Photo Credit: @PNWmf on twitter
After his third studio album release in 1989, LL Cool J was being hammered by critics and peers alike for being soft, many saying he fell off. What followed was a blistering response to those critics with his single, “Mama Said Knock You Out,” inspired by a conversation with his grandmother in which she gave him the titular instructions.
Throughout the years the Emerald City Supporters has not only been a gameday staple in the Brougham End as the largest supporter group for the Seattle Sounders, but a group that also strives to live our values in support of the vulnerable communities in the PNW. These values include our stance as being anti-fascist and anti-racist, supporting Trans kids, and reminding folks that abortion is healthcare. With the news of the new jersey sponsor we are reaffirming our support to the communities that are being hurt by the sponsor and putting words into actions. We are calling for action and accountability from the FO for this heinous decision and are making commitments of our own.
This season, ECS is committing to donate $1 for every ticket we sell to NW Abortion Access Fund. NWAAF’s mission is to fund abortions and break down barriers to abortion access for people in the Northwest. In addition to ticket sales donations, a special merch item will be produced with all proceeds going to NWAAF.
Not only will we be supporting NWAAF, the Merch Team will once again be producing a limited edition Pride Pin. Proceeds from last year’s pin went to support Lambert House, and this year the proceeds will be donated to the Gender Justice League. Gender Justice League’s mission is to empower all people to eliminate discrimination and prejudice based on sex, gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation in Washington State, and to ensure that trans and gender diverse people can live their lives safely, true to themselves, and free from discrimination.
Throughout the season we will be in touch with visiting fans to help them with resources for any of their supporters who may need access to information and services, the Merch table will have QR codes available with links for fans to donate to NWAAF and Gender Justice League, and Leadership will continue to find ways to live and show support of our values.
To: Adrian Hanauer, Jody Allen, Drew Carey, the Owners collective, and the Front Office of the Seattle Sounders Football Club
We’re hurt. We’re disappointed. We’re fucking frustrated.
You have spent years reassuring us that you shared our values on critical topics. You’ve told us you share our antifascist and antiracist stance. You joined us in showing your support for transgender youth, going so far as to tell CONCACAF officials that you wouldn’t make us take down our “Emerald City Supports Trans Kids” banner the night of the CCL Final. On June 24, 2022, the day Roe v. Wade was overturned, you issued a statement assuring fans that you believe in the right to autonomy over our bodies and the right to choose. Your partnerships with Intentionalist and the RAVE Foundation support diverse local communities, healthy children, and underserved populations.
So what happened to our shared values? Was it all just lip service to keep taking our money?
Because now you’ve turned around and touted ‘shared values’ with an organization that stands against many of the topics we’ve previously agreed upon.
You brought on a sponsor who has a history ofinsufficient care for transgender and gender non-binary individuals.
You brought on a sponsor who is one of the largest hospital systems in Washington but will not offer abortion services pertheir own documents filed with the state.
You brought on a sponsor whose mission says “we are steadfast in serving all, especially those who are poor and vulnerable” but they weresued by the State of Washington in 2022 for illegally sending more than 55,000 patient accounts to collections when the patients qualified for low-income assistance.
The one thing we can agree on in all of this is that more mental health resources are needed in our community, especially for children and adolescents. However, partnering with a faith-based organization with a history against reproductive rights and gender-affirming care isn’t showing support to all members of this community. There are so many different community organizations you could have chosen for this initiative that would support all of our shared values.
You told us one thing for years, and another with this sponsorship. This situation requires action,and now you need to show us what values you really hold.
Emerald City Supporters
[Seattle, WA; Portland, OR; and Vancouver, BC; December 27, 2022]
The supporters groups from the three Cascadia MLS clubs have agreed on rules for the Cascadia Cup after MLS announced an unbalanced schedule in 2023.
The Emerald City Supporters, Vancouver Southsiders and Timbers Army have agreed that all matches will count towards the Cascadia Cup, even though the new unbalanced MLS schedule means each team will play a different number of home games against their Cascadia rivals this season.
