As Seattle Sounders FC returns home to the Emerald Queen Casino Pitch at Lumen Field this Sunday afternoon to host Western Conference rival the LA Galaxy (3:45 p.m. PT / Apple TV, FS1, 93.3 KJR FM, SiriusXM FC, El Rey 1360 AM), the club and matchday sponsor Providence are hosting Youth Day, a special matchday for young fans.
Geared toward youth, families and emerging soccer fandom, Sunday’s Youth Day offers a variety of engaging programming and activities that provide kids of all ages an extra special day at the stadium while also highlighting the community and mental health initiatives taking place with Renton School District, Providence and Sounders FC.
The first 10,000 fans through gates on Sunday receive a foam orca waver, courtesy of Providence. Shaped as the club’s popular orca tertiary mark and made of fully recyclable material, the waver provides a unique memento from the match.
Young fans can also sign up for **Sammy’s Squad** at the match, the new, free-to-join kids club for Sounders FC fans ages 5-12. Members of the club receive a free Sammy’s Squad youth scarf and have the opportunity to participate in exclusive club experiences throughout the season. Scarf pickup for squad members who have already joined the club is available on Sunday.
Sounders FC also continues its work with experts from Seattle Aquarium to educate fans about local orcas and how we can all take action to help their populations thrive. Kids can explore a life-sized inflatable orca, handle a replica orca skull and skeleton, and learn more about our local orca populations through orca trading cards.
In the stadium’s North Plaza, several fun and interactive activities for fans are available including:
• Rave Green Sprint Zone – Young fans have the opportunity to race former Sounders captain Brad Evans and learn more about the 2024 Sounders FC Rave Green Run Presented by Providence Swedish, scheduled for September 8.
• The Providence Challenge – Fans can test their mental and physical skills through three Sogility soccer drills.
• Work2BeWell Booth – Alongside The Providence Challenge, fans can learn about Work2BeWell, Providence’s mental health and wellness program focused on providing mental health resources and education for teens, parents and educators. Work2BeWell’s goal is to promote teen wellness across the country and work to normalize the conversation about mental health, reducing the stigma that surrounds it. At the Work2BeWell booth fans can receive free giveaways and interact with Sammy the Sounder himself.
• Providence Emoji Wall – Fans, and especially young fans, are encouraged to express their feelings at the Providence Emoji Wall. While sharing emotions via emoji, fans can also apply stickers, sign names and take photos in from of the wall.
• Arena Sports Youth Play Field – For young fans looking to burn off some extra energy, the Arena Sports Youth Play Field provides a fun space to enjoy some physical activity and soccer skills ahead of watching their heroes on the pitch.
As the team arrives for Sunday’s match, they will be gifted hand-drawn player portraits created by third grade students from Tiffany Park Elementary School in Renton who were recently hosted at the Providence Swedish Performance Center & Clubhouse. The students’ one-of-a-kind artwork will further be used throughout the afternoon as part of player graphics for lineup announcements, substitutions and other in-game updates on club social channels and in-stadium videoboards.
Matchday staples are also getting a Youth Day makeover, including:
• Starting XI Announcement – A young fan is joining Sounders FC’s in-stadium PA announcer to assist with the traditional Starting XI announcement.
• National Anthem – A group choir consisting of over 100 youth seated in Lumen Field’s Green Zone perform the national anthem for fans on Sunday.
• Scarves Up! – The Scarves Up! moment is being led by local students Nanki Brar and Gavid Cruz. Brar is a Lindbergh High School student involved with the school’s Mental Health Club and Cruz is a member of the Work2BeWell National Student Advisory Council.
Additional kid-themed activations include pre-match musical performances by School of Rock Seattle’s House Band, an ensemble comprised of talented young musicians 18 and under, and Nikhil Bagga, a 14-year-old Seattle-based singer, songwriter and guitarist who has performed at the NHL Winter Classic and other major events, as well as an entertaining halftime Rave Green Run Youth Race. Young fans throughout the stadium will also be integrated into matchday programming and videoboard features.
For further information regarding any of the activities mentioned here, please contact a member of Sounders FC Communications. To learn more about Sounders FC matchdays, health and safety and how to be prepared to attend a match, visit SoundersFC.com/Matchday/Know-Before-You-Go.
