Shits ’bout to change now. Back to back wins have got us feeling strong. Join us in SJ to support Sounders and see them off on their voyage to El Salvador!

SSFC at San Jose Earthquakes

Saturday July 31, 2010 at 7:00 PM
Buck Shaw Stadium in Santa Clara, CA

ECS is headed back to San Jose. Last year we took over their stadium and this year we plan to have a good sized group again.

Tickets

We have stop selling game tickets. If you still need game tickets you can try and contact SJ directly. We still have a few seats available on our bus to/from the game.

• Bus Only Ticket. $18 for ECS members and $20 for non members. We are getting a bus to take us to/from the pre and post game bar in San Francisco and the game in San Jose, more info below.

You will receive your tickets at the pregame or outside the stadium when the bus arrives. The bus will arrive in Lot 1 and we will enter through Gate A. Remaining tickets will be dropped off at will call. We will have the usual ECS seating: general admission within our section, occasionally obstructed views from tifo, and front row for the capo.

Travel

There are three airport options: San Francisco (close to ECS events), San Jose (close to the stadium), and Oakland (this is much further away).

Bus
We will be getting a bus to take us to/from the pre and post game bar in San Francisco and the game in San Jose. San Francisco and San Jose are a bit far apart and we wanted to be able to party in the city and then hit the game so we are offering this option. There are only 55 seats so don’t delay getting your ticket.

Travel around Bay Area
CalTrain for San Francisco to San Jose. Buck Shaw Stadium is walking distance from the Santa Clara Caltrain Station. http://www.caltrain.com/. This option is not very convenient as you could end up waiting about 1 hour after the game for the last train. It will also be about $15 round trip. We recommend taking the ECS bus as it will be more convenient, about the same price, and much more fun.
BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) for around San Francisco, Oakland, and Fremont. http://www.bart.gov/index.aspx

Hotel

ECS has a group rate at the Serrano Hotel. It is right in the heart of Union Square which is central to all the city’s activities. Our rate is $109 per night for 1 queen bed or 2 double beds. Call (415) 351-7660 and mention Emerald City Supporters or ECS to get the discount. We are limited to just 15 hotel rooms so book early. Deadline is Thursday, July 22th for reservations. We recommend staying in San Francisco and taking the ECS bus to the game as San Jose is boring.

Events

Pre-game at the Chieftain.
2:00 pm until the bus leaves at 4:45 pm sharp. The Chieftain is an all-ages venue until 10pm.

The Chieftain Irish Pub & Restaurant
198 5th St. (between Natoma St. & Howard St.)
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 615-0916
Google map

Forum

See the forum thread for all discussion.

Schedule

• Saturday 2:00 pm: Pregame at the Chieftain
• Saturday 4:45 pm: Bus leaves SF
• Saturday 6:00 pm: Bus arrives SJ
• Saturday 7:00 pm: Kickoff
• Saturday 9:30 pm: Bus leaves SJ
• Saturday 10:30 pm: Bus arrives SF

See you on the terraces,
Keef

The CONCACAF Champions League makes its inaugural appearance in Seattle. Be there and help get behind the lads as they battle in the first leg of this home and home showdown!

It’s European equivalent is billed as the “world’s premier club competition” yet not many know about our confederation’s version. Born in 2008, the competition replaced the long running CONCACAF Champions’ Cup. The winner of the competition earns the right to compete in the Club World Cup.

The competition is largely composed of teams from Mexico (four entrants) and United States (four). It has largely been dominated by Mexican sides with the past five champions hailing from there. In the 38 years the competition has been held United States teams have only made the final four times and none since LA Galaxy in 2000. In short it’s a tough hill the Sounders will have to climb in order to add another trophy to the cabinet.

Wednesday’s game is the first of a home and home series with Sounders FC facing El Salvadorian champion Isidro Metapan. Since 2007 Metapan has won the Apertura once and Clausura three times allowing them to enter the Champions League each season since 2008-2009.

Notable names for the club include Paolo Suárez, the older brother of Uruguayan star Luis Suárez (whom you may remember from the World Cup and his handball on the line against Ghana), Léster Blanco, who is a 21 year old striker sensation and midfielder Óscar Jiménez, who has been capped for El Salvador 24 times since 2008.

