, November 8. Known for its distinctive magenta lighting that illuminates the company headquarters in Factoria, T-Mobile shows its support for the Sounders by trading magenta for Rave Green ahead of Sunday’s MLS Cup Final.

The Seattle Mariners support their neighbors by changing T-Mobile Park’s magenta lighting to Rave Green on Friday, November 8 and Saturday, November 9.

In addition, as in earlier rounds of playoffs this season, the Mariners will dress the Ken Griffey Jr. statue in his Sounders FC jersey to lend extra support from a Seattle sports legend.

Jonathan Borofsky’s Hammering Man, located in front of Seattle Art Museum at the corner of First Avenue and University Street, throws his support behind the hometown team on the evenings of Friday, November 8 and Saturday, November 9, as he glows Rave Green.

The Amazon Spheres in South Lake Union go green this weekend to stand behind the hometown soccer team.

MOHAI 
– The Museum of History & Industry – is scheduled to light up South Lake Union’s waterfront on Friday, November 8 and Saturday, November 9 as the institution’s building-front glows Rave Green in support of its hometown soccer team.

CHI Franciscan will light its St. Joseph’s Medical Center Rave Green on Friday, November 8 and Saturday, November 9.

The SR 520 bridge is scheduled to light its sentinels Rave Green on Friday, November 8 through Sunday, November 10.

The Allen Institute, founded by late Sounders FC Owner and Seattle icon Paul Allen, lights green on Friday, November 8 and Saturday, November 9.

Columbia Center and its crown lighting will glow green in support of Sounders FC on Friday, November 8 and Saturday, November 9.

• The Seattle Great Wheel will light the waterfront Rave Green from Thursday, November 7 through Saturday, November 9.

• CenturyLink Field and its recognizable arches are scheduled to light Rave Green from Thursday, November 7 through Sunday, November 10.

• The Hyatt at Olive 8 is lighting its rooftop green from Friday, November 8 through Sunday, November 10 in support of Sounders FC.

• The W Hotel turns its lights Rave Green to support Sounders FC on Friday, November 8 and Saturday, November 9.

• The Westin goes green with its building lights on Friday, November 8 and Saturday, November 9.

• Washington State Convention Center provides a Rave Green glow downtown on Friday, November 8 and Saturday, November 9.

Following its decisive 3-1 victory over LAFC at Banc of California Stadium last Tuesday evening, Sounders FC secured its third berth in Major League Soccer’s title game within four seasons. The Rave Green play host to a familiar foe in the Reds, as Sounders FC has faced Toronto FC in all three of its MLS Cup Finals, with a win in 2016 followed by a loss in 2017.

Sunday’s match sold out almost immediately upon being opened to the public, with a crowd in excess of 69,000 expected. Fans who choose to who choose to utilize the secondary market to find seats are reminded to choose a verified reseller to avoid counterfeit tickets.