Seattle Sounders FC trained at Qwest Field today for the first time this season.

“It’s great,” coach Sigi Schmid said. “Obviously the last time we were here we didn’t get the result that we wanted to in our last game against Houston [Dynamo]. So it’s got that memory. But it’s also got the memory of the opening game and a lot of the good accomplishments we had all season. But more so than anything every time you walk in here, even though the seats are blue, I see green everywhere. It just reminds me that we are about to embark on the season. I think it’s a good reminder for the players that the season is around the corner.”

And this from Kasey Keller: “It always feels nice. It just lets you know you are getting close to something happening. We love our training ground. We love what we are doing over there but it’s always nice to get back into the stadium knowing that something’s right around the corner. With the game against Portland [Timbers] and knowing that the beginning of the season is getting close. Se we are excited.”

Meanwhile, the Sounders will play their first home game of the preseason at 6 p.m. Thursday meeting the second-division Portland Timbers.

More than 13,000 tickets already have been sold to what will be the Sounders only home game of the preseason. Tickets remain available at $10 for adults and $5 for ages 6-17. Proceeds will benefit Boys and Girls Clubs of Washington State, Soccer Saves, Seattle SCORES and Washington Youth Soccer.

Players will be available for autographs after the match.

The game will not be carried on local TV or radio.

After this, the Sounders will play one more preseason game — meeting the Colorado Rapids on Friday in Commerce City, Colo. – before opening the regular season against the Philadelphia Union at 6:30 p.m. March 25 at Qwest Field.