Make no mistake. This is NOT a friendly. This is for all the marbles and the respect of our confederation! Be there early and be loud! Let’s make Seattle and MLS proud.

Game Day Notes:

Gameday tickets are still available! They’re only $10 for GA. If you haven’t experienced the general admission section with ECS yet now is your chance! Call Ryan Gustafson (425-203-8309) or Chris Baretta (425-203-8305) and book your tickets now!

The merchandise table hours will be from 16:00 to 15 minutes before march to the match (that’s 17:45). Please bring any guest by and get them hooked up with a scarf, t-shirt and 2010 ECS membership for $30. That’s a $5 savings by buying it in person versus through our store online!

You can also pre-pay online we can have you pick up your membership kit in the stadium. Just stop by the ECS table behind 122 to pick up your gear (must pre-pay through the ECS store, select the option “pickup at Fuel” and add a note that you would like to pickup at our table in the Brougham End). Please stop by and pick up song sheets and introduce any guest you may have with you to influential ECS members! Remember, only you can help to spread songs and chants throughout the Brougham End. However, the ECS information table can help!

If your friends aren’t quite up for joining please bring them by the table anyways and get them a song sheet! We print up around a thousand per match for you. Please help to make the experience go from great to truly phenomenal!

PREFUNK @ Fuel or McCoy’s Firehouse

Fuel
164 S. Washington St
Seattle, WA 98104
206-405-FUEL
21+ only

McCoy’s Firehouse Bar
173 S. Washington St
Seattle, WA 98104
206-652-5797
All ages friendly

Details/Times:
16:00 Find your pub
18:00 March to the Match
19:00 Kickoff

See you on the terraces,
Keef

“The man who has no imagination has no wings,” Muhammad Ali. It’s time to start believing that we can make the playoffs and accomplish our goals!

Three points. It’s what we’re after week after week after getting our proverbial tires stuck in the mud from late April until last Thursday. It’s been a tough few months but all rumors indicate that help is on its way. Perhaps between the talent infusion and a bit of luck Sounders will find their way into the playoffs yet!

This Sunday will surely mark the league debut of Blaise Nkufo who worked a solid hour against Celtic on July 18th. Miguel Montano will also be back after serving his one game suspension for elbowing Brek Shea and the ensuing red card. This virtually ensures that Montano returns to the right wing/midfield spot, Blaise takes over for Jaqua (who seems to have picked up a knock anyway) and we’ll see Montero partnering with the big man.

Predicting the subs bench for Sunday is a bit more difficult. Will Seamon stay in midfield? A position that has received a huge boost since with his presence. Will Levesque make the 18 or will Noonan? Seems like the smart money would be on Levesque who proved that he can still score in the clutch with the beautiful goal in the dying moments last Thursday at DC.

Game Day Notes:

The merchandise table hours will be from 16:00 to 15 minutes before march to the match (that’s 17:45). Please bring any guest by and get them hooked up with a scarf, t-shirt and 2010 ECS membership for $30. That’s a $5 savings by buying it in person versus through our store online!

You can also pre-pay online we can have you pick up your membership kit in the stadium. Just stop by the ECS table behind 122 to pick up your gear (must pre-pay through the ECS store, select the option “pickup at Fuel” and add a note that you would like to pickup at our table in the Brougham End). Please stop by and pick up song sheets and introduce any guest you may have with you to influential ECS members! Remember, only you can help to spread songs and chants throughout the Brougham End. However, the ECS information table can help!

If your friends aren’t quite up for joining please bring them by the table anyways and get them a song sheet! We print up around a thousand per match for you. Please help to make the experience go from great to truly phenomenal!

PREFUNK @ Fuel or McCoy’s Firehouse

Fuel
164 S. Washington St
Seattle, WA 98104
206-405-FUEL
21+ only

McCoy’s Firehouse Bar
173 S. Washington St
Seattle, WA 98104
206-652-5797
All ages friendly

Details/Times:
16:00 Find your pub
18:30 March to the Match
19:30 Kickoff

See you on the terraces,
Keef

Gil has finally figured out some bloody technology and we have a special (albeit old) episode of the ECS Podcast during the American Outlaws USA v Ghana viewing party at The Nectar Lounge !  In the end, it all resulted in a difficult day after two full hours of football were played.

