Friday’s Team USA World Cup win was the greatest day in Seattle sports history. Not just for the win, but even more so because of the scene inside and outside the stadium, which is now iconic on the World Cup stage. Videos of the spectacle are the best – and most joyous – way to understand the truly incredible vibes.
The boisterous crowd outside the stadium left the host for the pre-game Fox crew to say, “Never seen anything like this … Never. Seen. Anything. Like. This in American soccer.”
The American Outlaws supporter group took over the landmark Harbor Steps near Seattle’s waterfront before a huge March to the Match.
Tens of thousands of more fans attended watch parties around the downtown, including a gloriously large one on the beautiful setting of Seattle’s waterfront.
The booming voice of USA fans belted out the national anthem, punctuated with a Blackhawks-flyover that was guaranteed to amp up an enthusiastic crowd even more.
The broadcast crew commented repeatedly on the noise and fervor of the fans, both outside the stadium and within.
When was the cheering the loudest? You can guess.
“And the building shakes in Seattle!” was a beauty of a line from the TV announcer after video review confirmed the 2nd USA goal.
As is the Seattle way, the ground shook with *each* American goal.
Then somehow the crowd topped its national anthem performance with a full-throated serenade of the US team off the pitch with “Take Me Home, Country Road.” It was a startling and beautiful bonding moment between a team and it’s fan base. I’ve been to many a Seahawks game at Lumen Field, including a NFC Championship, the Beastquake, and more … and I’ve never seen anything at the stadium like that.
It all led the Fox crew inside Lumen to say “I don’t want to leave this stadium right now.”
And the crowd outside that beautiful stadium put an exclamation mark on the day by cheering so loudly the post-game Fox crew stopped broadcasting for a hot minute to soak it all in.
Eventually the host said “I don’t want to leave Seattle. Don’t make me go!” after booming chants of “U-S-A” continued to roll.
There have been iconic sports moments at Lumen Field/Seattle Stadium before. NFC Championships wins for the Seattle Seahawks. The Beastquake. Jubilant Super Bowl parades for the Seahawks, and many more.
The incredible Sounders FC franchise has had wonderful moments at Lumen too. And the University of Washington Huskies, Seattle Mariners, and the we-will-one-day-get-them-back Sonics have had their share in Seattle too.
But in a stadium known for being one of the loudest in the country, that win by Team USA amidst an astoundingly joyous and energetic scene was superlative.
There was a boost from the weather. A string of lovely early summer days leading up to and including game day that Seattleites know isn’t a reliable norm for mid-June. But those summer days are also when Seattle is the most gorgeous.
Lumen Field itself added to the vibe, including its unique sound-amplifying and beautiful architecture, perched gloriously in downtown Seattle, a short distance from Puget Sound. Indeed the views of downtown and even Puget Sound from swaths of the stadium are part of what makes the venue unique.
Yet with all of that, it was the energy of the US fan base that enthralled announcers and journalists there to cover a big match for the host country during the beautiful game’s ultimate stage of the World Cup. Soccer town USA showed up.
Seattle, you – and every USA Team fan there inside and outside the stadium, from wherever they came – delivered. And did so with such a joyous thunder the city is now firmly on the map as the pre-eminent soccer venue in the United States.
Ole!
Eric Earling 