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DOWN IN FRONT! Who Was Right In Sit-Stand Argument At Seattle Sounders FC Match?

A video posted online - and re-posted on Deadspin.com - depicts two men in a heated exchange over whether to sit or stand. One argued they were in a sitting only section, while the other refused to sit down. Tell us who you think was right.

Anyone who has been to a Seattle Sounders FC match will tell you the crowd is like nothing you've ever seen.

They stand. They sing. They chant. They drink beer.

It's all part of the experience of going to a match in this soccer-crazed corner of the country. More so than most other regions (simmer down, Portland Timber fans), Puget Sound is football savvy. It recognizes and appreciate the nuances on the pitch. It realizes that for 90-plus minutes, the crowd at Century Link should be a blanket of unity and support for the club.

They stand. They sing. They chant. They drink beer.

But during last week's match, two men apparently weren't feeling the soccer love.

A 24-second video clip - taken with a phone, posted on YouTube and re-posted on Deadspin.com - has been making the rounds on the web. It depicts two men in the southeast section of the "CLink" in a heated argument over whether one of them should sit or stand.

(Click here to read the Deadspin article and watch the video. WARNING: In true Deadspin fashion, the article's headline contains some language that some might find offensive)

Apparently, the exchange started because the fan in front refused to sit down. According to the article, the person who first posted the video wrote that the guy in back walked down a few rows and became aggressive.

This section is not a sitting only section, or else something probably would have been said to us as well as the other people who stand all match at some point in the 13 other regular season matches.

When the guy in front wouldn't sit down, the guy in back responded in taste-of-your-own-medicine fashion and screamed into the guy's ear, "GO SOUNDERS GO!"

The clip doesn't depict the resolution, but Good Lordy, it's the visual equivalent of hearing nails on a chalkboard. Made me squirm.

Here's the thing: I can see both sides of the argument.

My wife and I became season ticket holders last season. We bought stubs in a standing section, which was great most of the time. We stood. We sung. We chanted. We drank beer.

But this year, we bought tickets on the opposite side of the supporters section at the south end, or "Brougham End," of the pitch.

The reason we chose seats in a different, and admittedly much calmer, section is twofold. First, we wanted to start bringing our 4-year-old daughter to the matches. Second, it's a sitting only section. The ticket lady even told us that on her renewal sales pitch.

Based on the video, our new section is adjacent to the one depicted in the video. (Lucky me. I gave up my tickets to that particular match). Still, I can't quite tell whether that section is designated for sitters only.

We've seen others engage in the sit-stand debate. Our general rule last year was, even we didn't like it, we stood. All match except half. From the "Scarves Up" ceremony before the first whistle to the fireworks after the final one. It was tough with a kid, but we stuck it out.

Now that we're in a sitting only section, I'd probably be upset too if the people in front of me stood while the rest of the section sat. Was the section in the video designated for sitters? Who knows?

Would I have taken the "aggressive" approach utilized by the screamer?

Heck no. I'm not trying to go viral on YouTube.

But I want to know from you, Patch users and Sounder fans, who do you side with in the video? Do you support the screamer or the refuse-to-sit-downer? Let's have a lively (but civil) discussion in the comments below.