Many of the announcements and updates in the particular podcast are completely useless…but enjoy the sounds and chatter of an extremely exciting morning for US footy fans in Fremont!  Due to the changeover in servers, altered access and the complete failure in my knowledge of our own inner technological workings here at podcast central…this is only a month late!

To all of those who have patiently waited for us to bring more podcasts to you, a hearty thank you goes out!

Be ready for more of the ECS Podcast next week as we finally get to truly talk

• N’Kufo gets minutes (we hope at least)…does he fit in during his early touches with the club?
• Ljungburg rumors are about!  Is he really leaving?  Where wold he go?  If a DP leaves their MLS side, but no one is around to notice, do they still care?
• Sigi to the kids (players) on the bus:  “Now if you kids don’t behave back there, I’m NOT going to turn this f**kin season around!”  So what DOES Sigi have to do to get this clunker of a season to flip a b**ch…??  We’ll talk about some steps he really should be taking!
• The David Beckham Douchbag of the Week……..GLORIOUSLY LIVES ON!  But who will take this episode’s honor?  Tune in!

Also…more eps of the Newscast underway as we keep you up-to-date on all the match fixtures, results around the league and hilarity ensuing within the ECS!

Travel with the ECS to San Jose for the Sounders match on Saturday July 31.

ECS is organizing a trip down to San Jose. See the SJ trip page for all of the details. We have an awesome hotel discount in downtown San Francisco and are looking to arrange a bus to the game from our pregame pub as SJ has no nearby entertainment. But act soon as deadlines are approaching fast.

We’ve been stagnant for too long. Now is the time, DC the place, to show the league what we can do! Viewing party at the AC! Photo by Melissa Brassard.

Have the Sounders finally found their heart again?

Coming off an encouraging performance featuring new starters, and buoyed by the return of key players from injuries, the Sounders trotted out a young lineup of field players that averaged only 24.4 years of age against FC Dallas on Sunday. Dominating much of the 1st half and taking a deserved 1-0 lead through Michael Seamon’s distribution, James Riley’s pinpoint cross, and Fredy Montero’s separating run and well-placed header goal, it looked like the attacking Sounders of old had returned. But an unfortunate red card to Miguel Montaño in the 56th minute, and subsequent 87th minute tying goal let FC Dallas escape Royal Brougham Park with 1 point.

With Ljungberg set to come back from his temporary injury, the return of the defensive midfield rock, Osvaldo Alonso, and with a streaking Fredy Montero (3 Goals, 3 Assists, and 1 shootout PK in his last 6 games) paired up top with Nate Jaqua (3 goals in last 4 games), Sounders look to take advantage of a struggling DC United team (12 points through 15 games) at the decrepit RFK Stadium on Thursday. DC United, losers to the Sounders at RFK in the 2009 U.S. Open Cup Final and looking for revenge at home, features 17 year-old Honduran Andy Najar in midfield, and 19 year-old future USMNT keeper Bill Hamid in goal as new players to watch.

Hosted by Emerald City Supporters

Seattle: The Atlantic Crossing (6508 Roosevelt Way NE Seattle, WA 98115 (206) 729-6266)

Live Thursday, July 11th, 2010 Kickoff at 17:00

ECS members receive 10% of their entire bill.
Happy Hour food and drink specials from 3-6pm

Parties Outside Seattle:

509 Prime

Spokane: The Seaside (230 W. Riverside Spokane, WA 99201)

The Armed Service Group

Lakewood/DuPont: McNamara’s Pub and Eatery (1595 Wilmington Drive DuPont, WA 98327 (253) 964-9200)

253 Defiance

Puyallup: O’Henry Sports Bar (715 River Road, Puyallup, WA 98371-4150)

West Sound Armada

Bremerton: (Cloverleaf Sports Bar & Grill. 1240 Hollis Street, Bremerton, WA 98310)

Black Hills Militia

Olympia: O’Blarney’s Irish Pub (4411 Martin Way E. Lacey WA 98516 (360) 459-8084)

Bellingham Border Boys

Bellingham: The Copper Hog (1327 North State Street, WA 98225-5711 (360) 927-7888)

SoCal Sound

Southern California: Barney’s Beanery (1351 3rd St. Promenade
Santa Monica, CA 90401)

