Hey everyone. :) Just thought some folks might be interested in some pictures I took from tonight's MLS game between the Seattle Sounders and the Portland Timbers. If you guys don't follow US football (and I wouldn't blame you if you didn't ;) ), they have a heated football rivalry which has been growing for at least 40 years.

That may not be much compared to the great, historic rivalries in Europe, but, the sport is still growing int he US, and this rivalry packs the fans in to the tune of 64,000 fans in attendance, at Seattle's stadium (which they share with the Seattle Seahawks -- an NFL franchise).

It didn't quite beat the record of 66,000 set last for the same fixture last season, but, that's pretty good, no?

I took some video too, of the crowd chants (the stadium gets rocked, sometimes!), but I need to upload to YouTube so will take care of that when I get a chance, and will post it.

Just thought you guys might be interested in the growing popularity of the sport in the country where Dempsey and Howard come from. :)

Also, Diandre Yedlin, our youth-team product (Seattle born and raised) has been heavily linked with a 6m move to Roma, after his impressive showing in the World Cup, keeping Eden Hazard in his pocket. He's 20 years old. He can't even drink in his home country!

By the way, the score was 2-0 to Seattle. Go check out the highlights, on our own FootyRoom! :)

Hey everyone. :) Just thought some folks might be interested in some pictures I took from tonight's MLS game between the Seattle Sounders and the Portland Timbers. If you guys don't follow US football (and I wouldn't blame you if you didn't ;) ), they have a heated football rivalry which has been growing for at least 40 years.

That may not be much compared to the great, historic rivalries in Europe, but, the sport is still growing int he US, and this rivalry packs the fans in to the tune of 64,000 fans in attendance, at Seattle's stadium (which they share with the Seattle Seahawks -- an NFL franchise).

It didn't quite beat the record of 66,000 set last for the same fixture last season, but, that's pretty good, no?

I took some video too, of the crowd chants (the stadium gets rocked, sometimes!), but I need to upload to YouTube so will take care of that when I get a chance, and will post it.

Just thought you guys might be interested in the growing popularity of the sport in the country where Dempsey and Howard come from. :)

Also, Diandre Yedlin, our youth-team product (Seattle born and raised) right-back has been heavily linked with a 6m move to Roma, after his impressive showing in the World Cup, keeping Eden Hazard in his pocket. He's 20 years old. He can't even drink in his home country!

By the way, the score was 2-0 to Seattle. Go check out the highlights, on our own FootyRoom! :)

Thanks guys. :)

And yeah, tuan, most teams are not as lucky as Seattle to have the kind of stadium and atmosphere that we get at Centurylink. Most teams are forced to either time-share with an NFL pitch (hence those lines) or have a really small, cheap stadium.

I'm really hoping that as the game grows there, more investment will go into these venues, because the attendances are continuing to grow every year. :)

As for Seattle itself? Dude, it's football crazy. :) Before every match the main supporters groups march through the city on the way to the stadium, picking up fans along the way who are also going. Here's a great example of their support:

I feel really proud to be living in the city where US football is being taken seriously, and made into the big-time. <3

Respect to Portland, too, because their fan-base are hard-core. Every time they come, they do NOT stop singing, no matter what, and away games at their place are just downright scary in terms of how fierce the support is.

It's a real, personal, pure footballing rivalry, as all the best are. :)

Thanks guys. :)

And yeah, tuan, most teams are not as lucky as Seattle to have the kind of stadium and atmosphere that we get at Centurylink. Most teams are forced to either time-share with an NFL pitch (hence those lines) or have a really small, cheap stadium.

I'm really hoping that as the game grows there, more investment will go into these venues, because the attendances are continuing to grow every year. :)

As for Seattle itself? Dude, it's football crazy. :) Before every match the main supporters groups march through the city on the way to the stadium, picking up fans along the way who are also going. Here's a great example of their support:

I feel really proud to be living in the city where US football is being taken seriously, and made into the big-time. <3

Respect to Portland, too, because their fan-base are hard-core. Every time they come, they do NOT stop singing, no matter what, and away games at their place are just downright scary in terms of how fierce the support is.

It's a real, personal, pure footballing rivalry, as all the best are. :)

Thanks guys. :)

And yeah, tuan, most teams are not as lucky as Seattle to have the kind of stadium and atmosphere that we get at Centurylink. Most teams are forced to either time-share with an American Football pitch (hence those lines) or have a really small stadium. built just for them. There are downsides, either way, but clubs are making it work. We're just lucky in that we time-share with a major NFL franchise, and split the stadium costs with them.

I'm really hoping that as the game grows there, more investment will go into these venues, because the attendances are continuing to grow every year. :)

As for Seattle itself? Dude, it's football crazy. :) Before every match the main supporters groups march through the city on the way to the stadium, picking up fans along the way who are also going. Here's a great example of their support:

I feel really proud to be living in the city where US football is being taken seriously, and made into the big-time. <3

Respect to Portland, too, because their fan-base are hard-core. Every time they come, they do NOT stop singing, no matter what, and away games at their place are just downright scary in terms of how fierce the support is.

It's a real, personal, pure footballing rivalry, as all the best are. :)

Here's how they announce the team-sheet, before the players come out. They get really into it :)

Here's how they announce the team-sheet, before the players come out. They get really into it :)

There's even a frickin' cannon for kick-off. ;)

Here's how they announce the team-sheet, before the players come out. They get really into it :)

There's even a frickin' cannon for kick-off. ;)

"I was like, wow, I envied them cuz I always would love to shake hand and be in the room with my childhood hero."

I know, right? I got to briefly shake Dempsey's hand when he was unvieled, and even thank him for everything he did at the Lane). There's not yet the barriers between stars and fans that can spring up in the major European clubs.

Aha! Thanks for that, tuan. My gf and I have picked up most of them the games (she's a season-ticket holder), but that's perfect for me. Cheers mate. :)

Also: it just so happens that this Saturday they are playing a friendly against.... Tottenham Hotspur, as Spurs' first pre-season game. I'm gonna be able to see them for the first time in 8 years. :D

Guess who is a happy boy right now. ;)

Wow, Seattle Sounders 3 - 3 Tottenham. Looks like an exciting match. I guess the person who's super happy now is Lodatz and his girl friend. Tell us what it was like in the game mate?