“We all agreed that we are going to count every match. This format will be one that all supporters will find easiest to follow,” says Fernando Machicado, Timbers Army spokesperson.
Portland Timbers will host both Vancouver Whitecaps twice and Seattle Sounders once, Vancouver will see Portland once and Seattle twice at home, and Seattle will host Portland twice and Vancouver once. Despite the imbalance, the three supporters groups agreed to count all matches equally in order to keep the 2023 Cascadia Cup format simple.
“Ultimately, the Cascadia Cup is by the supporters, for the supporters, and we realized this was the best decision for the 2023 season,” says Tom Biro, co-president, Emerald City Supporters. “While we can appreciate MLS needing to make different scheduling decisions due to expansion, it’s pretty obvious the league recognizes where to generate the most attention each season.”
The Cascadia Cup will be awarded to the team with the most points after all matches have been played or when there is a clear winner. In the event of a tie, the Cup will be awarded to the team with the best goal difference. Should the MLS schedule remain unbalanced in 2024, the Emerald City Supporters, Vancouver Southsiders and Timbers Army insist that it should allow for a balanced distribution of the home and away matches amongst the Cascadia clubs.
“Scheduling all Cascadia Cup matches to be played on a Saturday is a positive adjustment” says Peter Czimmermann, president of the Vancouver Southsiders. “It is imperative that traveling to rivalry games is as accessible as possible for all supporters”
Background:
The Cascadia Cup was created in 2004 by supporters groups of the three Cascadia teams, and is awarded annually to the best team in the Cascadia region. Seattle has won it seven times, and Vancouver has won it six times, and current Cascadia Cup holder Portland has won it five times.
2023 Cascadia Cup schedule:
With the unbalanced 2023 MLS schedule, each team has 3 home and 3 away matches, two home games and one away against one Cascadia Cup rival and one home/two away against the other:
- April 8: Vancouver Whitecaps v. Portland Timbers
- April 15: Portland Timbers v. Seattle Sounders
- May 13: Portland Timbers v. Vancouver Whitecaps
- May 20: Vancouver Whitecaps v. Seattle Sounders
- June 3: Seattle Sounders v. Portland Timbers
- July 8: Vancouver Whitecaps v. Seattle Sounders
- August 26: Portland Timbers v. Vancouver Whitecaps
- September 2: Seattle Sounders v. Portland Timbers
- October 7: Seattle Sounders v. Vancouver Whitecaps
(Home team is listed first)
Full Cascadia Cup criteria:
- Greater number of points earned in matches between the teams concerned
- Greater goal difference in matches between the teams concerned
- Greater number of goals scored in matches between the teams concerned
- Reapply first three criteria if two or more teams are still tied
- Greater goal difference in all cup matches
- Greater number of goals scored in all cup matches
- Smaller number of disciplinary points in all cup matches (yellow = 1 point, red = 2 points)
About the Cascadia Cup Council
The Cascadia Cup Council is a recognized not-for-profit entrusted with the management of the Cascadia Cup. The Council is made up of one representative from each of the three founding Cascadia Cup supporters groups, the Emerald City Supporters, Timbers Army, and Vancouver Southsiders.
Photo by @PNWmf
Brougham Faithful
Sounders Til I Die
For Our Boys Until the End
Eternal Blue Forever Green
On every matchday, these are the words you chant and sing, they’re the words on the flags you wave, on the banners you stand behind, and the scarf you wear around your neck and raise overhead. They’re true every day, they’re the reason we stand together as one, focusing our collective energy into support for the Boys.
This season, or at least the last 3 months of it, has been a real test of our mentality. With wins not coming, heartbreaking losses piling up, and even draws feeling like losses, our faithfulness has been put to the test. And despite the poor play and results, our support has carried on. We’ve beaten the drums until our hands bled, we’ve sung our hearts out, we’ve waved flags until our arms fell off, because we never quit on the Boys just like we expect them to never quit on us.
We'll see you at first practice in January.