Tony Dondero September 12, 2012 at 11:42 pm
"an old woman can sit, an old man can sit, a CHUMP can sit. It's time to stop sitting and STAND!"
Malcolm X
Russgl2 September 13, 2012 at 12:22 am
A soccer match is hardly the equivalent of a civil rights movement! If a person buys a ticket they have a right to see the match!
Brent Champaco (Editor) September 13, 2012 at 02:13 am
Maybe they should give you a bullhorn, Tony. lol
Brent Champaco (Editor) September 13, 2012 at 02:14 am
Great point, Russgl2. So what about the argument that the guy in the video made? "This is a Sounders game. You're supposed to stand."
Ken Jones September 13, 2012 at 06:59 am
Have people lost their sense of courtesy in Seattle?
Seat down! Momentarily, stand up to cheer or boo, but if you want to stand for a long period of time, please move to the standing areas. In my opinion, ban the knuckle head from the stadium. He can stand up in a bar or at home for as long as he wants.
S A September 13, 2012 at 12:01 pm
Courtesy has gone the way of the extinct animals. Whether at a stadium or a grocery store or driving down the road. It's all about "ME" ...
ButteryMuffyn September 13, 2012 at 12:31 pm
A typical example of Seattle passive aggressiveness at it's finest :) The shouter is obviously a complete prick. Instead of asking the guy to sit and then "helping" him to do that, he thought he would make a complete ass of himself by shouting. Surprised he didn't ask his mummy to come tell the big bad man off! The standing guy is within his rights to stand, it's not a sitting only section, but he obviously has no manners or consideration for the people behind him either. Been to many games and had exactly this BS happen. Another reason to hate Seattle.
Bob Martinek September 13, 2012 at 01:22 pm
My experience? Soccer fans are self centered and rude. Just go to the "trail only" parking lot on 116th during soccer practice. Signs say "no soccer parking, trail use only" but the lot is plugged with soccer mom's and dad's too lazy to use the beautiful new east parking lot or the lot just north of them. Their precious children that should be in shape enough walk across two or three soccer fields to get to their practice are instead taught to be scofflaws and park where they should not. Then the parents sit in their cars and text! There are only about 20 stalls for trail users, often 30 cars wedged in, mostly soccer people. So sit or stand? Probably sit, they are too lazy to stand. Thanks, I needed to vent on this.
Akiko Oda (Editor) September 13, 2012 at 01:31 pm
I've never been to a Sounders game, but I think this type of friction among fans happen at other sporting events. I wonder which sport has the friendliest fans??
Greg Johnston (Editor) September 13, 2012 at 01:44 pm
Where is that Bob? In Kirkland?
Barry Stone September 13, 2012 at 02:49 pm
Does it say you have to stand on your ticket? Just because some guy says, "It's a soccer game, you are supposed to stand", doesn't make it so. If I remember correctly back 30 years when my kids played soccer, the only reason you stood is because none of the soccer fields had bleachers. Apparently, the mentality of standing stayed with certain Sounders fans, and they never grew above (or below) it!
dorimonsonfan September 13, 2012 at 03:18 pm
If you want to sit the whole match bring a jar with some ants in it. If the guy in front of you stands up, drop a bread crumb in the jar and just watch the ants chase around after it.
Tony Bussert September 13, 2012 at 04:19 pm
It's all about common courtesy. If the number of people are equal or more than the number of sitting it's fine to stand the whole match. If there are more people sitting than standing than the folks standing should only stand during intense points in the match (shooting opportunities, free kicks, etc.). However, some people are just selfish and will be jackasses.
Brent Champaco (Editor) September 13, 2012 at 06:02 pm
Good point, Barry.
Brent Champaco (Editor) September 13, 2012 at 06:04 pm
@Ken Great point about courtesy. My example I gave about standing last year, the same should be applied for the opposite. If all of the people in your section are sitting, you should probably sit too, right?
Kendall Watson (Editor) September 13, 2012 at 08:26 pm
We've attended a few Sounders matches but never sat in the ends. We had my (at the time) 4 month old son with us and we were waaaay up at the top of the section below the second deck overhang. So I was a little surprised when supporters there stood up for nearly the entire match. There wasn't a whole lot of chanting or singing, but there was indeed a whole lot of standing. Not a biggie, but I wasn't aware of having designated stands and "sitting only" areas. We went with it. Also, totally want to echo comments from ButteryMuffyn. We're not originally from around here (from Utah with a detour through Philadelphia and CA) and the Passive/Aggressive thing is really a bummer. It would be nice if folks generally could get real if they have a beef or need to get something off their chest. I much prefer the Philly "Attytood"-style of doing thing as opposed to Seattle Nice.
dexterjibs September 13, 2012 at 08:45 pm
The guy who insisted on standing and thus blocking the view of other fans is just plain rude. If he wants to stand so bad, they do have a section where the fans stand during the whole game. The fans behind him have purchased a ticket and have a right to watch the game without some idiot standing in front of them. This knucklehead deserves a knuckle sandwich.
Jeremy Winter September 13, 2012 at 10:48 pm
There are two types of Sounders fans, one that goes to enjoy a nice quite game at a loud and rowdy stadium and one that goes to support the team out on the field.
The people who sit are in it for personal entertainment, the ones who stand are there to make the other team as uncomfortable as possible at a sporting competition.
Midfield Mark September 13, 2012 at 11:50 pm
Season ticket holder, great midfield seats urging all around me to sit down. "Give us your full 90" is a marketing slogan. Look around old folks and kids can't see or stand that long. Believe me we will all jump up at the right moments. No where in the soccer world do ALL the fans stand all the game. The supporter clubs of course but that is their purpose and we appreciate the passion and atmosphere they bring. Four years of standing is enough. Time to stop being a pawn to a marketing slogan!
