Groups

Emerald City Supporters have a number of sub groups. Membership for groups depends on that group. Some are open, some are by invite, some are formed by a group of friends, and some are formed based on where you live. But we are all ECS and we all love the Sounders.

ECS Subgroups

Official groups in green

Armed Services Group (ASG)
Black Hills Militia (BHM)
Bellingham Border Boys (3B)
Brougham Boys ‘74 (BB74)
City of Rain (CoR)
ECS UW
Mile High Boys
Seattle Sounders East (SSE)
SoCal Sound (SCS)
Sonoran Sounder Alliance (SSA)
West Sound Armada (WSA)
253 Defiance
509 Prime

ECS Subgroup Policy

Definition

Subgroups are groups of Seattle Sounder fans that wish to support their beloved team under the umbrella that is the ECS. Subgroups and their members are to be ambassadors of the ECS in their respective regions and must help spread the ECS songs, culture, and imagery. ECS subgroups do not have to sit in the GA, but are strongly encouraged to move to the GA over time. ECS envisions that someday all the Brougham End will be a mass of ECS members and subgroups chanting and waving flags to support the sounders. Together for our boys. All subgroup members are ECS first, subgroup member second.

Gear

Subgroups are to require ECS membership from their members. ECS membership entails the purchase of the ECS membership package. Subgroups, however, can produce additional gear to fund raise on their own. We suggest that subgroups produce patches that can then be affixed to the ECS scarf sold with the ECS membership package. The patches can also be used to raise funds and will not put a huge financial burden on the subgroup. If a subgroup would also like to take advantage of the ECS Online Store, they are allowed to and encouraged to. Subgroup gear and logos must focus on the Sounders, the ECS, and their own identity-nothing else. Subgroups are strongly encouraged to go through ECS suppliers to get discounts and to support those that have supported us in the past.

Official Subgroup Status

To attain official subgroup status a subgroup must recruit 20 unique members to purchase ECS membership. ECS members may participate and associate with as many sub-groups as they please, but they may only officially be a member of 1 sub-group. ECS leadership will maintain a database for each group to track this. New members, when purchasing their ECS Membership will also now have the option to select a subgroup of their belonging. This tool will allow you to recruit without any effort. Regardless, we encourage subgroups to recruit by other means at various events and other social networks.

What you get when you become an official subgroup? Your own damn page on our website and a presence on the SSFC website as well under the Supporters Section. Additionally, through the ECS you will potentially get access to players, front office staff, etc to continue to promote your ECS subgroup. Additionally you get to be a part of one of the largest and fasting growing supporter groups in the US and be a part of some of the loudest chanting sections in MLS.

Website

When a subgroup reaches official status, they will get their own custom page on the ECS website. Subgroups must use our website and group leaders will have access to their specific page where they can edit content and post photos.

Bars

Subgroups are required to set up a “home pub” to host events at and to set up away viewing parties. Subgroups can identify multiple locations, but one location is best for consistency and for effectiveness. Establish a drink special at this location.

Tifo

Subgroups can fund raise and prepare tifo on their own as long as it is personal tifo (flags and two poles). Sub-groups can suggest large scale tifo ideas to the proper ECS leadership. We may not always bring these ideas to reality, but you should not feel like you cannot participate at all. Subgroups should stay away from large coordinated choreographed tifo displays as these cost money and require insider knowledge of the logistics of game day at Qwest. Subgroup tifo imagery must be in sounder/ECS colors and incorporate SSFC logos, the subgroup logo, and ECS logos. Logos and or imagery of universities, colleges, and other teams is prohibited to avoid confrontation between groups and to be respectful of the main reason we are all here: to support the Sounders. We encourage subgroups to produce smaller, square-ish style (say 5ft. x 5ft.) rail banners due to the lack of space in The Brougham End.

Travel

Subgroups are strongly encouraged to travel with the ECS to away matches whenever possible. Subgroup members may also provide assistance in making travel arrangements for their respective locations with Liquidmj, Blueyedbuddhist, and YukataNinja on the ECS forums.

In Closing

The above groups are not official by definition but are being recognized by ECS in 2010 in an effort to star the subgroup effort. New members shall join one of these groups and not seek to start other groups. New members are also encouraged to join the ECS proper without the need to join a subgroup.

ECS will not be accepting any additional subgroups at this time. For future consideration the ECS would love to work with others in 2011 and beyond. The logistics of excessive amounts of subgroups is challenging and having too many will dilute the membership pool of the ECS and the ECS message.

ECS reserves the right to make changes and revisions to the above policy in regards to subgroups as it seems fit. ECS will also reserve the right to expel a particular group shall its actions not be condoned by ECS leadership.