The ECS tech geeks have been hard at work this offseason to make your lives better. Check out the fruit of their labors in the new online ECS Store! Graphic by Disco Greg.

This offseason we’ve been working on revamping a lot of things around here. From the forum rebranding to the new look of the ECS site to our very own store! A lot of credit goes into all the hard work that the web crew has done to make our presence on the web even better. If you see one of them at Fuel or McCoy’s before a match be sure to pick up a pint for them because their efforts go unpaid but make all of our experiences better!

The ECS store will feature everything from membership packages to tickets for ECS away trips and tailgates to stickers and general merch. Be sure to check the store often as we’ll be adding new items to the store fairly regularly. Oh, and of course every transaction in the store is secure so you don’t need to worry about your financial data getting misplaced. All you need to login is your forum login! Enjoy!

Visit the ECS Store. Or you can find the link to the store at the far right in the navigation bar above! We hope you enjoy it.

See you on the terraces,
Keef

If you thought the off season party was fun you’ll love the St. Paddy’s Day Parade. Be sure to show up early to take down some liquid courage before we walk through the city singing Sounders songs.

We’re keeping our fingers crossed… ‘Cuz if we’re lucky, council member Mark Inderhees will grace us with his leprechaun attire again!

You made it through the ECS off season party with potentially over eight hours of continuous drinking. Now we’re asking you to step up your ECS training and join us for the Seattle St. Paddy’s Day parade.

Last year the party started around 9AM and didn’t quiet down for at least eight hours. Hopefully you’ve been working on your tolerance so you can imbibe with the ECS all day! If not, this will be a great opportunity to get some training before the season starts.

Singing the same songs to the general public that are usually reserved for your club can be quite the daunting experience. That’s why we’re meeting up at Fuel and McCoy’s starting at 9:00am for a bit of liquid courage. And, in the spirit of St. Paddy’s Day, Car Bombs and Irish Coffees will be the beverages of choice. Join in on the discussion for the parade in the forums.

PREFUNK @ Fuel or McCoy’s Firehouse
Saturday, March 13th 8AM-till we’re done!!!

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:
8:00am – Meet at McCoy’s for breakfast & drink specials
9:00am – Meet at Fuel for breakfast & drink specials
11:00am – Meet at City Hall Park 4th & Jefferson
12:30pm – Parade starts

See you on the terraces,
Keef

After only a week, we’re back with a brand new episode!  Check out the stream above or download the podcast (right-click the link, then select Save As). But what the heck is happening in this week’s episode? Here’s what:

• Abby has to explain her hard-on for German football.  (Okay not really…)
• We discuss why members have been stuck in a deep, dark basement being forced to work without wages or benefits.
• We talk about Osvaldo Alonso; our favorite mid-fielding pitbull.
• Why SSFC Alliance Council candidate Rob Scott just can’t seem to put that middle finger away?
• And of course, the Beckham Douchbag of the Week goes to one man that we all hold very dear to our hearts…

All this and more on The ECS Podcast, with your hosts: Gil & McKenzie.

The first ECS Podcast is here, check out the stream above or download the podcast.  This show includes:

• Dempsey doesn’t need surgery. But you get $200 for removing the Diver’s Knee in Football Operation.
• ECS Party chatter and why Null78 will mess you up if you piss him off that evening.
• Rommel pulls an amazing disappearing act!
• We pick apart why we do and don’t like Fredy Montero. Quick, grab your face and roll on the pitch before play continues!
• Mr. Mockos carries on like a senile old Italian uncle about the good ol’ days in our first installment of Remembering 2009 with the ECS.
• And you get to hear the worst host in podcast history continue his awful habit of ummmmm and uhhhhhhhs. (Gil promises he’s working on it.)

All this and more on The ECS Podcast, with your hosts: Gil & McKenzie.

ECS and American Outlaws Seattle have teamed up with the Atlantic Crossing to help benefit the victims of the Haitian earthquake and ensuing disaster. There will be a recommended $5 fee at the door and we will be raffling off items donated by Sounders FC. Last Updated 01/18/2010 @ 17:23.

It’s January which means it’s time for team USA’s annual winter training camp (Camp Cupcake as it’s known in insider circles). This means it’s time for some of the more fringe national team players – players such as Sacha Kljestan or Sounders FC’s own Brad Evans – to get a look from US boss Bob Bradley.

