Press Release

Sounders FC celebrates life and legacy of Bruce Lee, global icon with deep Seattle roots, at Saturday's match

Fredy

Seattle Sounders FC today announced activities surrounding the club’s home match this Saturday against FC Dallas (7:30 p.m. PT / Apple TV – Watch Free, 93.3 KJR FM, El Rey 1360 AM). Presented by matchday sponsor Tequila Herradura, the match celebrates the life and legacy of Bruce Lee, the global martial arts and film icon who spent his formative years in Seattle. Coming to consider the Emerald City his home, Lee was buried in Lake View Cemetery in the Capitol Hill neighborhood following his passing at the age of only 32.

Lee died at the height of his fame on July 20, 1973, a month before the release of what would be his best-known film, “Enter the Dragon.” With 2023 marking the 50th anniversary of his final film and passing, Sounders FC earlier this season introduced the Bruce Lee Kit, the club’s new secondary uniform developed through collaboration with Shannon Lee and the Bruce Lee Family Company. The unique jersey – standing out in shades of red and black with sunbeam yellow accents and special details designed to highlight Lee’s legacy and philosophies – pays tribute to a figure who not only looms large in Seattle, but whose life was rooted in impactful principles and whose legacy is still embraced today. In only five months since its release, the Bruce Lee Kit has become the best-selling jersey in Sounders FC’s history.

Building on the meaning surrounding the kit, Saturday’s match serves as an overarching celebration of Lee and the gifts he shared with the world during his life that have endured after he departed. Fans are encouraged to arrive early to enjoy the wide variety of special themed activities available, most notably a striking and impressive on-field pregame ceremony honoring Lee that begins promptly at 7:15 p.m. PT.

Due to a large youth tournament presence throughout the region this weekend, the Green Zone at the Emerald Queen Casino Pitch is being fully opened to accommodate these attendees, with Lumen Field’s north stand set host a sizable contingent from the Washington State youth soccer community at Saturday’s match.

Outside the stadium before the game, fans can stop by Occidental Square Park from 5:00-6:30 p.m. PT to enjoy SoundCheck, Sounders FC’s free pre-match programming held ahead of select home matches. SoundCheck provides free entertainment and activities for all ages in a festive, party-like atmosphere, including live music, food trucks, appearances by Sammy the Sounder and giveaways. This Saturday’s edition of SoundCheck includes music by DJ Gradeay, as well as live performance by Seattle’s Mak Fai Kung Fu Dragon & Lion Dance Association and Bruce Lee-themed photo activations.

Stadium gates open at 6:00 p.m. PT on Saturday and fans wishing to take part in the Emerald City Supporters’ official March to the Match are encouraged to join in as SoundCheck wraps up, with the march departing Occidental Square Park at 6:30 p.m. PT on its way to the stadium.

For fans arriving to the game and enjoying the atmosphere outside of Lumen Field before entering, Seattle-based psychedelic blues and rock band, SuperMother, performs a pre-match concert near the stadium’s southwest gate on Occidental Avenue from 6:00-7:30 p.m. PT. The Mak Fai lion and dragon dancers are also scheduled to make an appearance to surprise and delight fans with the traditional artform.

Fans are reminded that Sounders FC is partnering with CLEAR again this season to help entry into Lumen Field go quickly and smoothly. Just download the free CLEAR App, sign up and then enter through designated CLEAR lanes located at the northwest gates.

Once in the stadium, fans can enjoy the continuation of Sounders FC’s BIPOC and diverse-owned food truck and pop-up restaurants, presented by First & Goal Inc. and Levy. Curated by Intentionalist, these local small businesses align with Sounders FC’s social impact and cultural calendar, giving fans the opportunity to discover new culinary delights with food trucks in Lumen Field’s North Plaza and a pop-up restaurant location in Lumen Field’s PNW Marketplace concessions area, located in the east concourse outside of Section 113. This week, all featured businesses are Asian-owned.

Saturday’s North Plaza food trucks are Big Boys Kainan, offering delicious Filipino / Hawaiian fusion, and Thai-U-Up, providing fresh Thai fare. 

The PNW Marketplace highlights Sweet Alchemy, serving small-batch, locally sourced ice cream made from scratch, and Tai Tung, a family-owned Seattle institution and the city’s oldest Chinese restaurant. Tai Tung was a favorite eatery of Bruce Lee’s during his time in Seattle, and, in addition to other dishes available on Saturday, the pop-up is serving oyster beef, Lee’s favorite dish.

In the North Plaza, fans will find the club’s giant SEATTLE letters draped with a special Bruce Lee scarf – a perfect place for a photo op. Additionally on Saturday, youth can partake in a Soccer Kung Fu clinic, presented by Sounders FC, RAVE Foundation and the Bruce Lee Foundation. The clinic is free and starts at 6:30 p.m. PT. 

The North Plaza is also home to the Bud Light Zone, which features tailgate games and activities including giant Jenga, Connect 4 and more fun for guests of all ages. 

At Lumen Field’s Cityside Bar, fans can partake in Tequila Herradura Happy Hour from 6:00-7:30 p.m. PT, where $9 Tequila Herradura Sounderitas are available, as well as lawn games and the opportunity to enter to win unique prizes.

