Soccer CenturyLink Field

the stadium upper tier open before exhibition match between seattle , barcelona

centurylink field designed soccer. stadium meets fifa sight line requirements , provides separate locker rooms soccer teams. camera locations chosen optimal television coverage of sport. numerous exhibition games have taken place @ centurylink field, including high-profile clubs such manchester united, barcelona, celtic, real madrid, chelsea, club américa , chivas de guadalajara. these games have proved highly popular, , first sell-out of 66,772 fans @ centurylink field soccer match between manchester united , celtic. national teams such brazil, venezuela, mexico, , china have played exhibition games @ stadium. artificial turf has been temporarily overlaid grass international matches.

seattle site of 2005 concacaf gold cup group b opening round between national teams of united states, costa rica, canada, , cuba. 2 matches of 2009 concacaf gold cup opening round played @ stadium on july 4, 2009. in second match, united states comfortably defeated grenada, playing in first major international competition, 4–0. gold cup returned in 2013 panama beating martinique , mexico defeating canada in opening group play matches.

centurylink field among 58 facilities in united states being considered world cup matches had country hosted tournament in 2018 or 2022. when discussing seattle candidate, sunil gulati of u.s. soccer federation called world-class facility. seattle hosted qualifier in june 2013—only city s second first being on 3 decades earlier. united states topped panama 2–0 in front of raucous crowd.

on november 22, 2009, seattle site of 14th annual mls cup between real salt lake , los angeles galaxy, salt lake won cup on penalty kicks (5–4) in front of 46,011. stadium eighth stadium host event.

sounders (usl)

the first sporting event @ stadium double-header on july 28, 2002, included both sounders select women , men s seattle sounders of usl team. women defeated vancouver breakers 4–3, while men beat vancouver whitecaps 4–1 in front of 25,515 people. usl team began using facility regularly home field in 2003. although team management concerned high rent , underused seating capacity, drawn sponsorship opportunities , location. sounders increased average attendance 2,583 @ seattle s memorial stadium in 2002 3,452 @ new stadium in 2003. in 2005, sounders beat richmond kickers 2–1 in penalty shootout usl championship in front of 8,011. scott jenkins scored final goal , announced retirement after game.

in 2008, mls expansion franchise sounders fc decided develop starfire sports complex in nearby tukwila, , usl team played of season @ facility. @ time, team management thought practicing , playing @ starfire provide better transition hoping play new mls team. last match usl sounders @ qwest field 2008 season opener against rival portland timbers. game ended in scoreless draw in front of 10,184.

sounders fc


the south end of stadium before sounders fc inaugural match

the potential draw mls expansion team helped drive public support building stadium in 1997. in 1996, seattle considered 1 of 10 original mls teams; however, region lacked adequate outdoor stadium. in 2007, announced seattle home of expansion team. first sounders fc regular season match @ stadium on march 19, 2009. fredy montero scored first goal in 3–0 seattle victory.

before opening of first season, sounders had highest number of season ticket holders in mls after sold 22,000 of offered season ticket packages. team created web site used identify seating arrangements season ticket holders based on personal interests including preferred method watching game , foreign team preference. first half of inaugural season, upper , lower sections tarped off, limiting seating capacity 27,700. club hoped create intimate environment supply-and-demand factor reward season ticket holders , encourage purchase of seats. stadium has continuously sold out league matches in limited seating configuration. however, majority owner joe roth has said won t happy until entire venue open.

sounders fc vs sporting kc kick-off

the stadium designed open seating sections in stages if needed. after repeated sellout crowds, additional sections opened, increasing total capacity 32,400. in sounders first year set mls record average home attendance of 30,943 people. official capacity increased 35,700 after 2009 season. in 2011, sounders continued hold highest average attendance in league 38,496. official capacity increased again 38,500 opening of hawk s nest 2012 season. team averaged 44,247 spectators in 2015 mls season.

the sounders set state s single game soccer attendance record when hosted manchester united in front of 67,052 in july 2011. on october 15, 2011, additional seats available record crowd of 64,140 during final regular season home match, sounders 2–1 win followed ceremonies honoring retiring goalkeeper kasey keller. , on october 7, 2012, attendance record broken when 66,452 fans present 3–0 win on portland timbers, following ceremony awarding retired forward roger levesque golden scarf.

centurylink field has hosted 2 u.s. open cup tournament finals. on october 5, 2010, tournament s 81-year-old attendance record broken when sounders fc defeated columbus crew 2–1 in front of 31,311. record broken 1 year later when centurylink field again hosted final on october 4, 2011 36,615 spectators watched seattle defeat chicago fire 2–0.

like seahawks, sounders have received attention sellout crowds , boisterous fans. seattle times reported new standard attendance , game-day atmosphere has been set due loud sellout crowds. passionate emerald city supporters have dubbed general admission sections behind south goal brougham end street runs along south edge of complex.