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No matter how you’re counting the years and seasons, the Sounders are going all in on celebrating 10 years in MLS. Many players from the inaugural MLS team will be returning to Seattle this weekend to help with the festivities.
The celebration is kicking off early, with members of the 2009 squad pouring drinks on the eve of match day, Friday night from 5:30-6:30. Sebastien Le Toux and Mike Fucito will be at Flatstick Pub in Pioneer Square, where wearing Sounders gear will extend happy hour sales for you through the event. Brad Evans, Taylor Graham, and Tyson Wahl will be tending bar at Fuel Seattle as well.
The drinks don’t stop there though — Fuel Seattle, in tandem with ECS, is opening up their alley as a beer garden on Saturday at 2 pm, with Match Pass drink specials and outdoor heaters to combat the cold weather.
The inaugural MLS Sounders squad will also be featured throughout matchday, starting when the gates open for the match at 5:30 pm. Sebastien Le Toux, Brad Evans, Nate Jaqua, Patrick Ianni, and more players will be signing autographs at Soccer Celebration in the northwest concourse at CenturyLink Field. Also at Soccer Celebration will be an auction benefiting the Rave Foundation, featuring exclusive memorabilia from the 2009 season.
Before kickoff, the 2009 team will be honored for their part in building the success of Sounders FC in MLS with an on-field ceremony. This will lead into honoring of the life and legacy of former Sounders Head Coach Sigi Schmid. The Schmid family will be presented with a Golden Scarf on behalf of Sigi.