The Seattle Sounders were welcomed home by throngs of euphoric fans at Boeing Field on Sunday as they touched down on home soil in possession of their first MLS Cup championship.
Massed ranks of sign- and flag-waving Rave Green supporters waited outside the airport in cold, windy conditions for their heroes to deplane on their return from Saturday's tense penalty-kick shootout win over Toronto FC at BMO Field.
And with the brass backing of the “Sound Wave” marching band, the crowd burst into a cacophony of joyful noise when the team finally walked through the outer doors brandishing the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy.
Chants of MVP for Stefan Frei https://t.co/n5fUbvIcz1pic.twitter.com/WjidVO7C0i
— Daniel Beekman (@DBeekman) December 12, 2016
“It’s pretty crazy, especially growing up in this area,” Sounders Homegrown rookie Jordan Morris told the Seattle Times. “To be able to bring a trophy back to the city I love, it’s awesome.”
Head coach Brian Schmetzer, majority owner Adrian Hanauer and several Sounders players took turns presenting the hefty trophy to the tightly-packed fans on hand.
A bevy of local media was also in attendance. The Times' Daniel Beekman spoke to a range of Sounders fans of many ages and experiences about their long wait for an MLS title, while TV station KING5 posted extended video of the impromptu event.
