Sounders Alliance Fans waving flags and unfurling a large green and blue tifo behind a goal. Emerald City Supporters unveil a tifo prior to the club’s inaugural game The Sounders FC Alliance was established at the request of minority owner Drew Carey. Based on the fan association at FC Barcelona, members of the Alliance have the ability to vote on the removal of the General Manager and on other team decisions. Season ticket holders become automatic members while non-season ticket holders may buy into the Alliance for a fee. Membership benefits include voting privileges, invitation to an annual meeting and other team perks. Members can also be elected to the Sounders FC Alliance Council by receiving at least 25 nominations from other members annually. The first vote on the General Manager is scheduled to be held in November of 2012 following Seattle’s third season.[9] Drew Carey is the chairman of the Sounders FC Alliance.[10] [edit] Emerald City Supporters Main article: Emerald City Supporters ECS display for Sounders FC’s inaugural game The Emerald City Supporters (ECS) is an independent supporters group that was formed in 2005 to support the USL Sounders. They are currently the largest supporter group and sits in the south end of the stadium in sections 121–123.[11] The group prides itself on their displays of tifo and chanting. ECS strongly recommends their followers to be vocal. They also make their own colorful flags and banners. The group is also known for organizing trips to see away games in Chicago, Portland, Los Angeles, San Jose, and Houston drawing a total over 1,000 people for the 2009 season. The largest events in 2009 were San Jose, which saw over 300 people in the organized ECS group. In addition, the supporter group is an umbrella organization with several sub-supporter groups mostly in different geographical locations such as Los Angeles. [edit] SoCal Sound SoCal Sound is an off-shoot of ECS based in Southern California, that attends Sounders games played at The Home Depot Center in Carson, California.[12] The group also follows the Sounders tradition of March to the Match and throw tailgate parties. The group prides itself as an anti-hooligan group. Among the SoCal Sound there is a subgroup called the Brougham Boys’ 74 who tailgate with home team supporter group, Union Ultras. The group considers Chivas USA supporters to be comrades rather than enemies. The group often attended matches in San Jose.[13] [edit] Black Hills Militia The Black Hills Militia is another ECS sub-group which is based in Olympia, Washington. The group was established by a few members in the Oympia area and now has grown to the Tacoma area, the Shelton area, as well as out-of-state members. [14] [edit] Gorilla FC Gorilla FC is a group which supports Sounders FC and also sits in the south end of Qwest Field in section 120.[15] They are an anti-FA support group who categorizes themselves as an anti-racist, anti-sexist, and anti-homophobic supporters group who like to imbibe in alcoholic beverages.[16] The group also partakes in numerous local charitable causes. In the wake of the Haiti disaster, Gorilla FC raise over $20,000 dollars with the help of players Steve Zakuani, Patrick Ianni, and James Riley. [edit] The North End Supporters The North End Supporters was founded on April 1, 2009 by three season ticket holders; Jake Reeder, Tad Keppler and Joe Thomas with hopes of uniting the fans of the north end sections of the stadium.[17] The NES primarily sits in the north end of the stadium beneath the “Hawks Nest” in sections 100 and 144–152.[18] They also sit in the upper sections of 100, 101, 102, 142, 143, and 144. [edit] Immortal Fury Immortal Fury was founded in March 2008. It was formed in the fashion of South American torcidas, focuses on bringing color to the south end of the stadium by displaying the national flags of several countries.[19] Flags from Colombia, Sweden, and France can be seen in this section.
