Seattle Sounders Offer Vaccines To Fans Before Home Matches

SEATTLE —All unvaccinated adults heading to Sounders FC home matches can get immunized against the coronavirus and pick up a free hot dog before they head into the stands, the club announced Thursday. According to the Sounders, the news arrives just as its players and support staff are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

"As a community, it’s essential for as many people as possible [to] get vaccinated, while remaining socially distant and using masks," said Garth Lagerwey, the Sounders' general manager. "We hope that our players and staff being 100 percent bought into the overall vaccination effort inspires others to do the same."

A new partnership between the Sounders, Virginia Mason, Lumen Field and the city of Seattle will offer attendees 18 and older a chance to get the single-dose Johnson & Johnson shot, or their first dose of Moderna, from the time the gates open until the match is over. Those who get the Moderna vaccine inside the stadium can also schedule their second dose at any of Seattle's four city-run vaccine clinics. The Sounders site will not be able to provide second doses to those who already had their first elsewhere.

"We encourage anyone who hasn’t gotten their shot yet to do so, whether at a Sounders match or elsewhere in the community," said Peter Tomozawa, a Sounders owner. "We want to get back to normal as soon as possible, with a full stadium singing, cheering and celebrating with the team in person, but that can only happen if we’re all willing to do own individual parts – which includes getting vaccinated and continuing to mask up and follow health protocols."

Fans who want to get vaccinated will have two choices inside the stadium on match days: the West Field Plaza outside section 140 and the East Main Concourse outside section 104. Vaccines at both sites will be administered by the Seattle Fire Department or Virginia Mason Franciscan Health. Each person will also receive a voucher to grab a free hot dog inside the stadium.

Developing immunity takes several weeks, and all fans will still need to follow the existing health and safety measures, including seating separated by groups and wearing face masks when not eating or drinking.

Learn more about getting vaccinated at a Sounders match on the team's website.