You can’t really understand Sounders matchday until you feel it.
90 minutes of end-to-end action on the pitch. Fans roaring in the crowd in unison. Traditions and rituals at Lumen Field that instill a sense of belonging.
It is a perfect place to build memories with friends, family members and fellow fans. And for those who have never been to a match, the Sounders are making easier than ever to experience the electric atmosphere with the club’s First Match On Us program that provides two free tickets to new attendees.
After launching the program to resounding success in 2025, the Seattle Sounders brought the initiative back for 2026, with the intention of reaching new audiences and showing future fans what they’ve been missing.
With two First Match On Us fixtures already complete, the club has done exactly that.
Missouri native and now Gig Harbor resident Tracy Zander and her husband initially signed up for the offer to cheer on St. Louis CITY SC on April 18. Having moved to the Pacific Northwest, the idea was to become fans of both clubs, and witnessing firsthand the Sounders’ 4-1 victory forged a new passion for their local club.
“It was a really fun atmosphere. We enjoyed it very much,” said Zander. “We would definitely attend more matches.”
The sense of community among Sounders supporters specifically left a lasting impression on them.
“The crowd was great. The fans were very into it,” said Zander. “We did wear our St. Louis T-shirts and were not sure if it was a good idea or not. But I tell you what, all of the Sounders fans around us were amazing. They were all just wonderful and supportive.”
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Other new attendees like Jorel Burkholder were born and raised in the Seattle area but had not gone to a match until the FMOU campaign was launched.
“I follow the Sounders on Twitter, and saw a tweet [about it], and I was like, ‘Wait, what's this?’” said Burkholder. “It was very intriguing… I've followed the Sounders for years, but I never had attended the game officially, and my son hadn't either. So, we were like, well, let's give this a shot.”
Burkholder and his son also observed the St. Louis fixture, leaving the 90 minutes with a rave review. On top of the free scarf the father-son duo received upon signing up for FMOU, Burkholder was impressed by the exclusive first-time fan perks that included special activations and giveaways.
“We went to that [FMOU] zone and took a picture, and [my son] ended up signing up for the Kids’ Club, and then he got that bucket cap, and a free concession. I won the same prize and got a free concession. So, it was all in all, a really seamless and fun experience.”
It wasn’t until the crowd erupted after each of Cristian Roldan’s first-half goals, however, that it clicked for Burkholder and his son that being a part of the Rave Green was special.
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“I'm pretty sure my son probably won't forget that. And a nice memory for both of us, experiencing our game together for the first time,” said Burkholder. “And now we would definitely want to experience another one, if not try to get my wife and my daughter involved too, because they both are not the biggest soccer fans, but after we told them what it was like, [that] it was so much fun, we're going to have to all do that together as a family.”
The true testament of the day came from his son’s reaction. Described by his father as meticulous and somewhat reserved, the 12-year-old has to “analyze something before he decides whether he likes it or not.”
“Heading into the pre-game atmosphere, I [asked], ‘Would you maybe want to do this again?’ [And] he was like, ‘Well, I'll reserve my judgment, but I'll let you know a little bit into the game,’” said Burkholder. “And while we were halfway [through], I [asked again], and he was like, ‘We have to come back. This is one of the most fun things I've ever done.’”
First-time attendees still have a chance to participate in First Match On Us and experience the magic of Sounders matchdays, with 14 home matches remaining this season. You can learn more and register for the program HERE.
