When it comes to ceremonious flair, no sport is more adept at puttin’ on the ritz than soccer. The prelude to a typical midseason game finds more kids on the field than Disneyland draws in a week, and the Sounders home opener Sunday was anything but typical.
The match between the Sounders and New York Red Bulls was scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. The latest banner destined to adorn the roof girders at CenturyLink Field — the 2016 MLS Cup championship banner — was unveiled among the Emerald City Supporters who occupy the south stands at 4:19.