This Saturday night we’re celebrating Pride at Interbay Stadium. In partnership with our Seattle neighbors, Cultures United, we want to foster a night of inclusivity and fun for all. We believe that soccer… football… or whatever you want to call it… is for everyone, and Saturday night’s friendly will reflect that belief.
Saturday will also recognize the club’s commitment to Common Goal, in which we have pledged 1% of all revenues to sport-based social initiatives in Seattle and beyond. Ballard FC is the first USL2 club to make the Common Goal commitment and join clubs like the Bundesliga’s Werder Bremen and the USL Championship’s Oakland Roots in this pursuit. The organization itself has over 100 professional players involved, including OL Reign and United States Women’s National Team superstar Megan Rapinoe.
As part of our commitment to Common Goal, the club will see its donations go to directly benefit Play Proud. The mission of Play Proud is to “transform soccer clubs and organizations around the world by equipping coaches and staff with the skills and knowledge to ensure that LGBTQ+ inclusion is championed, on and off the pitch” and we want to do just that here with Ballard FC. On Saturday morning Ballard FC staff, along with coaches from inside and outside the club, will take part in an LGBTQ+ inclusion training led by Rain City Soccer, a local organization within the Seattle LGBTQ+ community with an aligned mission to Play Proud.
Saturday’s match is about much more than what happens on the field. We’ll cover the match like usual, but on Saturday we plan to highlight and share resources, facts, and statistics about issues facing the LGBTQ+ community — ultimately highlighting why this night is so important.
Partnering with Ballard FC this Saturday, Cultures United FC is a nonprofit and movement based in Seattle, WA, serving the community by using the sport of soccer as a tool for unity and positive social change. Through various organizations such as the RAVE Foundation and the King County Play Equity Alliance, they have brought free soccer camps and clinics to underserved youth all throughout the Seattle area, including most recently in partnership with the Ballard FC Foundation. Additionally, Cultures United FC’s men’s and women’s teams, both members of the United Premier Soccer League, provide a pathway to athletic growth.
You can find more information at www.culturesunitedfc.com. You may also learn more about the Cultures United movement by streaming the Cultures United Podcast available through most streaming platforms.
On the pitch, Saturday will be Interim Head Coach Ethan O’Neill’s first match in charge. The friendly should be a good opportunity for him to get some match experience before his league debut in Salem, OR on Wednesday. Saturday will also serve as a chance for players to get more familiar with each other in a lower-risk environment. With multiple mid-season roster additions and some players coming back from hiatuses, this friendly could prove quite useful. With the unlimited substitutions that friendlies provide, fans can expect to see a lot of players suit up on Saturday and get meaningful minutes as Ballard FC prepares for the homestretch to playoffs.
A celebration for all at Interbay, make sure to get your tickets now! Ballard FC will return to USL2 league play on Wednesday, July 12th as they take on CFC Atletico in Salem for a top-of-the-table clash.
