Century Link Field in Seattle, WA served as the host venue to the World Cup Qualifier between the United Stated and Panama in June 2013. The match was the first qualifier that Seattle had hosted in 3 decades. Growing up in a soccer house hold, I have been to my fair share of professional soccer matches including the infamous 1994 World Cup Match between the US and Columbia at the Pasadena Rose Bowl that resulted in a US victory at the expense of an own goal from Andres Escobar. Those of you who may not be familiar with this, watch the ESPN 30 For 30 Film, The Two Escobars for more information. As fate came to tell, I really had no idea what to expect once I arrived in Seattle with two friends of mine. For two days, my friends and I were going to be partaking in American Outlaws traditions that included the night before gathering, the pre-party at a nearby bar, the infamous march to the stadium and the match itself. The American Outlaws are the official fan club of the US Soccer Team with chapters based in cities across the country. In tradition, the Outlaws attending the match gather at a local location the night before the match and celebrate. This night in particular, we were joined by US Soccer legends, Cobi Jones and Alexi Lalas. The next day, we gathered about a mile from the stadium early in the afternoon prior to marching. Once inside of the stadium, it was game on!
The match itself was infamous as those of us who were in the end zone made it clear, the US can in fact show their support. The video which I shared above and below highlight just the type of atmosphere that was showcased that evening.
Before their was Century Link Field, the Kingdome served as the multi-purpose stadium for the Seattle Mariners and Seahawks prior to being demolished to make way for Century Link Field. The stadium now serves as home to the Seahawks and MLS Club Seattle Sounders.
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