“This. Is. It.” And it was something.
Seattle Sounders FC fans turned out in force Sunday morning for pre-MLS Cup festivities just blocks from CenturyLink Field as the city’s pro soccer team got set to take on Toronto FC for the league championship.
Thousands of Sounders faithful clad in Rave Green and blue jammed Occidental Park in the Pioneer Square neighborhood, chanting and cheering as hip-hop star Macklemore and others fired everyone up.
Kids on the shoulders of parents aimed smartphones at the scene, flags and scarves waved over the crowd and people posed for selfies in front of a giant replica of the MLS Cup trophy.
Macklemore, the Seattle rap star who is well connected to the city’s pro sports teams and is among a group of new Sounders owners, pumped up the crowd with a selection of his hits, including “Glorious” and “Can’t Hold Us.” He gave a single ticket to one lucky fan.
Quite the scene here in Seattle as the city hosts the #MLSCup pic.twitter.com/y8FYRW7y0y
— GeekWire (@geekwire) November 10, 2019
After the music, the traditional March to the Match commenced, with the huge crowd slowly making its way south toward the stadium. Loud chants of “Seaaaaaatttttlllleeeee, Sounnnnnnnderrrrrrrrs,” filled the streets.
Check out a bunch of photos from the scene: