No time like the present!

by Dave Clark on Feb 24, 2009 11:02 PM PST in Sounders: MLS Regular Season

Twenty Thousand season ticket holders and equivalents. Sure seems like a lot, right?

Sigi Schmid doesn't think it is enough. He has lofty goals, and they go well beyond the original 24,500 seats announced. They go beyond the 27,000 that has been hinted at for the opener against Red Bull New York on March 19th.

He even goes beyond what is capable inside the entirety of the lower bowl, the Hawk's Nest and every single suite seat.

Sigi wants 30-35,000 in Qwest

And he isn't half crazy.

Season ticket holders will see Chelsea v. Sounders. As well as two other marquee match-ups.
Season ticket holders will see a front five that features a USL leading scorer, NCAA leading scorer, Colombian leading scorer, a target forward who paced last season for 9 goals & 9 assists. They will be backed up by the energizing Sanna Nyassi, unless he makes those guys ride the pine because he's so good.

Season ticket holders will see Kasey Keller and Chris Eylander. A US National Team legend, and a man who holds a record for most consecutive shutout minutes of MLS clubs in US Open Cup.

Season ticket holders will see international players from the Congo, Gambia, Sweden, Colombia, Jamaica, New Zealand, Cuba and France. US players are from WA, OR, CA, NC, MA, AZ, NJ, CO and Florida. Like our very city the heart is of the Pacific Northwest, but the reach is throughout the world.

If you want to fuel the passion and know 5 others, you can get into every league match, plus the 3 non-league matches, for less than 200$ each.

If you want seats with a better view, you can sit in 214 in a 7 game pack for 154$

You can be a part of history, a part of a league in only its second decade, but a league that is about to be turned on its head.

"I think if we can convince another 10 or 15,000 to come to our games, we're not only going to be a success story for soccer in the U.S.," Schmid said, "I think we'll establish some benchmarks for any sport. But the main thing for me right now is that when we walk out on that field on March 19, there is going to be a cauldron of noise.

"It's going to be like no other venue in the league. The thing I'm excited about right now is being able to take our team into that stadium and feel that emotion and feel that fever that is going through the stands. It's going to be a tremendous day."

You can be a part of a team that will have more seats sold per match than all but 25 English teams, and
better than at least two in the Premiership.

This isn't just soccer, this is FOOTBALL. This is calcio, futbol. Qurat al-Qadam. This is our time.

This is a team that will represent your city, your region, and your nation even in international competition. Our bond will be the Rave Green, the sound a crescendo of noise that rivals the NFL and college football.

Membership has its privileges. Join today.

Qwest Field and the XBox Pitch will be the largest Soccer Specific Stadium in the USA or Canada, it only needs your help.

Sigi wants 30,000+

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Comments

Very very interesting he would say this. Where would the additional 10,000 or so be seated if they reach his expectation? Would the upper bowl still be covered in some fashion?

by MMClark on Feb 25, 2009 4:24 AM PST reply actions

There is only one way to pass 30,000 – the Upper Bowl.

by Dave Clark on Feb 25, 2009 8:20 AM PST up reply actions

Every time I come here, I get just a little closer to becoming a full fledged Sounders fan.

Good for Sigi. The things happening in Seattle are fantastic for the league; maybe the mainstream media will start to pay attention.

by Jason D on Feb 25, 2009 4:48 AM PST reply actions

no way they do it this season.

by Jon on Feb 25, 2009 6:22 PM PST reply actions

Dave,

I agree with you. Why not think big? The upper bowl sounds like, Wow! Too many people to fill for a soccer game. We don’t want to think too big. It’s not that big of a deal. Open one side. Is that going to look horrible? No. The Galaxy do not have 20,000 season tickets sold, yet they average almost 27,000 a game. We have over 20,000 and we are only going to average the same or are we going to get into the 30-40,000 range. If so, then you have to open part of the upper bowl. No way, the Sounders will not want to have almost 15,000 tickets. So, all those people talking on the Sounders site about why not to open the bowl, are not thinking about setting a new standard. About, the league stepping into another level. I think Seattle is the team to set the new standard. What do you think?

by TL on Feb 25, 2009 8:51 PM PST reply actions

I got a little crazy on my blog last night, and came up with 5 ways the league can create some artificial buzz this year. One of my suggestions was filling a big stadium no matter the cost; so, if SSFC has already sold 20,000 season tickets, would it really hurt to pull an “Impact” and do whatever it takes to fill up Qwest? I’m talking about give-aways, cut-rate ticket blocks, etc. Maybe Seattle doesn’t even need to do those things to get the upper bowl in play, but there’s no reason to hold back if 35-40k+ is possible.

by Jason D on Feb 26, 2009 5:37 AM PST reply actions

I think it’s only a matter of time before the popularity of soccer really explodes in this country.

by Matthew on Feb 26, 2009 11:17 AM PST reply actions

Dave, I am curious, I know you underderstand the concept as I remember you from Jason Churchill’s baseball site. In any sport, I believe that you win by having several stars and the rest of the team is at least league average. When you have below league average players in your lineup, they can and will be taken advantage of and thus creates losses.

So, regarding the Sounders, considering what you think will be the starting lineup for the majority of the season (so include Ljunberg), what players are below league average, what players are league average and what players are above league average. Thanks.

by Coug1990 on Feb 27, 2009 7:04 PM PST reply actions

Coug, I will probably cover that in a seperate post, as it is a good idea, and deserves more than a comment thread.

Short version is that there are 4-5 abover average players, with 5-6 average players in the starting lineup. The depth at centerback hopefully makes up for what the team lacks.

by Dave Clark on Feb 28, 2009 8:10 AM PST reply actions

Thanks Dave, you have an interesting site and I look forward to reading your thoughts about the subject.

by Coug1990 on Feb 28, 2009 10:13 AM PST reply actions

Good post, Dave; those are some very interesting quotes from Schmid. I would agree with TL that it doesn’t make sense to artificially cap the number of seats available if there’s demand for more (which it seems like there may well be for big games). The more fans, the better in my mind.

by Andrew Bucholtz on Mar 1, 2009 7:24 PM PST reply actions