Seattle Sounders East — Boston

Boston: The Banshee (934 Dorchester Ave, Dorchester, MA, 02125 617.436.9747)

Everett: The Irishman (2923 Colby Avenue Everett, WA 98201-4010 (425) 374-5783)

Tacoma: Doyle’s Public House (208 Saint Helens Avenue Tacoma, WA 98402 (253) 272-7468)

Wenatchee: The Wildcard (560 Valley Mall Parkway, East Wenatchee, Wa 98802, (509) 888-9453)

Details/Times:
16:15 Find your pub
17:00 Match Kicks Off
17:01-19:01 Go Fucking Mental!

See you on the terraces,
Keef

We must take three at home to have any chance of making the playoffs this season. Come on our and give your everything for our boys! Photo by: Mrs. Nasty.

Two Open Cup wins bookmarked by two away losses. Well, at least Sounders FC are winning when it’s absolutely important. In what might be the last match before we Blaise the rest of the season we must find a way to win at home. Thursday night we’ll be away to DC so we MUST get the full spread of points these next two games. Hell, six points changes a lot!

Have you tried the Brougham Bitter yet? If not the ECS beer is on tap at Fuel and can be found at the beer cart in the Brougham End. As Mockos says: “It’s delicious. It’s converted more than one hard-a drinker.”

Merchandise table hours will be from 16:00 to 15 minutes before march to the match (that’s 17:45). Please bring any guest by and get them hooked up with a scarf, t-shirt and 2010 ECS membership for $30. That’s a $5 savings by buying it in person versus through our store online!

Also, if you pre-pay online we can have you pick up your membership kit in the stadium. Just stop by the ECS table behind 122 to pick up your gear (must pre-pay through the ECS store, select the option “pickup at Fuel” and add a note that you would like to pickup at our table in the Brougham End). Please stop by and pick up song sheets and introduce any guest you may have with you to influential ECS members! Remember, only you can help to spread songs and chants throughout the Brougham End. However, the ECS information table can help!

If your friends aren’t quite up for joining please bring them by the table anyways and get them a song sheet! We print up around a thousand per match for you. Please help to make the experience go from great to truly phenomenal!

Special Note:
The 11th is the World Cup Final at 11:30. Fuel will be open at 10am and will be showing the match. Please feel free to head on down to Fuel early and watch the match!

PREFUNK @ Fuel or McCoy’s Firehouse

Fuel
164 S. Washington St
Seattle, WA 98104
206-405-FUEL
21+ only

McCoy’s Firehouse Bar
173 S. Washington St
Seattle, WA 98104
206-652-5797
All ages friendly

Details/Times:
16:00 Find your pub
18:30 March to the Match
19:30 Kickoff

See you on the terraces,
Keef

You can download the podcast (right-click the link, then select Save As) or search for us on iTunes (“Emerald City Supporters” is the best way to search). 

We’re launching something quick, easy and informative for all of our listeners!  This is the debut episode of the ECS Newscast.  Everything Sounders, ECS and MLS related in a 15-20 minute newsy nutshell.  If you like it, please continue to rate and review us on iTunes!

This week:

• ECS invades Portland for the 3rd Round of the US Open Cup
• Sounders are desperate to find some sort of solution for losing.  Can they do it on America’s B-Day against Los Angeles?
• Updates on upcoming events, parties and away trips!

This is your chance to join ECS in the second fixture of this intense rivalry in 2010. This time winner moves on and loser stays home. Mark your calendars!

Seattle Sounders at Portland Timbers

US Open Cup Third Round
Wednesday, June 30th, 2010 Time 7pm PST
PGE Park, Portland, Oregon.

Click here to check out the Portlsc*m trip coordination thread on our boards.

Sign Up

http://www.weareecs.com/travel/pdx/
Sign up and pay today! There are a limited number of spots, so claim yours today.

If you need to change something in your Sign Up form, just private message YukataNinja and he will make the edit, there is no need to fill out the form again.

Tickets

Two options for tickets:
-Bus and game ticket. $50 for ECS and $55 for non members.
-Game ticket only. $15 for ECS and $17 for non members.

All Sounder supporters are encouraged to get tickets with the ECS. These tickets are General Admission, obstructed view during the game from tifo, and the front is reserved for Capos. The section will be treated the same as the GA at Qwest.

