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 of insufficient 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 per their 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 were sued 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
Each year, members of ECS are invited to vote for their favorite player of the year.
The award is officially named "The Jon Glyer Memorial ECS Player of the Year Award" and is named after a fallen ECS brother who, in his short time in the ECS, embodied the mentality we all hold so dear.
This award is not just presented to the player with the most goals or the most assists. This award is presented to the player who best embodies the values that we, as supporters, cherish. It's about passion and pride for the team. It's about the players who, week after week, leave it all on the pitch; the moments in time that prove their love for this City and Crest.
Voting starts near the end of the season and the award is presented to the player at the End of Season Party if they are able to attend.
History of winners:
2009 - Kasey Keller
2010 - Osvaldo Alonso
2011 - Mauro Rosales
2012 - Michael Gspurning
2013 - Brad Evans
2014 - Zach Scott
2015 - Stefan Frei
2016 - Cristian Roldan
2017 - Cristian Roldan
2018 - Will Bruin
2019 - Stefan Frei
2020 - Nicolas Lodeiro
2021 - Alex Roldan
2022 - Stefan Frei
[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.
This game has more on the line than just points and beating Portland. The Timbers organization continues to prove what we’ve known all along - they are trash. Back in June ECS leadership evaluated the pros and cons of going to the game at all. At the time we determined that our voices could make an impact and that we would still show up. This decision becomes harder to live with as the weeks go by. What message are we sending to our members by going?
Being a victim of abuse is isolating and terrifying. It takes courage and strength to come forward, especially against powerful people. Knowing that you were ignored and brushed off for coming forward is not only defeating but prevents more people from coming forward. This is the what the NWSL and the Timbers organization did to Sinead Farrelly and Mana Shim. The message they gave to their fans is we don’t care about what happens off the field as long as we are successful on the field. But that was just the tip of the iceberg at that trash heap of an organization. What’s followed has been story after story of domestic abuse, abuse of power, boorish behavior, and incompetence in handling any of it.
ECS reached out to the TA in an effort to make a coordinated stand to bring amplified attention to the continued failings from the Timbers front office and the TA was not interested in coordinating. A decision we can’t quite understand. We’ve heard from the Timbers FO and they’ve made it clear ‘personal attacks’ will not be tolerated. A decision that silences those who support the victims of their abuses. So what now? We cannot ignore that any of what has happened in that organization is in any way okay. That’s not who ECS is. We will go, we will be loud, and we will make it known that The Emerald City Supporters stands with women and stands with those who’s voices have been silenced for far too long.
ECS has made a stand before and we will make a stand again. Believe women. Support women.
This song card is brought to you by the Emerald City Supporters, so you can join with us after the national anthem and the Champions League banner reveal in singing “Born in 1974” (To the tune of "When Johnny Comes Marching Home")
Born in Nineteen-Seventy-Four, Sounders! Sounders!
And now we win like never before, Sounders! Sounders!
We love our boys in famous green, the greatest team you've ever seen
Seattle Sounders, Born in Seventy-Four!
Emerald City Supporters (ECS) is an independent supporter group of Seattle Sounders FC. It is our mission to provide the best support in Major League Soccer, doing so by uniting supporters in their love of the Sounders. On matchdays, you can find many of us in the Brougham End, pushing our boys onto victory through coordinated songs, flags, and large tifo displays.
Wherever you are in the stadium, here are a few ways you can get involved and help us in our mission:
- Join us in other songs!
- Become a 2022 ECS Member! Membership comes with perks like exclusive merch, access to home and away match tickets, and discounts from our partners.
- Sign up to volunteer in one of our work groups, where you can join the team that makes ECS’ support happen.
- Donate to help fund our operations!
- Follow us on twitter, Instagram, or facebook!
Since this is a match against Portland and we’ve got your attention, here’s a reminder of some of the huge displays we’ve done in this rivalry over the years! All of these are designed, produced, deployed, and funded by ECS members!
2011: Decades of Dominance
2012: Tonight We Go All In
2013: Build a Bonfire
2017: The Rightful King
2019: Ambition Doesn’t Grow on Trees
It’s (almost) time to play for another Cup on our home pitch.
For the seventh time in our MLS history, the boys qualified for the CONCACAF Champions League. In the past two months, they defeated Motagua, avenged the 2021 Leagues Cup loss to Leon, brushed aside defending MLS Cup champs NYCFC, and earned the right to host the second leg of the finals against Pumas.
These boys know this pressure. To paraphrase Stefan Frei after advancing against NYCFC, this is why they are Sounders: to play for trophies. ALL the trophies.
But this time it isn’t just for a trophy. It’s also an opportunity to set another standard for the league. To show the other MLS teams that winning CCL isn’t just for Liga MX.
“There are very few select opportunities to make history,” Frei said. “There’s still one elusive one for the MLS. If you can be that one, it’s going to be massive. … This franchise has a high standard. Sometimes that means pressure but the players enjoy that pressure. We appreciate the fact that we have opportunities to be in pressure moments.”
