Props to Seattle Sounders FC (Vancouver, Pacific: live, rich, MLS)

[south-to-west]

I had the chance to watch the Barca-Sounders match on ESPN the other night and I was overwhelmed! Unbelievable! Qwest was sold out and the fans their were enthusiastically supporting the Sounders. I mean even after it was evident that they were going to get stomped! Incredible!

From what I hear, the MLS has been unbelievably impressed and moved by the overwhelming support that Seattle has for its team. The March to the Match, the marching band, the singing, all of supporters organizations, the banners...it's amazing. I'm really hoping that other cities follow in the future and I also hope that the world is watching. If the MLS gets better talent from overseas, it will undoubtedly be attributed to the passion and excitement generated by the Seattle fans. So as an American soccer (football!) afficionado, I want to say a big thank you to Seattle and you've just gained another fan here in Atlanta!

[eskercurve]

You should have seen the crowd when Chelsea FC came here. We were totally outclassed, we didn't play our A game, but even then we held them to 2 goals. The fans, though, couldn't care less. We are totally behind our game!

That and I think soccer is a new sport, and die hard fans live here as this area is pretty outdoorsy, there's lots of pickup soccer and informal leagues, and many foreigners live here.

[Ambassador]

The sport has always been big in the Pacific Northwest. Seattle, Portland, and Vancouver in particular have been big football (soccer) cities for decades. When Seattle was finally awarded their first pro team since the ancient NASL league the love for the sport exploded. The support was so huge that the MLS decided to award Portland and Vancouver the next teams in the league over the next two seasons. Word was out on how big the game is in this part of the continent.

Honestly, I know of no other region in the country where soccer competes neck and neck with the NFL in terms of fan base, loyalty, and excitment. Even in immigrant rich NYC the Giants, Jets, and Knicks still reign supreme. Red Bulls, who?? Here in Seattle the Seahawks have direct competition not from a baseball team, or a basketball team, or even a hockey team....but from a soccer team. In Portland and Vancouver their respective teams will be their number one clubs...even more popular than the Trailblazers in Portland.

And that you only find in the PNW. I am very proud of that fact...you can find me at pretty much every Sounders game going nuts with the rest of them!

[Botev1912]

I was at the game and I think that the match with Chelsea was much more fun and much more interesting. Barcelona were too good for Sounders