Sounders fans show wild devotion

The audacity, right?

The question was blared over local sports-radio shows this week: How could Sounders FC schedule an opener in the midst of March Madness?

But Thursday night at Qwest Field, Seattle fans showed that the depth of their soccer loyalty is as strong as the following for Washington Huskies basketball.

A record crowd donned lime-green rain ponchos and scarves and provided the rhythmic beat to a 2-0 season-opening MLS win by the Sounders against the Philadelphia Union.

It was another sparkling opener for the second-year Sounders after nearly three decades without a major-league soccer team in Seattle.

"It hasn't lost its luster," Sounders FC coach Sigi Schmid said. "This is still almost a dream sometimes, every time I step on the field."

The match began after the Huskies' 69-56 Sweet 16 loss to West Virginia in the NCAA tournament, not causing much of a viewing conflict for fans at Qwest Field. Dueling allegiances could only be spotted in small huddles around a few television sets on the stadium's concourse before the soccer game.

The few among the 36,241 who dared to wear purple stuck out like flies in pea soup.

"I love the Huskies as well, so I wanted to see how well they do, but I'm definitely here to support the Sounders overall," said Marc Rice, 23, whose Sounders attire was topped by a rainbow-colored Afro, like his four buddies.

The so-called Sounders Clowns joined the tail-end of the March to the Match led by the Emerald City Supporters (ECS). The mob of hundreds walked their traditional route from Pioneer Square in the drizzle, singing songs like "Ooooh to be a Sounder" and "Us vs. Them."

Once inside the stadium, the ECS unfurled a massive "Smash the Union" banner before the match. The alcohol-induced bedlam didn't stop until the players applauded the crowd and finally left the pitch after the victory.

Last year's opener had a similar feel, with the soccer club defeating the New York Red Bulls for its inaugural win at Qwest Field.

"It's the same, maybe not as special," Rice said. "Last year was the first, so it was very special. But this was exciting."

How the crowd would react was in doubt to some earlier this month. The players' union and Major League Soccer went through intense labor talks last week before agreeing to a five-year collective bargaining agreement, allowing the season to start without a blip.

MLS commissioner Don Garber said he wasn't worried whether there would be a game Thursday, flashing a big smile when talking about the atmosphere for the opener.

Earlier in the day, Garber made a stop in Vancouver, B.C., which will join the MLS in 2011 along with Portland, carving a Northwest corner for soccer enthusiasts.

"This is a great story for us and we're obviously going to try to replicate it in other markets," Garber said of the Seattle franchise that drew 32,523 to last year's home opener.

"One way to do that is to share some best practices and another is to understand the dynamic that exists between this city, the location of the stadium, some of their marketing efforts, the passion and involvement of their ownership ... those are all things that can happen in any market."

Jayda Evans: 206-464-2067 or jevans@seattletimes.com