Tomorrow, June 25, as Sounders FC hosts Sporting Kansas City in a nationally televised contest on ABC (12:00 p.m. PT / ABC, ESPN Deportes, 93.3 KJR FM, El Rey 1360 AM), the club celebrates Pride Month with its annual Pride Match, presented by Starbucks with a variety special matchday activities.
The game is also a continuation of the Rave Green’s Summer With The Champs. With a stretch of five home matches over four weeks, Summer With The Champs is an invitation to fans – young and old, new and established – to come out to experience summertime fun at Lumen Field with Sounders FC through enjoying a variety of entertaining matchday themes and elements. The festivities culminate on July 9, when the Rave Green will unveil the team’s 2022 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League banner in the rafters at Lumen Field and celebrate their historic continental title ahead of taking on archrival Portland.
Saturday’s match kicks off at 12:00 p.m. PT, with gates opening at 10:30 a.m. PT. With WSDOT planning weekend work on I-5 southbound from I-90 to Spokane Street, fans are encouraged to arrive early and consider public transit options, including SoundTransit’s Sounder Train, which is running a matchday service.
For those arriving by bicycle, the team – in conjunction with Cascade Bicycle Club – is offering a complimentary bike valet program this Saturday. Bicycles can be parked with the bike valet located on Occidental Avenue near the north parking lot of the stadium starting two hours before kickoff and must be claimed no later than one hour after the final whistle.
Fans are also reminded that this weekend’s weather is expected to be warmer than usual, with a heat advisory currently in effect from Saturday through Monday. With such sudden hot weather in the area, fans should take proper precautions such as wearing lightweight clothing, staying hydrated and wearing sunscreen. Only lotion sunscreen is allowed to enter the stadium; no aerosol bottles are permitted. Lumen Field GuestLink stations will have sunscreen available for any guests in need.
Outside of the stadium, fans can look forward to SoundCheck in Occidental Square Park. This public pre-match event is scheduled from 10:00-11:00 a.m. PT on Saturday. Fans can stop by the park to enjoy a party atmosphere, with music by DJ LGSP, performances by SoundWave, games and special Pride-themed giveaways.
The Emerald City Supporters’ March to the Match then departs Occidental Square Park at 11:00 a.m. PT on its way to Lumen Field.
Outside the northwest gates and available to both ticketed and non-ticketed guests, fans can find a special Pride photo experience and inside gates, in the North Plaza, the Rave Green’s SEATTLE letters are wrapped in a Pride theme. Stop by both to snag unique photo mementos from the day.
The first 5,000 fans to enter the stadium receive free Pride sunglasses courtesy of matchday sponsor Starbucks.
Sounders FC partner The Farmer’s Dog is also offering fans the opportunity to receive 50% off their first box of food. Interested fans can pick up a discount card in the North Plaza.
The North Plaza, Northwest Marshalling and West Concourse of the stadium are also where fans can find a selection of interactive games and activities, including:
• Face Painting – Fans can receive a free soccer-themed face painting.
• Pose with a Pro – An augmented reality experience that allows fans to have a virtual meeting with their favorite Sounders FC player, alongside a digital video of their encounter to share online.
• Sounders Penalty Kick – A digital activation where fans get five chances to score a goal against a virtual goalkeeper.
• Soccer Skee-ball – This activation allows fans to play a soccer-themed version of Skee-Ball, kicking a ball down a ramp, rather than rolling it, in order to score as many points as possible.
• Soccer Billiards – Fans can play a soccer-themed version of pool, challenging a partner and kicking colored soccer balls into the oversized pool table pockets before their opponent does.
Fans shouldn’t forget to make time to take a photo with the 2022 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League trophy, which is on display and available for photo opportunities in the Southwest Field Plaza.
The Lumen Field Pro Shop is featuring an exclusive Pride Collection that includes limited-run products, including 2022 adidas Pride warmup tops, a Pride-themed Sounders FC t-shirt, Pride scarf and several other souvenirs.
Fans can grab a special treat and support a local business by visiting the PNW Marketplace concessions area, located in the East Concourse outside Section 113. At tomorrow’s match, Frelard Tamales – a Latinx and LGBTQ+-owned restaurant based in the Green Lake neighborhood and specializing in handmade tamales – is featured with a special pop-up location.
The national anthem is being performed by Rio Chanae, a neo-soul singer and songwriter and internationally ranked spoken word poet from Seattle.
Immediately before kickoff, “Scarves Up!” is being led by Enrique Nava, a supporter from Pride of the Sound, an Emerald City Supporters subgroup.
On the field, players are wearing special adidas Pride warmup tops, followed by game jerseys that feature Progress Pride flag-inspired jersey numbers and captain armbands. The corner flags are also Pride-themed.
Fans can also look for the giant Progress Pride flag flying at Lumen Field from the Toyota Fan Deck. Hoisted today by players from Sounders FC and OL Reign, the flag is flying through July 1 in honor of Pride Month.
The Progress Pride flag design is a variation of the classic Pride flag and was created by graphic designer Daniel Quasar in 2018. The Progress Pride flag adds a chevron to the classic Pride flag design, with colors representing marginalized communities of color and trans pride, placing emphasis on inclusion and progression.
For further information regarding any of the activities mentioned here, please contact a member of Sounders FC Communications. To learn more about Sounders FC matchdays, health and safety and how to be prepared to attend a match, visit SoundersFC.com/Matchday/Know-Before-You-Go.
