Photo by Unknown

Appreciation for something well done is often overlooked in our society. We are so used to things going right that when they don't, it's more of let's fix this problem instead of what is standing out about our competition that is making them better. Many times you appreciate a good steak, a beautiful piece of art, or a cute lady on the dance floor. Far less do you appreciate a rival, and yet I cannot help but appreciate the standard set and achieved by the Seattle Sounders in their first year of existence in the MLS. Being a die hard Earthquakes fan makes it even harder to appreciate a club that is thriving, both on and off the field, without any jealousy, but I shall certainly try.

First off, I'm very glad Seattle got an MLS expansion franchise. After seeing the heartache of the fans who dealt with the SuperSonics situation, I was truly pulling for them to get a team that would do right by them. Seattle fans are known for their passion, and Seattle is also known for being a hotbed of soccer and soccer knowledge, which is why I was excited to see them get a franchise. A place where MLS could thrive always excites me as I want more people to be exposed and enjoy the game that I so dearly love. Thrive however, does not do the Sounders justice in what they are doing, a soccer revolution would be more appropriate.

Seattle came in to the league this year with high expectations and big shoes to fill. The success of 2007's MLS expansion, Toronto FC was impressive. Loud, knowledgeable fans have created a spectacular atmosphere to watch a game in a gorgeous stadium with a great view of the Toronto skyline, and sellouts have been the norm in Toronto since their inception. They also put together a solid squad, one that battled for results at home and away, and have not yet made the playoffs but are in contention again this year. They have sold out season tickets, and watching their games have insured that when I have the means, a trip to BMO field is in the works.

They have exceeded any possible wild dreams that both the league and the owners could have had coming into this season. First we start by examining stadium capacity. The Sounders play at Quest field, a stadium designed for the Seahawks. Originally, the upper deck was to be closed and some of the lower deck as well, and the stadium would sell out at 24.400, with their opener seating a one time capacity crowd of 32,400. After impressive season ticket sales and selling out the opener, the new capacity was expanded to 27,700. In June, capacity was again expanded to 32,400 for all home games. For a team to draw so well that their stadium has had to open an additional 8000 seats in a manner of four months is absolutely insane, and is a testament to both the exceptional fan support, and the excellent job done by the owners of the club putting together a great side that plays good soccer. The fan support has been so impressive that when Chelsea came to town after a friendly in Seattle, the stadium was primarily green and in support of the Sounders, unlike LA where everyone sported blue and was there to see and support Chelsea.

The Sounders also landed an impressive sponsorship deal, sporting the XBOX 360 logo on their strangely appealing green and blue jerseys for the cost of four million a year. These jerseys have helped entice fans who generally might not be interested in the MLS or be willing to wear soccer jerseys. My brother has adopted them as his MLS team based strictly on their gear, and I cannot blame him. He isn't the only one impressed. MLS commissioner, The Don, Don Garber had this to say in March after Seattle's first game. "What happened in Seattle was surprising to us, I'd even say shocking to us," Garber said of Sounders FC's inaugural game Thursday. "It is unprecedented in terms of the size of that crowd — 32,000 fans. I believe that if they opened up the stadium to 60,000, they would have sold all those seats. They had 90 corporate boxes sold. Everybody was clad in their team colors and waving the scarf." Garber was given the first honorary golden scarf at that game, a gift bestowed by the organization to a worthy member of the community, who then holds the scarf over their head so that the fans do so as well. The precedent that Seattle has already established with the community is doing great things to erase the hurt of teams prior.

Why have the Sounders been so successful? Consider what they have done for fans and ticket holders before they played a game. First, when selling season tickets, fans were able to select their preferred style of watching a game, who their favorite foreign team was and what section they wanted to sit in on a completely interactive website that helped potential season ticket holders maximize the experience they would have at games. When they released it, I tried it out and was throughly impressed at the ability to really customize your section based on personal preference, which in turn helps the atmosphere of the stadium, because those with tickets in a standing only section knew what they were getting themselves into months ago. Management also established the Seattle FC Alliance, in the same vein of the fan association in Barcelona. Alliance membership, which is given to season ticket holders and available for a fee for non season ticket holders entitles you to vote on team decisions, including the position of GM. Fans are more then just paying customers, but truly a part of the team's decision making.

The product on the field has endeared itself to the fans as much as all the tremendous work by management. The club hired Sigi Schmid, who had just lead the Crew to the MLS cup title to manage the team. He in turn brought in quality talent like Fredy Montero, Freddie Ljungberg, and Kasey Keller to make the Sounders a contender for the MLS cup in their first season. So far the Sounders have put themselves in excellent position to qualify for the playoffs and make a run to the MLS cup. They also find themselves in the US Open cup final in DC in less then a week, and securing either trophy would be the icing on the cake for what has already been a fabulous first season for this impressive expansion side. Certainly their fans will not be happy if they only secure one trophy, which is a testament to the high level of play that the Sounders are already operating at. Regardless of what they bring home, they will be a success in everyone's eyes and will have set the bar impossibly high for the expansion sides that follow them into the league in the near future. I stand and sing with you Sounders fans in honor of your club's immediate success and in hopes that every time you play San Jose you get throughly thumped.

Let us know what you think of the Seattle soccer revolution. Think it will get other club's fans to notice what real support looks like?