It started not with a whimper, but a bang

On March 19, 2009 more than 32,000 showed up Qwest Field for a match between the Seattle Sounders and New York Red Bulls. Little did they know that they were going to change MLS together — the team and the fans. For nearly a decade, MLS success - both on the field and off - was defined by the Seattle Sounders.

We climbed mountains, together. There was struggle. There were failures. The climb was more difficult than the heady days of 2009 made us think it would be.

I can almost see it
That dream I’m dreaming
But there’s a voice inside my head sayin’
”You’ll never reach it”
Every step I’m takin’
Every move I make feels lost with no direction
My faith is shakin’

A trophy, and then a trophy, and then a trophy, and then a trophy, and then a Shield. There was always another mountain, one that seemed to distant, a mountain we couldn’t reach.

Under the coach at the time the distance was too far, the climb too hard. He didn’t quit. The players didn’t quit. We didn’t quit. But change was needed. The Fixer came in. Schmetzer put a little shine on it.

When somethings dark, let me shed a little light on it
When somethings cold, let me put a little fire on it
If somethings old, I wanna put a bit of shine on it
When somethings gone, I wanna fight to get it back again

Schmetzer earned that cup, and thousands marched in the streets of Seattle.

But there are new kids on the block. They are shinier, faster, bigger. We’re again stuck in southeast Alaska as the eyes of American soccer turn to southeast America.

A Sounder defines themselves. We do not look south, or east, or north. We look to the mouth of the Duwamish — our historic gathering place for decades. We look to the convergence of the Green and Black Rivers, where the men in green train. We look to our hearts and we know: we are Sounders, and together we will continue to be Sounders - eternally, forever.

Together we will unite behind a team. Together we will continue to win trophies. Not just a single banner, but banners upon banners, for decades. Together we will make Puget Sound more green, more blue. Together we can do so much more.

Together we will be heard.

Because they will hear us. It isn’t a question. It is a voice so loud it creates nightmares. They will hear us as they walk the lands, though we reside in the deep. This is our Sound.

We are loud. We are noise. We are unified under a banner that is greater than just a soccer team and greater than just a city. We Sounders are excellence. We Sounders are winners.

Our expectation for 2019 is higher than ever. That big bang of 2009 didn’t fade away. It still roars in our souls.

We everywhere (x 4)
Everywhere (x 4)
Here come the boys (x 4)
From the Puget Sound

This is it. It’s season 11, and now is as good a time as ever to be heard, not with a whimper but a boom, boom, clap.