ECS and American Outlaws Seattle are proud to partner with The Atlantic Crossing and Sounders FC to help benefit victims of the Haitian earthquake last week. In doing so we will have a $5 suggest fee at the door as well as a raffle (suggested $2 minimum on tickets) with some great prizes and hopefully players from Sounders FC. All proceeds will go to the Red Cross fund for Haiti.

Here’s what you can score in the Raffle:
An autographed Montero Sounders replica jersey
A signed Roger Levesque hat
A signed Sebastien Le Toux hat
A signed Sigi ball
A signed Jhon Kennedy Hurtado ball
A signed Sigi hat.
There will be more items to come from the Atlantic Crossing…

USMNT vs Honduras + Haiti Benefit
Saturday, January 23rd 5pm-till we’re done!!!
The Atlantic Crossing
6508 Roosevelt Way NE
Seattle, WA 98115-6627
(206) 729-6266
(21+ only)

See you on the terraces,
Keef

The Sounders may have a couple weeks until preseason but ECS drinking training begins now! Come on out and enjoy an evening of revelry and song as we close the book on 2009 and welcome what is to come in 2010!

Updates:

• Attendees with guest tickets must be accompanied at the door by a card-carrying member of the ECS. Members who have lost their membership cards will be validated against the membership rolls at the door.
• Many players will be attending the party. They have been invited not as representatives of the Sounders, but as honored guests. It would be appreciated if they were not harassed for autographs and pestered with questions from the “star-struck”. They are there for the same reasons we are: to participate in our event as guests. We want it to be an enjoyable and relaxing evening for them were they aren’t mobbed as celebrities.
• Entry for the event will be at our private door on Washington Street, not the main door to the club. The private door is about 40 feet west down Washington from the main door.
• Pace yourself! This is an 8 hour event. You’re going to want to commit seppuku if you burn out before we even hit 5th gear when we switch into true party mode at 10pm.
• Drink specials are in the works. We don’t know what they are yet.

We know that most of you are having offseason ECS/Sounders withdrawals. ECS has the cure: A night of drinking, singing, and good times at the Last Supper Club in Pioneer Square. Join the ECS for an evening of awards to members, leadership updates for all members, and some awesome footage of 2009. ECS leadership will highlight the successes and lessons learned from 2009 and then provide a vision for 2010. Sounders players are expected to be in attendance. The first 200 will also be able to be the first to purchase the 2010 ECS membership for $30. ECS members will have to purchase the 2010 membership to gain access to ECS discounts on new 2010 discount card. Buying the 2010 ECS membership should be seen as a one time donation This is an ECS members only event and all ECS are strongly encouraged to attend. This event is for you, our ECS members. Use this as a chance to get to know others within our ranks. See below for all details!

Date/Time:
January 30, 2010
6:00pm – 2 am (6pm – 9:30pm : enter at private door on Washington St. Party will continue from 6 pm to 2 am but admittance and/or purchasing tickets at the door will only occur between 6 and 9:30 pm)

Location:
Last Supper Club (LSC)
124 S Washington St
Seattle, WA 98104

http://www.lastsupperclub.com

Tickets:
THIS IS AN ECS MEMBERS ONLY EVENT. ECS membership cards MUST BE PRESENTED at the door. Failure to produce your ECS membership card will result in non-admittence and forfiture of your ticket fee. Guests will be permitted with a valid ticket and MUST be accompanied by an ECS member. Guest tickets go on sale after member tickets. See scheduling below.
AGE 21+

Get your tickets online at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/94738. (Ticket includes admission, access to the all-you-can-eat buffet, and one drink ticket.

MEMBER TICKETS: $10 presale via Brown Paper Ticket (ends 1/24/2010) | $15 at the door (ends 1/30/2010 at 9:30pm)

GUEST TICKETS: $15 presale
(begins 1/20/2010, ends 1/24/2010) | $20 at the door
(Guests must be ccompanied by a card-carrying ECS member)

Price includes buffet food and one complimentary drink courtesy of ECS! By going through Brown Paper Tickets, you are able to support a charity of your choice while getting exclusive access to an evening of debauchery with fellow ECS members.

