Sounders to play Chelsea in Seattle in July

Published 10:48 pm Monday, March 26, 2012

For the second time in four seasons, Sounders FC will host English Premier League power Chelsea FC, the club announced Monday. The London-based club, which has won three league titles in the past seven seasons, also came to Seattle for a friendly in 2009, winning 2-0.

The game, which will take place on July 18 at CenturyLink Field, is part of the 18-game season ticket package and single-game tickets will go on sale June 4. Tickets for the game can also be purchased now as part of a $110 four-game pack that also includes home games against Los Angeles, Vancouver and Portland. Seating will be expanded into the upper deck for all of those games, similar to last season when the Sounders packaged its friendly with Manchester United with home games against New York and San Jose. The game against San Jose, which was Seattle’s regular-season finale and served as a sendoff party for retiring goalkeeper Kasey Keller, drew 64,140 fans, a club record for a league game.

Despite high demand for games against Vancouver and Portland last season, Seattle elected to keep capacity at its normal level with the visiting teams being allocated 500 tickets. An open upper deck will make more tickets available to Portland and Vancouver fans, though the Sounders are no doubt hoping that by making those games part of a four pack, the bulk of those extra tickets will go to Sounders FC fans.

“We welcome a return visit from one of the premier teams and leaders in the football world with Chelsea FC,” Sounders FC owner Joe Roth said in a release. “I’m looking forward to an unprecedented match day experience not only for Chelsea FC but also for LA, Vancouver and Portland.”