Bringing the Beautiful Game to the People
By Mazvita Maraire
Hundreds of people streamed through Westlake Park on a mildly sunny day to participate in the Seattle World Cup Committee’s (SeattleFWC26) watch party. The Downtown Seattle Association hosted the Westlake viewing party in partnership with the Rave Foundation, Reign FC, and the Seattle Sounders FC.
The event was one of three viewing parties sponsored by SeattleFWC26 on July 28th. The largest of the events, with 1000 attendees, was at Portal Container Village in Bellingham, hosted by Kulshan Trackside Brewing Company, Visit Bellingham, and Port of Bellingham.
The third watch party, was hosted by the Tacoma Pierce County Tourism Authority, the Tacoma Stars/ Galaxy, and was held at Doyle's Public House in Tacoma.
The women's Olympic match between the USWNT and the German Olympic team fulfilled expectations and added excitement. The two teams played a goal-to-goal box contest streamed on a giant screen with the downtown skyline in the backdrop. The Westlake event drew over 750 people, some of whom stopped by to observe and then moved on, while die-hard fans like Talia Bowie stayed from start to finish.
“As a Seattle Sounders and Reign FC ticket holder, I am super excited about the World Cup Coming to Seattle and more events like this, said Bowie. “Soccer is more than just a European sport, more and more people are getting involved, especially women worldwide.”
Westlake Park’s unique location in the heart of downtown Seattle creates a central convergent point for visitors and Seattleites. It has been a central gathering place since its inception in 1988.
“I think this was always our dream when we bid in 2017. Watching parties is a big part of our international competitions. Not everyone has a ticket to the matches. That was a vital piece of the bid for us to ensure this fan-fest atmosphere,” said Maya Mendoza-Exstrom, Chief Business officer for Reign FC.
The USWNT ‘s attacking style saw it take a 3-1 lead into the halftime break, which brought cheers, smiles, and high-fives from the fans. The setting was perfect for 10-year-old Greta, who was watching her first outdoor soccer game.
“I am excited to watch the game. I didn’t know until I woke up that we would watch it; it was my dad’s idea,” said Greta, who was watching the game with her parents, Matt and Erica.
Gerard Lagos and his wife Jane, who flew up from Minnesota to visit their son, who lives and works in Seattle, also enjoyed the fans fest atmosphere. The Gerard’s watched the Sounders FC and Minnesota United FC League Cup Champions match on Friday and ended their soccer weekend at Westlake.
“When you are watching the game as a community, you are part of the team, and you are all together,” added Gerard, who knows something about teamwork. He played professional soccer for former USL side Minnesota Thunder and, in 1989, played for the US U 20 National, which took fourth place in the 1989 FIFA World Youth Championship. The Gerard’s son played for Ballard FC last season.
For Sounders FC legend Steve Zakuani, SeattleFWC26 ambassador, the watch party raised awareness and allowed the community to enjoy the beautiful game while sharing information about Seattle FWC26’s goal to create a people-based legacy focused on community, culture, and children.
“I think it’s important that we get everybody on board and enjoy the beautiful game,” added Zakuani. “So many different people love the game, and all fans are welcome. We want to be inclusive”.
As the soccer watch party drew to a close with an emphatic 4-1 victory by the Team USA, community was created before fans from all walks of life went their separate ways. Having shared a moment created by the beautiful game of soccer, with over 1,000 fans in Bellingham and another 100 in Tacoma, the countdown to fun, fan-filled community events around the game of soccer has begun.