Menu:
Chicken Wings
Vegetable Platters
Pita Bread & Hummus
BBQ Meatballs
Pasta Salads

Bar:
We will have a private full service bar. The bar can take cash and credit. An assortment of beers will be available. All alcohols present.

Dresscode:
Semi-Formal
ECS/SSFC Gear Allowed
Best Dressed will be given 4 shots of Jameson without chasers courtesy of Greg Mockos

The event will include:
Leadership Speeches
ECS Video Recap./Montage
Awards Presentation
Music
Sounder Appearances
Drinking, Singing, and then more…wait for it… here it comes…almost…DRINIKING & SINGING!!!

The ECS reserves the right to make changes to the event schedules and ECS leadership will inform those registered to attend on any changes that may occur. ECS will contact its members in this case via email.

See you on the terraces,
Mockos

To commemorate a successful 2009 inaugural season a few of our leaders wrote “Thank You” notes. Grab a beer and click on through to check ‘em out!

A couple weeks back we requested some of the top-boys in ECS to write up a few words to thank our members for the amazing 2009 inaugural season. It took us a couple weeks to get it up as things were crazy for MLS Cup, Thanksgiving, etc. Now, with things winding down a bit we finally found a chance. So, go grab a beer, sit back, relax and read some inspiring messages from those that run the group.

Thanks to all who became part of the family I know as the Emerald City Supporters this past season.

The 2009 MLS season exceeded all expectations I had coming into it.
Everyone stepped up in a big way, and I am very honored to be part of what will one day be the premier Supporters Group in MLS.
We have big plans for 2010, and I am very anxious to get started on them.
March 25th, 2010 will be the start of the next SSFC/ECS chapter, and we plan on kicking it off in a big way.

Hope to see you all there!

TAKE ‘EM ALL!

- Sean M, ECS Capo

2009 Will go down in history as a memorable season for all of us that were involved one way or another with SSFC and ECS. SSFC broke countless records on and off the field. In parallel with the growth of our beloved growth, the ECS also saw unprecedented growth, change and evolution. We have arrived on the scene with some of the largest tifos, the best and loudest songs, and have been able to assemble a fantastic group of like-minded supporters that each have been able to express themselves through individual and personal interests making this group a supporter family I am damn proud of. I would like to thank each and every member, each and every supporter that has traveled, that has made tifo, that has sung until their throats bled, that has marched, that has supported without a inkling of soubt our beloved football team. I hope that this season has filled your hearts with great memories that you should treasure forever. It is important that each and everyone of us has a real genuine sense of ownership of our group and works hard to make us better in 2010. We have had a great start to a long journey and we must always strive to make ourselves better and bigger. Never let the memories we created together this year become things of the past. We must make better and grander memories in the future and ECS leadership encourages action from our members in any shape or form: from spreading our mentality, recruiting friends into our culture, making a personal two-pole, etc…This is your group and the Sounders is our team. UP THE SOUNDERS, UP THE ECS. Thank you all for being my second family!

– Greg M, ECS

I want to thank each and every ECS member for their support of the Seattle Sounders in what was truly quite a memorable 2009 season. As one of your capos, it was an absolute joy leading chants both home at Royal Brougham Park and away — thank you all for stretching your vocal chords to the limit (alright, tearing them to shreds is perhaps more accurate) in contributing to what was one of the most intimidating atmospheres in MLS. The season was full of many memories, from the amazing opener against New York, to the victorious US Open Cup run, and the ECS was there throughout the entire journey, behind our boys 100 percent both in good times and bad. And although the season has now come to a close, and we have an agonizing 4-month wait until the little round ball rolls again, great things await us in 2010, and I hope all of you will be an active part in the history we will create next season. Thanks again, up the Sounders, and up the ECS.

- Robby B, ECS Capo

Here’s my thanks to everyone in ECS: for everyone that stood in the Brougham End, traveled on away trips, organized events, worked on tifo, or went fucking mental; you guys kick ass. The Sounders and ECS have come so far from USL and that is all thanks to everyone who loves this team. I will never forget this year, from working on the TOHBL banner, opening night, portland, Starfire, DC, Houston, and to the MLS Cup Final. We have built up something special in ECS, and now we have to take it even further next year. We need to make everything bigger, now that we are in the Champions League, and we will need even more help to do so. It’s going to be a blast all over again!

