I played soccer in junior high and my dorm room at Washington State University overlooked the soccer practice fields so I would watch practice while working on homework. I did not understand what it meant to be a true soccer fan until I met my husband in 2007; he lived and breathed the English Premier League as we did not have a hometown MLS team yet.
When the Seattle Sounders FC became an MLS expansion team in 2009, I purchased season tickets thinking it would be a fun date night every couple of weeks. I can still remember my very first match against the New York Red Bulls. Our seats were just to the upper right of the Emerald City Supporters, and the energy inside Qwest Field (now CenturyLink Field) was indescribable. We received scarves with our season tickets kit and I quickly learned when to raise mine up and when to chant with the ECS. The Sounders went on to beat the Red Bulls 3-0 and I was officially hooked.
One of the things that I love most about the Sounders is their accessibility. Matches are frequent and can be affordable. However, for some kids in Western Washington, the idea of attending a match seems like an inaccessible dream. Foster youth do not always have the same opportunities as their peers; whether it is playing the game of soccer themselves or attending a match to see their favorite players take the pitch. Yes, stipends are paid to foster parents, but they do not cover even the essentials, which leave little room for extras.
The Ticket to Dream Foundation has long strived to provide foster youth with opportunities that allow them to just be kids. Together with the Seattle Sounders FC organization, we want to help local foster children experience the thrill of raising their scarf, dance to the beat of the drum, and chant alongside 40,000 of the greatest fans in the world as the Seattle Sounders FC take on MLS newcomers Minnesota United on August 20th.
By purchasing a ticket here for just $21, you will be helping a foster child become a lifelong Sounders FC fan and take in their first game! To make an even bigger impact, the Sounders FC will be matching each and every ticket donated with another donated ticket!
Let’s create a new generation of Sounders FC fans who will support our champions, carry on our traditions, and continue to help this team break records! By backing our team, we’re changing the lives of foster youth across Western Washington. Don’t miss out on this opportunity!
- Meghan Renken
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