P.S. Love the band!
Oliver Lopez September 14, 2012 at 02:05 am
Mark nails it. I've done my time in supporters sections from a whole lot of games in Sam's Army at national team games to being in the Curva Sud (South Curve) at Roma- Lazio derbies. Those days are behind me now, though. These days, I'm much more interested in actually watching the game than in jumping and singing (although, I'm glad those people are there). That's why when I side up for Sounders season tickets four years ago, I chose to be in the club section (upper level of the lower bowl). In my section, nobody stands. We jump and cheer and chant and high five each other and all of that, but for the majority of the game, we sit. And we pay extra for those seats. Just two rows in front of me, on the lower section of the lower bowl, EVERYBODY stands. If I wanted to stand, I'd buy seats there.
As for this situation, the guy standing was wrong to be standing, and the dude yelling at him was wrong to be yelling. Neither of them was right, in the end.
Timothy Mauch September 14, 2012 at 05:41 am
Curling.
Laurie Miller September 14, 2012 at 01:46 pm
Why do we bother to establish rules at all? If the stadium states that is a "sit" only location, then sit for Pete's sake. Stand if the moment calls for it such as when a goal has been made or for some other stand out moment. If you are in the Standing Section, then by all means...stand or sit. But if you sit there, no complaining please. Really, have we all become so self-indulgent that we can't follow rules? Rules were created for a purpose. To protect the rights of everyone involved. When you make rules in your home for your children, do you allow them to break those rules at will? When at work, do you break policy because it suits you? Rules are everywhere and are meant to ensure your safety and enjoyment.
Now, how the guy handled it...not so great either. Protocol would dictate he contact one of the workers who oversees the seating and request assistance. I'm sure they would have told the "stander" if he wanted to stand, he could move to an empty seat in that section. People in general have formed some unfounded level of "its my right" attitude. As a friendly reminder...all the things we do, have and experience in our country is a priviledge and nothing less. Be kind to one another. It's not so difficult and in the .....afterall it is just a game.
Scott Couch September 14, 2012 at 02:32 pm
Whoa, whoah hold on just a second. "Another reason to hate Seattle." You can't just drop a bomb like that and accuse others of "passive agressiveness at it's finest" and pull something like that. You are generalizing in a huge way. If you don't like Seattle, stay out, but to insult an entire city is pretty low-brow.
Pho King September 15, 2012 at 03:40 am
If you are in the ends, you need to stand. Well, let me rephrase that, you can sit, but you won't see anything, and honestly, you would do better to move to the MUCH LARGER middle of the field where people are instructed to sit. The ends are not a place for you, plain and simple. It's hard for many of you to understand the culture apparently, so let's compare it to the NFL. You wouldn't arrogantly think that because you got a ticket in the black hole at a Raiders game that they would all sit down and be quiet. You are asking the same of the ends. The stadium staff are there to help you and in this guys case, would have moved him without thinking twice if he wanted to sit. It's 100% the jerks fault, and the season ticket holder was 100% right. The majority of the stadium is for sitting. If you want to sit, do it there. Otherwise, stop complaining.
CoreyAnn September 16, 2012 at 04:29 pm
Wow - that's a little cut & dry, black & white don't you think!?! To think that those who don't stand are not fans or aren't there to "support the team out on the field" is rude. Apparently those who are unable to stand for lengthy periods of time, if at all, are selfish and just "in it for personal entertainment". I guess the Sounders should tell all the elderly, children, and disabled populations that they are "less of a fan" because they obviously aren't willing to stand and "make the other team as uncomfortable as possible at a sporting competition". Maybe we should ban non-standing populations from even being able to attend the games in your opinion!?!
I go to a Sounders game to support the team by yelling, singing, and chanting. Yet, as someone suffering from Multiple Sclerosis, I am unable to stand throughout a game. Add in that I also take my 4yo and she very well can't enjoy the event or support the team if everyone was standing. I'm all for standing-specific sections and sitting-only sections! And maybe a special section for jerk sports fan poster boys who ruin it for everyone else with their attitudes!
Klondiko September 17, 2012 at 02:33 pm
It's all about the drinking before, during and after that causes the problems. All inhibitions just go away and the fools take over.
Brent Champaco (Editor) September 17, 2012 at 08:46 pm
This is from a Patch Facebook user:
"Looks like everyone else in that section is sitting..! Good time for Sounders to "specify" if it's a sitting or standing area. Then this can be re-inforced by stewards. I have season tickets but most people stand in that area. Sounders FC, clarify somehow please....But, I think the guy should have sat down as everyone else"
Laurie Miller September 18, 2012 at 01:24 am
Pho, the question here isn't about whether or not a guy was sitting in the standing section complained he couldn't see. It's was about a guy standing in the sitting section who was blocking someones view. So, you are a bit confused about what happened. The guy standing did so in a sitting section and therefore should have either moved to the standing section or sat his behind down in the seat as per the rules....plain and simple.
SEATTLE September 18, 2012 at 02:03 pm
The guy standing cares about the Sounders. Everyone else cares about themselves. Great soccer players enjoy playing in Seattle because of the people who stand and support them for the FULL 90, not because we have sections of people with some false sense of entitlement. You're the one who bought a ticket right BEHIND somebody else. Maybe you should've went 1st row??

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