Tacoma’s Ready for You, Seattle

With about 30 soccer matches under our belt, we’ve seen some things.

World Cup and Champions League winners call Cheney Stadium home. We’ve hosted a President, concerts, college football, and a few thousand baseball games. Will Bruin netted his only USL Championship goal here.

We know crowds. We know fun. We know Seattle Sounders FC. We’ve been the home of the USL affiliate for two seasons now.

Sounders FC’s future stars take a big step in their careers here at Cheney Stadium.

Over the years, Seattle has made some major noise in the Open Cup, winning three-in-a-row from 2009-2011 and picking up a 4^th in 2014. We will put in the hard work to host you.

Cheney Stadium is Awesome

It’s the same blue skies and green hills you expect in a Puget Sound summer. The sea breeze comes off of Commencement Bay rather than Elliot Bay. Mt. Rainier is just a bit closer, with a view from our Party Decks that cannot be rivaled.

The field is grass, and our grounds crew is the leader in the baseball-soccer conversion scene. Tacoma Defiance assistant coach Wade Webber has traveled the USL Championship over the past two seasons.

“I always have to credit the grounds staff. The field is in perfect condition. The transition from where they put the infield grass is better than any other in the league that does the baseball-soccer combo. This is a lovely, lovely field and atmosphere to play in.”

Cheney Stadium is also a lovely place to watch a game.

R Bar

It’s the perfect place to start your matchday experience. There’s an outdoor fireplace, a rail to watch team warmups, and a fully stocked wood top-bar. R Bar beverages include beer, wine, and liquor.

Grass Berm

A General Admission ticket entitles you to a seat on our Right Field Berm, located on the extreme west side of the stadium. Guests are welcome to bring blankets and towels to sit on, but lawn chairs are not allowed in the park.

Smoke

Yes, smoke.

There’s plenty of other unique places to explore – Party Decks, R Yard, Dugout Club, Summit Club, 1882 Lounge, the statue of Ben Cheney, Ivar’s, Kidd Valley, Base Camp with 7 Seas, the Best Hot Dog, and should we go on? We could.

Defiance Players Should Feature

Back in 2018 Seattle Sounders FC entered the U.S. Open Cup in the 4^th Round, facing off against Sacramento Republic FC. The 2-1 loss in added time featured six players on USL contracts at the time. Current Tacoma Defiance players Nick Hinds and Shandon Hopeau started that match.

In 2017, Sounders FC beat Portland Timbers 2-1 with five USL players earning minutes. In the next round San Jose Earthquakes hosted Sounders FC. Again, five USL players earned minutes in the match.

That pattern has repeated in the 4^th Round most seasons since the launch of Sounders 2/Tacoma Defiance. Including in 2014, the last time when Sounders FC won the Dewar Cup, their 4^th.

Marlon Vargas was on the bench, but unused, in 2018’s U.S. Open Cup appearance by Seattle Sounders FC.

Justin Dhillon and Henry Wingo played on a PSA Elite amateur side together in 2015. Dhillon had two appearances and a goal. Wingo had one appearance.

We can’t promise you that any Defiance players will be in the 18 when Cheney Stadium hosts the 4^th Round of the U.S. Open Cup. That decision is up to Coach Brian Schmetzer and the technical staff. But if the past six years are an indication a handful of Defiance players will assert themselves and show that they should be part of the Seattle Sounders FC’s Open Cup legacy.

Defiantly Tacoma

Sounders FC will take on the Portland Timbers at Cheney Stadium in the 4th Round of the 2019 U.S. Open Cup. For ticket information click here.