Throughout the stadium, fans can explore and participate in a wide variety of activities, which on Saturday include:

•    The Providence Challenge – Fans can test their soccer and mental skills through three different activities at The Providence Challenge, as well as having the opportunity to take the Providence Pledge to promise to better their mental health. All participating fans will be entered to win an autographed Sounders FC jersey or a pair of tickets to an upcoming home match.

•    Crossbar Challenge, Presented by Western Washington Toyota Dealers – The first five fans to hit the crossbar in this interactive skills challenge earn a chance to take a kick on-field at halftime. If a fan hits a crossbar at halftime, Western Washington Toyota Dealers donates $1,000 to RAVE Foundation.

•    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.

•    RAVE 2026 Kick Experience – Learn about RAVE Foundation’s 26 Fields by 2026 campaign and attempt to kick a soccer ball through a hole.

•    FIFA Gaming Station – Challenge an opponent to a friendly match of FIFA ’23.

•    Lumen Lens – This augmented reality photobooth places fans in photos with their favorite players.

•    Sit & Soccer – A one-on-one table soccer game where fans attempt to outscore their opponent.

•    Scarves Up! Photo Activation – Raise a scarf and recreate the club’s iconic matchday moment in this new photobooth.

•   Sounders ‘Til I Die Instagram Wall –* Themed photo opportunity for fans to grab the perfect social media shot.

In addition to the activities listed above, several unique offerings are available on Saturday, including an adidas Bruce Lee photo experience and a Bruce Lee sweepstakes opportunity, where fans can sign up to enter to win a Bruce Lee Kit and a special dragon-print soccer ball. 

Guests can learn more about Bruce Lee by exploring a special pop-up museum exhibit, courtesy of Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience. The Wing Luke Museum is the permanent home for rotating Bruce Lee exhibits, produced in collaboration with the Bruce Lee Foundation.

Fans on Saturday are also invited to be part of the “One Family” mandala art project. An activity inspired by the Bruce Lee Foundation and Lee’s famous quote, “Under the sky, under the heavens, there is but one family,” participants are able to create their own small work of art that will be used to construct a large, collective mandala, celebrating interconnectedness. 

The Pro Shop at Lumen Field – which is accessible to both ticketed and non-ticketed fans – also has several unique new offerings available starting on Saturday. Fans looking to obtain these items should arrive early, as supplies are limited and are expected to move quickly. Bruce Lee-themed gear includes:

•    Bruce Lee Track Suit To honor Lee, Sounders FC collaborated with adidas to create a signature Sounders FC track suit. The jacket and pant combination set features a bright yellow colorway, with nods to Lee’s legacy through the Jeet Kun Do sign-off on the back neck, Lee’s reproduced signature on the front pocket and the Sounders FC crest.

•    Coaches Jacket The Mitchell & Ness coaches jacket is decorated with a bold dragon in sunbeam yellow across the back and vibrant Sounders FC crest on the front chest.

•    Bruce Lee Headwear The Bruce Lee headwear collection from New Era contains a variety of styles showcasing various Bruce Lee colors and symbols. From Lee’s famous “flying man” to the core symbol on snapbacks and baseball caps, fans can find the style and design that fits them best.

•    Satin Bomber Jacket One of the most popular items in the Bruce Lee Collection released earlier this year in concert with the team’s new kit, the Bruce Lee satin bomber jacket returns to the Pro Shop beginning on Saturday. This high-demand item previously sold out, so fans are strongly encouraged to plan to secure theirs early.

•    Other Items – Various other Bruce Lee Collection merchandise, including fleece crewnecks, t-shirts and scarves, are also in stock.

Those attending the match should plan to be in their seats in time for the showstopping pregame ceremony, scheduled to begin at 7:15 p.m. PT. Called “Art and Action,” Saturday’s ceremony is a grand tribute to the duality that defined Bruce Lee, uniting different forms of live performance – from art to dance to music – to represent facets of Lee’s life, together in harmony.

The show features America’s Got Talent finalist and world-renowned performance painter David Garibaldi, who will create an original art piece honoring Bruce Lee, set to an interpretative rendition of theme from three Bruce Lee films – “Game of Death,” “Fist of Fury” and “Enter the Dragon” – performed live on-field by the People’s Pop Orchestra, a 20-person symphonic orchestra based in Seattle.

The art and music are being complemented with lion and dragon dancers from Mak Fai to add to the cultural tapestry. Dragon and lion dancing are traditional Chinese dances combining art, history and kung fu moves with brilliant and intricate costumes and puppets to tell stories and bring good luck. Mak Fai’s aim is to enrich and promote lion dancing in the Greater Seattle area and keep the tradition alive by teaching younger generations in the community.

This special show culminates with the presentation of a Joe Roth Golden Scarf – the highest honor Sounders FC can bestow – to the family of Bruce Lee, forever recognizing Lee’s impact in Seattle and to the Sounders.

Saturday’s national anthem is being performed by Bruce Lee’s daughter, Shannon Lee, with the “Scarves Up!” moment led by Shannon Lee and her daughter, Bruce Lee’s only grandchild, Wren Lee Keasler.

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.

Single-match tickets for each of the club’s remaining MLS home matches are currently on sale. In addition, Sounders FC Season Memberships and Partial Season Ticket Packages are still available. To purchase single-match tickets or any other ticket packages, fans can call 877-657-4625 or email Sales@SoundersFC.com. Complete information on all Sounders FC ticket packages can be found via SoundersFC.com/Tickets.

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