- Mark I, ECS Leadership

I would like to thank each and every ECS member for making 2009 a very special year. Sounders FC is something that I can remember looking forward to as early as 1994 when the World Cup was last in the USA. I am so glad that I’ve been able to welcome this club into existence with so many wonderful people. From the moment I first showed up at Sounders I knew ECS was something special but never would’ve imagined that it would be this fantastic.

The best testimonial in my mind is how welcoming we are to newcomers. I try to meet all new members each week and the look on your faces is just fantastic. I don’t know of many groups that make people feel so welcome, as if they had been around for years, from the moment they first show up.

I would also like to thank all of those who have stepped up this year. I have been amazed by how many people have stepped forward to help with tifo, pass out song sheets, run the table, be friendly to new members, sell tickets for away trips, etc. You have all stepped up in ways that have truly surpassed our greatest expectations.

Lastly I would like to thank my fiancee for putting up with me during this journey. She has been amazing in helping me to support my Sounders obsession.

- Keith H, ECS

So, we hope you at least enjoyed your beer and didn’t need Kleenex for sob-filled sentiments of our beloved leadership.

Look out for a story soon presenting our End of the Year/Off Season Party. Then we’ll be right back into the swing of things.

In case this is our last story before next year, Happy Holidays!

See you on the terraces,
Keef

Come party with Black Hills Militia, Christmas style, down in Olympia on December 19th at 7pm.

Hey to all,

Just wanted to let all you crazy bastards know that the BHM is going to throw a Christmas Party down in Olympia on December 19th at 7pm! The details are as follows:

Black Hills Militia Christmas Party
Saturday, December 19th 7pm-till we’re done!!!
O’Blarney’s Irish Pub
4411 Martin Way E.
Lacey WA (Keller’s Hometown)

Please RSVP as soon as possible as space will be limited. There are some big plans underway and announcements will be made as they are confirmed. Hope to see some of you there!!! Up the Sounders! Up the ECS! Up the BHM!

RSVP on the forums.

ALWAYS SOUNDERS
EVILIVE
Black Hills Militia

Philly.com confirms that Sounders will open the 2010 MLS schedule at home to the Philadelphia Union on March 25th! Photo by Keef.

Rumors that Seattle would host Philly’s inaugural match next year have been confirmed. Philly.com was able to break the news that confirmed the chatter. Here’s the story from Philly.com.

This match promises to be very lively as Philly has a very hyped supporters group. Be sure to be there, in the Brougham End, as we show Philly how it’s done both on the pitch and off!

We will continue to update this story as more details unfold.

See you on the terraces,
Keef

Join ECS this Saturday, December 5th, as we say thank you to a true Sounders legend. 3pm @ Elysian Fields across from Royal Brougham Park!

Please join ECS in celebrating Sebastien Le Toux’s career as Sounder from 2007 MVP-winning season with the USL champion Sounders to his signing as the first MLS Sounder and 2009 US Open Cup glory.

In case you’ve been living under a rock, Le Toux was selected by the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday November 25th in the expansion draft. Check out our tribute here.

Saturday, 5 December 2009 at 3pm
Elysian Fields
542 1st Ave South
Seattle!

This venue is all-ages. Families are welcome, so long as they bear in mind this is an ECS event. We’re not about to play language police should someone lyrically inquire as to whether Philly’s singing was audible.

Anyone who’d like to say a few words to toast Seba at this event, please PM Terrier. Old school ECS members (anyone who was actually here for our 2007 USL championship, say) are especially encouraged to speak up!

RSVP HERE!

Please note – This is not an autograph session! In fact, we’ll be the ones signing things for Seba! We want to send him off with one or more pieces of Le Toux-specific tifo from ECS history. There will be a table set up to sign it for Seba before and during the party.

If you have a piece of Le Toux tifo you don’t mind sending with him, please PM Terrier in the forums (click here).

While this event isn’t a private ECS party, please don’t go posting the details on other forums, blogs, or media. We need to know how many ECS members and friends are going to show up first; if it’s hundreds, we’ll fill the venue ourselves and inviting more people just means less chance for you to get in.

So, PLEASE RSVP HERE!

See you on the terraces,
Keef