Last night might have been the best time I’ve had at a match since the last time the Boys in Green hoisted the US Open Cup. Goals by Johnson, Montero, Caskey, and Rose. The Boys in Green never, ever took their foot off the gas. Last night was the first time Los Angeles A (or are they Los Angeles B now…?) ever started all three DPs at Royal Brougham Park. Not that you would have noticed by their play. I guess Bruce Arena really wanted to win this one. Too. Damned. Bad. With this win, Sounders FC have served notice to the league: We might have stumbled a few months ago…but we’re back with a vengeance. That sets the stage for a showdown on Saturday against San Jose. A win against the Smurfs would put us just four points out of first with a game in hand over the Conference leaders. But first, we have some unfinished business. The stage has been set for what might be one of the finest US Open Cup finals in history. A surging Sounders FC coming off a four-nil shellacking of the defending MLS Cup champs. The Boys in Green unbeaten in nine matches in all competitions. Three time defending US Open Cup champs. A Kansas City side that’s been shaky of late, though coming off a win against New England this weekend. Playing at home in one of the finest soccer parks in North America. You know the Cauldron will be pumped for this. The Kansas City front office has put some muscle behind highlighting this match, including some great thirty second spots. Unlike so many other MLS sides, you know Kansas City wants this very, very much. Sporting KC’s Ticketing Director told our Travel Monkey that we’ll be the largest traveling contingent that LiveStrong Park has ever seen. The Faithful will be traveling 300 strong. The coincidence has been noted. Thanks to some great coordination between the Travel Monkeys, the Kansas City Front Office and Robb Heinemann, Kansas City Supporters, and ECS Leadership, LiveStrong Park has granted us several exceptions to their normal supporters gear rules to help make the atmosphere during the match undoubtedly the very best anyone’s ever seen in Kansas City. Some of you may already be on your way. Some are leaving tomorrow. Some are flying in Wednesday morning. Some will be at viewing parties in Seattle and around the country (and world! Hi Finn!) The Boys in Green want this one. Badly. Together, all of us, we will bring home our Cup. “Hi. We’re ECS and we’re here for your silverware.” GET IN. MATCH DAY NOTES: - It will be very, very hot out there on Wednesday, with expected temperatures just short of 100 degrees. Be sure to drink lots of water. Dress accordingly. Moderate your alcohol comsumption. Heat exhaustion is not a joke! We will be bringing LOTS of water to the tailgate, and, if permitted, into the stadium. DRINK IT. - After much coordination and negotiation, The Sporting KC Front Office is being very accommodating regarding flags, two poles, drums, and the like. If you are bringing ANY supporter materials, they MUST be checked by KC Security during the BBQ Tailgate. Please make sure you’re there at 4:30pm local or so and get your two-poles, flags, etc. in with the rest of them for review. If they aren’t checked, they are NOT going in. Period. - Please do not bring streamers, flares, smoke, or vuvuzelas. They will NOT be permitted in LiveStrong. If you bring these materials into our section, we will NOT help you if you’re carted off. No kidding. If you bring vuvuzelas, we may have to kill you. - As with all away support, please do not confront local supporters. If you are harassed, walk away. Tie your scarves. Walk with a buddy when you’re getting beer. We don’t expect any trouble with the Cauldron…they’ve been very cooperative this week. Don’t be that guy. Away Schedule (All times local): As always, make SURE you check with the travel monkey on the ground for the latest schedule/details. Tuesday, 7 August, 2012: 07:00 – Get up. Breakfast. 08:00 – Off to the airport. 09:00 – Quick drink at the bar, then onto the plane! 10:00 – Take off. If you’re flying the plane, I hope you didn’t have that quick drink. 16:00 – Land at MCI, get your ride. 16:20 – Check into the hotel. 16:22 – Start Drinking. It’s hot here. 19:00 – Locate BBQ or Steak. And more drink. 21:00 – Locate Pants. 22:00 – Realize that it’s actually cooler without pants. 23:00 – Consider sleeping. You need to give every ounce tomorrow. 23:15 – Drink some more to help sleep. ?? – Actually get to bed. Never really find your pants. You’re OK with that. Wednesday, 8 August, 2012: 07:00 – Get up. Breakfast. If you’re in Kansas City, FORGET THAT. Hit snooze. 08:00 – Off to the airport. 09:00 – Hit the bar, then board the plane! 10:00 – Takeoff. 11:00 – If you’re in Kansas City already, NOW get up. You need to go shopping for pants. Shorts. Bathing suit. Something. 12:00 – Locate more BBQ. Remember that you’re going to a catered BBQ tailgate at 4:30pm. Hold yourself to several racks of ribs, a half gallon of iced tea, some fresh sweet corn, and only two pieces of pie. 14:00 – Maybe one more piece of pie. 15:00 – We’d say go see something in Kansas City…but there’s nothing to see in Kansas City. Go take a nap for an hour. Or drink. Whichever. 16:00 – Land at MCI, find your ride. If you’re napping, get up. Locate…oh, you get the idea. 16:20 – Arrive at tailgate (note, everything in the Greater KC area is ~20 minutes away by car regardless of distance; space-time means nothing there) 16:30 – We eat! We drink! We sing! We make new best friends! 17:00 – We drink water! Seriously. It’s going to be silly hot. Dehydration is the enemy of support. 18:30 – The anticipation is damn near lethal. Stay focused. Don’t overdo it. Not today. 18:45 – Here we go! Time to gather up for announcements and getting ready to march to the match. 19:00 – We march. KC has never seen an invasion force like us. Their confidence falters. 19:15 – In the section. Prepare. Focus. Hydrate. This will be the biggest 90 minutes we’ve ever needed from you. EVER. 20:00 – Go Mental. There is no tomorrow. No next game. No holding back. It will hurt, but you will not care. Your will is strong. You will spur the boys to leave it all on the pitch, and you will leave it all in the stands. 22:00 – It’s over. Celebrate like mad! POSTGAME – TBD. We will make announcements in the stands or meet back at the tailgate area. There are a few places in the area under consideration to afterparty. Support hard, play hard, bring home our Cup. Talk about Wednesday’s fixture here: http://weareecs.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=19865 Hosted by Emerald City Supporters Seattle: Fuel Sports 164 S. Washington St Seattle, WA 98104 206-405-FUEL All-Ages welcome! Live Wednesday, August 8th, 2012 Kickoff at 18:00 Viewing Parties Outside Seattle Armed Services Group Tacoma: The Office 813 Pacific Ave Tacoma, WA (253) 572-3222 Black Hills Militia Olympia: O’Blarney’s Irish Pub 4411 Martin Way East Olympia, WA 98516 253 Defiance Puyallup: Twisted Kilt 109 Meridian Ave Puyallup, WA West Sound Armada Poulsbo: Hare & Hounds Public House 18990 Front St Poulsbo, WA 98370 509 Prime Spokane: Monterey Cafe 9 North Washington Street Spokane, WA 99201 (509) 868-0284 Note: $2-off on No Equals during the match Bellingham Border Boys Bellingham:The Copper Hog 1327 North State Street Bellingham, WA 98225-5711 (360) 927-7888 Wenatchee: The Wildcard 560 Valley Mall Parkway East Wenatchee, WA 98802 (509) 888-9453 Issaquah/Eastside: Field of Champions 385 NW Gilman Blvd Issaquah, WA 98027