2015 is underway.
If you had the pleasure of attending last weekend’s match, you know that sitting (or standing) in the seats at CenturyLink Field means more than just taking in some of the finest soccer in North America. The Sounders FC experience goes beyond the 90 minutes of play and appeals to a wide audience.
Sunday’s home-opener was the perfect example.
Before the teams walked out of the tunnel, nearly 500 Sounders FC fans paraded onto the Xbox Pitch, scarves, banners and flags held high. Uniformed military unfurled the nation’s colors as the stadium was led in the Star-Spangled Banner. Minutes later, Emerald City Supporters executed a complex tifo display highlighting the Sounders 2014 Supporters’ Shield win.
All of this before the match even began.
The show before the show, if you will, is an intricate formula that involves many moving parts. Each week, Al Raitt, Director of Game Presentation, and Jessica Hancock, Manager of Gameday Entertainment, plan a run of show that could excite even the most casual soccer fan. The start of a new season means being innovative, and also executing a fair amount of updates.
“We have to make sure that everything is perfect for the opening. With that comes updating everything in the stadium, from signage to the videos on the scoreboards,” Raitt says. “You want to put the best foot forward and have everything looking like a brand new experience every year.”
To add another element of complexity to opening day, Raitt joined the team just weeks before the opening match.
“For me, coming here from another team three weeks before opening day was a fun challenge,” said Raitt “I think I have spent more time at the stadium than at home so far. I want to make the gameday experience the best it possibly can be, and there is nothing that beats the Sounders’ gameday experience.”
Raitt is in good company, joining Hancock, who is heading into her fourth season with the club.
“Year by year, our on-field elements have gained momentum while attempting to captivate our fans with eye-catching arrangements,” explains Hancock. A typical matchday presentation includes about 150 volunteers that begin rehearsals two to four hours prior to kickoff.
“From the team march down the red carpet, to celebrating the league by representing each club with its own flag, to unveiling a massive 100 foot Sounders FC shield banner, my personal goal is to continue honoring the traditions that have been created while pushing our presentation to that next level.”
As the squad heads into its second match of the season, supporters can rest-assured that each match will include new surprises.
“Whether it’s the start of the season, mid-season, or preparing for a championship match, we maintain the same mindset in our preparation,” notes Hancock.
We’ll see you for another amazing show this Saturday.
