The MLS side launches a new program with the initiative aims to grow fanbase and boost attendance, following Colorado Rapids’ lead.
Sounders offer free tickets to first-time attendees during the 2025 seasonProgram includes complimentary scarves and an orientation experienceMove comes as MLS teams seek innovative ways to engage new supportersGet the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowGetty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED?
The Seattle Sounders have announced their "First Match On Us" program, offering free tickets to first-time attendees for select matches during the 2025 MLS season.
This initiative aims to attract new fans to Lumen Field and grow the club's supporter base. In a club announcement, the Sounders revealed that in a first-of-its-kind initiative, the opportunity gives the club a chance to grow the game within the city by offering fans a chance to apply for a “maximum of two free tickets to one of 11 preselected games”.
“The First Match On Us program showcases Sounders FC’s dedication to growing the sport of soccer,” said Sounders FC Chief Impact and Fan Engagement Officer Ashley Fosberg. “This is more than a ticket to a game; it’s an open-armed invitation to experience the passion and camaraderie that make Sounders FC special. Whether someone is new to Seattle searching for a sense of community, a family looking for child-friendly outings or fans of other soccer leagues or sports who have never given the Sounders a try, First Match On Us has been thoughtfully planned to provide all our first-time fans with a welcoming and inclusive experience.”
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“First Match On Us was created as an invitation to new audiences in at a moment when our sport is at the brink of unprecedented attention and growth,” said Sounders FC President of Business Operations Hugh Weber. “We’re confident that giving people in our community the chance to take in our matchday experience will lead to many falling in love with the sport and our club in advance of FIFA Club World Cup 2025 this summer and FIFA World Cup 2026 next summer.”
Getty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE
The Seattle Sounders are not the first club to offer a similar initiative as the Colorado Rapids offered something similar last season. The Rapids launched the “My First Match program” which offered fans that lived near DICK’S Sporting Goods Park a chance to attend their first game. Thus, it created a way for the club to lure in new local fans and help grow the sport and the MLS within the city.
Getty Images SportWHAT’S NEXT?
While the Seattle Sounders are through into the Round of 16 of the CONCACAF Champions Cup, they’ve struggled to find their footing in the league so far. The club lost their second league game, 2-0, to Real Salt Lake City after a 2-2 draw against Charlotte FC in their MLS opener. They face Cruz Azul in the first leg of the Round of 16 before hosting LAFC at Lumen Field on March 9.
