Sounders increase capacity at Qwest Field

SEATTLE (Goal.com) -- Seattle Sounders FC will increase seating capacity at Qwest Field to 32,000 starting with the June 28 match against the Colorado Rapids.

The team announced the sale of seats in the south end zone. Seattle has sold out its first five home games and averaged 29,025, good enough to lead Major League Soccer in attendance.

The stadium at full capacity, when both the upper and lower bowls are utilized, holds 67,000. This configuration will be used when the Sounders host European sides FC Barcelona on Aug. 5 and Chelsea on July 18. As of Wednesday, 60,000 seats have been sold for the Chelsea match.

The U.S. national team will play a first-round 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup match at Qwest Field on July 4. The Nats will face Granada in the second match of a double header. Haiti and Honduras are featured in the first match of the day.