The Standing Sounders FC experience vs. the MLS Sitting Experience at Home Depot Center

Here is my take on the whole Stand/Sit debate of Sounders game versus my own experiences at the Home Depot Center in Los Angeles, where fans go to MLS games and sit on their hands like they are watching the Masters at Augusta National. First in regard to the video, I am not a fan of how either one handled themselves. The standing guy was a least attempting to speak like an adult it looked like to "Go Sounders Go guy." In regard to Go Sounders Guy, that guy could have avoided this national circus by going and speaking with a Century Link Field Guest Services staff member that was located near the section instead of responding in his child-like manner.

I have been able to navigate the whole standing/sit thing really easily by finding aisle seats thanks to Epic Seats, or sitting in tamer sections like the Hawks Nest or the 300 level. The bigger factor I have noticed is not really the standing its more the level of intoxication of some Sounders FC fans in the ECS section and just in general. The Day games are usually less crazy as people have less time to drink than say a 7 p.m. kickoff. The standing of the fans creates for great theatre on television and in Century Link Field. All the Sounders organization did was put a winning product on the field which is very difficult see Portland's struggles. Create an environment where they are averaging 42,379 fans in year four. What was the team supposed to do roll out a terrible product that drew only 10,000 people to matches and be god awful.

The bottom line is they are the best sports franchise expansion story in North America in a long time. "Give us your full 90" as a marketing slogan is just pure utter brilliance by the Sounders and anyone who purchases a ticket does it of their own free will. Going to a sporting event is a choice and if standing is part of it then I would hope it would be embraced, and if your someone that needs to sit there are plenty of options to sit at Century Link for Sounders matches. It just takes a little determination and creativity to get that done but it can be done.

In regard to my Home Depot Center sitting experiences watching the Sounders and other MLS teams play Chivas and Galaxy. The atmosphere was about as riveting as going to the dentist office for a root canal or being stuck in the parking lot that is Los Angeles freeway traffic. The Sounders fans at Home Depot Center stood made noise and it didn't seem to bother Chivas and Galaxy fans. Their fans were more worried about beating the Sounders than anything else.

Going to sporting events are supposed to be fun ideally. Life is too short to let whether people stand or sit ruin your day or ruin supporting the Sounders. I mean they are on pace to have the same amount of playoff appearances in four years of exsistence with four as the Mariners have accomplished in 35. In the end, I understand why people would fall on both sides of this issue but with all the negativity in the world, sports is a fantastic escape to enjoy and create memories that last a lifetime with mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, grandparents. I would hope that would in the long-run prevail over standing/sitting issues at Sounders games.