Sounders FC Get Go-Ahead To Bring Fans Back For 2021 MLS Season

SEATTLE — Great news for Sounders fans as the team has announced they'll be invited back to Lumen Field to see matches in person for the 2021 Major League Soccer season.

Under Phase 3 of Washington's reopening plan, Healthy Washington - Roadmap to Recovery, outdoor sporting venues are allowed to reopen with seating capacity capped at 25%, but it wasn't a sure thing Sounders fans would return until the team secured Gov. Jay Inslee's approval, which they now say they have.

"This is a day we have been working toward and dreaming about for some time," said Sounders FC Owner Peter Tomozawa. "Getting to the point of being able to welcome the best fans in MLS back to Lumen Field would not have been possible without the guidance of so many leaders in our community. In particular, thank you to Governor Jay Inslee, King County Executive Dow Constantine and Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan for their poised leadership, in addition to Public Health – Seattle & King County Director Patty Hayes and her entire team for navigating our club through this process. Because of their hard work and the work of countless others, we now have a robust and approved plan in place to safely welcome Sounders fans back to our matches."

Now that the team has gotten the go-ahead, they're inviting around 7,000 fans to their first five home matches of 2021, starting with their MLS opener against Minnesota United on April 16.

Sounders FC Season Ticket Members will get the first shot at seating on April 13. By April 14 tickets may be made available for purchase by the general public. The team says that, if all tickets are sold out before a Season Ticket Member can get their hands on one, that member will be given priority for the next set of matches. Season Memberships are also still available at SoundersFC.com.

While fans are no doubt excited to be back in Lumen Field, they should expect a few COVID-19 safety restrictions and regulations. For example, anyone over two years old will be required to wear a face mask unless they are actively eating or drinking.

As for seating, it'll be done in groups. Fans can buy tickets in ticket "pods" of one to six tickets, which must be purchased together and will bes seated in a cluster, at least six feet from other pods to enforce safe social distancing. Te team says ticket pods must be used by members of the same household or "permissible quarantining unit" as defined by the Seattle- King County Health Department.

Other changes include touchless ticketing kiosks and streamlined food and beverage options designed to cut contact between staff and fans.

Sounders FC says they're glad to get fans back into the stadium for live sports, but ask that they continue to do their part and take COVID-19 seriously.

"I also want to remind our fans to stay vigilant as we continue battling the pandemic," Tomozawa said. "We’re all still doing our part to tackle COVID-19, and we encourage everyone in our community to get vaccinated as soon as they are eligible, and to continue staying distant, masking up and washing their hands. Sounders fans have set an incredible example over the past year, and we thank them for their efforts and for staying patient as we worked toward this moment."

>> Find the Sounders FC full 2021 schedule.