And now more Americans are appreciating the beauty of this game. The passion that I felt watching the FA Cup final in 1961 can be felt at Sounders FC games. That same singing and cheering, that same nonstop, vicarious participation, all of it has come to Qwest. The crowds are different, more involved than the old Sounders crowds of the 1970s. They feel more middle class. Soccer in this area used to be an almost elitist sport. Now it feels as if it belongs to everyone. There is a sustained energy at Qwest that wasn't there at Memorial Stadium or the Kingdome when the old Sounders played. The level of soccer is much higher and the fans are more attuned to the nuances of the game. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/stevekelley/2009010186_kelley09.html