Seahawks fans form group
What a difference a championship season can make.
The growing number of Seattle Seahawks fans across the Inland Northwest has prompted a second team-sanctioned chapter of the Sea Hawkers Booster Club to open in the Spokane area. The new Spokane Valley chapter already is nearly 60 members strong and features convenient meeting and game-watching venues for Spokane Valley and North Idaho fans.
“If you’re a Seahawks fan, come join our club,” said board member Garry Forney. “We’re always looking for new members who want to have fun. Our common bond is we back the Seahawks.”
The new club is a spinoff of the original Spokane Sea Hawkers, which has been cheering on last season’s NFC champions for more than 20 years. In January, the Valley group became one of 11 team-sanctioned booster clubs in the state. Other clubs are located across the globe.
Club Treasurer Monica Hickman says meetings and game-day events in Spokane Valley will be more convenient for many boosters, including fans from the Post Falls and Coeur d’Alene areas, because the original Spokane chapter meets primarily in north Spokane.
Joining a Sea Hawkers club costs $15 a year for individuals and $25 for families. Some members become very active and others simply enjoy the fan camaraderie and big screen TV during organized game-watching parties.
Sea Hawkers boosters have been supporting Seahawks players and coaches since the team’s inception in 1976. They gather for chapter meetings and social events, bus trips and golf tournaments. Clubs get opportunities to buy group tickets to the Seahawks home games, and members also have chances to meet players at annual banquets and picnics and at training camp. Sea Hawkers chapters also are active in their communities by supporting area charities.
The Spokane Valley group meets the third Wednesday of each month at The Alpine Family Dining and Pub, 11003 E. Sprague Ave., at 6 p.m. for a social hour and 7 for the general meeting. Members also gather for each game, and already are looking forward to an overnight bus trip to Qwest Field in October when the Seahawks host the Minnesota Vikings.