Getting your tickets

Those riding the bus will get their tickets either before getting on the bus or when getting off the bus in Portland (TBD).

Those buying just tickets will get their tickets outside the stadium in Portland. Either:
1. Outside PGE park, specific location TBA.
2. After we have entered the stadium you can get your tickets from will call at PGE Park.

No glass bottles on the bus. We are working on having a keg of Brougham Bitter for each bus. You should bring your own beer too and plastic cups.

We have three bus stops:

Seattle

We will meet up at 1:15 pm. Bus leaves at 2:00 pm.
Starfire Sports Complex (in the north end of the parking lot, free parking) map

Tacoma

Meet at 2:15 pm, bus leaves at 2:30 pm.
I-5 / SR 512 Park and Ride map

Olympia

Meet at 2:45 pm, bus leaves at 3:00 pm.
Martin Way Park and Ride map
Forum

See the forum thread for all discussion.

Schedule (this is still tentative)

* Wednesday 1:15 PM: Meet in Seattle
* Wednesday 2:00 PM: Seattle bus leaves
* Wednesday 2:15 PM: Meet in Tacoma
* Wednesday 2:30 PM: Tacoma bus leaves
* Wednesday 2:45 PM: Meet in Olympia
* Wednesday 3:00 PM: Olympia bus leaves
* Wednesday 5:30 PM: Bus arrives in Portland
* Wednesday 6:00 PM: Meet to get tickets
* Wednesday 7:30 PM: Kickoff
* Wednesday 9:30 PM: Sounders win
* Wednesday 10:00 PM: Bus leaves
* Thursday 12:00 AM: Bus arrives in Olymipa
* Thursday 12:30 AM: Bus arrives in Tacoma
* Thursday 1:00 AM: Bus arrives in Seattle

See you on the terraces,
Keef

“The rules of soccer are very simple, basically it is this: if it moves, kick it. If it doesn’t move, kick it until it does,” Welsh International Phil Woosnam. Photo by Joe Armand, Point Taken Photos.

The World Cup may not be over but MLS’ World Cup break certainly is. Be sure to hit up your local viewing party as the Sounders search for a vital three points to get them back back into the Western Conference race!

This weekend’s viewing party at Nectar will be a similar setup to what we had for the June 12th USA : England match at Neumo’s. Show up early as we’ll be showing England’s round of 16 game on the big screen at 11:30am. At 14:00 we’ll switch over and it’ll be Sounders season once again.

At the very least consider this to be a vocal warm-up for Wednesday’s US Open Cup match away to the scum!

Main ECS Viewing Party

Seattle: Nectar (412 North 36th Street Seattle, WA 98103-8631 (206) 632-2020)

509 Prime

Spokane: Waddell’s (4318 South Regal Street Spokane, WA 99223-7707 (509) 443-6500)

The Armed Service Group

Lakewood/DuPont: McNamara’s Pub and Eatery (1595 Wilmington Drive DuPont, WA 98327 (253) 964-9200)

253 Defiance

Puyallup: O’Henry Sports Bar (715 River Road, Puyallup, WA 98371-4150)

West Sound Armada

Bremerton: (Cloverleaf Sports Bar & Grill. 1240 Hollis Street, Bremerton, WA 98310)

Black Hills Militia

Olympia: O’Blarney’s Irish Pub (4411 Martin Way E. Lacey WA 98516 (360) 459-8084)

Bellingham Border Boys

Bellingham: McKay’s Taphouse (1118 East Maple Street Bellingham, WA 98225-5711 (360) 647-3600)

SoCal Sound

Southern California: Barney’s Beanery (1351 3rd St. Promenade
Santa Monica, CA 90401)

Seattle Sounders East — Boston

Boston: The Banshee (934 Dorchester Ave, Dorchester, MA, 02125 617.436.9747)

Everett: The Irishman (2923 Colby Avenue Everett, WA 98201-4010 (425) 374-5783)

Tacoma: Doyle’s Public House (208 Saint Helens Avenue Tacoma, WA 98402 (253) 272-7468)

Details/Times:
11:00 Find your pub
14:00 Match Kicks Off
14:01-16:30 Go Fucking Mental!

See you on the terraces,
Keef