Since 2016, we’ve played for a Cup of some sort every year but one. Going back even more, to our 2009 MLS debut, we have played for a Cup every year but three. Our success is our legacy. It’s also our expectation. Be there to fight for our boys on as they fight for another trophy.
4.22.22
Photo Credit Max Aquino
The start of CCL 2022 is here and the boys are almost back in town, ready to fight for more trophies.
If you haven’t seen it or made your purchase already, check out the 2022 ECS Membership Kit and make sure you’re ready to cheer the boys to victory as a member. While you’re signing up, don’t forget to designate your subgroup!
Feeling like you want to jump in and get ready for the season opener a little early? You know our tifo folks will be busy getting ready before the first match. After your membership is squared away, log into the forums and sign up to help out with tifo production. Check out the post about helping out on matchday tifo crew while you're there! If you can't help until the match, sign up for deployment help – we WILL need your hands!
Can’t help out in person or tifo not your thing? You can also donate to the tifo fund in the ECS store (they like to buy paint and fabric) or sign up for other volunteer opportunities like writing match previews, packing and shipping merch (already purchased memberships are on their way to you as of this week!), member engagement and partnerships, or numerous other options.
In the meantime, warm up those pogo legs and we’ll see you on the terraces soon.
2.17.22
Scenario C: Vancouver wins by 4 on 11/7: Vancouver wins
Scenario D: Vancouver wins by 5+ on 11/7: Vancouver wins
Tiebreaker 2: Greater goal difference in matches between teams concerned
Tiebreaker 3: Greater number of goals scored in matches between teams concerned
- 8/15 Seattle @ Portland
- 8/29 Portland @ Seattle
- 9/10 Portland @ Vancouver
- 10/9 Vancouver @ Seattle
- 10/20 Vancouver @ Portland
- 11/7 Seattle @ Vancouver
Subcategories
ECS Headlines
Emerald City Supporter headlines, important news, and public releases.
Away Travel
Emerald City Supporters organizes away trips to all Sounders FC matches. Check here for all your travel information. We welcome both ECS members and non-members alike to stand together as one group, one voice, and support our Sounders.
The ECS travel team wants to thank the over 3,900 people who attended an away match at some point with us in 2012. Everyone who was able to make an away game, whether traveling from Seattle or an “expatriate” who lives in another MLS city, was a part of the Sounders experience. We averaged nearly 130 supporters over the 24 away matches played in 2012, and our collective domestic and international travel topped 3 million miles.
Our club has become one of the leaders in the MLS. Your voices and presence help lift the boys and we thank you for traveling with us. We are anxious for the stretch run of the 2013 season. With trips left to see the Sounders win back the Cascadia Cup, chase down the playoffs and watch our boys lift the MLS Cup you won't want to miss a moment, so start saving money, air miles, and vacation time once again!
If you're joining us for an upcoming trip, you can find details of the trip at the links below usually 4-6 weeks before the match. You can also review our Planning Tips or City Guides. If you're interested in other people's away trip experiences, read the stories listed below!
ECS Tifo
ECS Tifo 2009
While 2009 was the first season of the MLS Sounders, it was not the first for the ECS. We came out with a bang for the home opener, with the “Tonight Our History Becomes Legend” display. A one section overhead in section 122 with sections 121 and 123 also included in the deployment, we immediately jumped onto the scene of MLS supporter group tifo and left our mark. The 2009 season also included a 35th anniversary tifo for the club, a display for the final regular season match and a flag display for the playoffs.
ECS Tifo 2010
In 2010, we expanded our standard choreo to the full 3 sections of GA and we experimented with alternate methods of deployment with displays including “Fight for This City” and “The Boys From Seattle Are Back”. This was the season we pioneered the techniques that we still use to this day. This was the season we truly set ourselves apart from the rest of MLS.
ECS Tifo 2011
2011 was the season the rest of the world took notice. Our choreos took a monumental leap forward; not only in quantity but also in quality. Not only did we make almost as many choreos that season as we did in the two previous seasons combined, but the level of detail and execution we reached surpassed even our wildest dreams. In a word: dominance.
The displays were highlighted by the inaugural Cascadia derbies, “Decades of Dominance” for Portland home and “What is best in life?” for the home game against Vancouver. We did large away displays for both Cascadia away matches as well, “Takes a Sounder to raise a trophy” at Portland and “We predict a riot” in Vancouver. This season also included our first large scale card display, something that requires great discipline from the whole group.
ECS Tifo 2012
In 2012, we expanded our tifo and increased the use of card displays. We started the season with “E Pluribus Sounders”, a mixture of cards and an overhead to represent the diverse nature of our team and show our unity. We played with elephant condoms in CCL and had tifo for home and away USOC matches. And of course we went BIG with the “All In” display against Portland.
ECS Tifo 2013
In 2013, we went bigger than we’d ever gone before with “Rise Above” for the home opener and “Build a Bonfire” vs Portland. We also set a record for turnaround time for a tifo display, with the “Dempsey Watch” overhead deployed at his official announcement and created the night before based on the rumors of his arrival.