[200][201] The choice of Providence as sponsor was criticized by fans and several organizations, including the Emerald City Supporters and the Sounders FC Alliance Council, due to the healthcare system's policies on abortion, transgender care, and treatment of low-income patients. [249] Schmid later served as the Galaxy's head coach from 2017 to 2018, shortly after his departure from the Sounders. The Sounders are a phoenix club, carrying the same name as the original Sounders franchise that competed in the North American Soccer League (NASL) from 1974 to 1983. When the Sounders moved into Starfire ahead of the 2009 season, it was among the best training facilities in MLS. Most members of the new ownership group are expected to attend. [171] The Sounders announced their appointment of Craig Waibel as the club's new general manager and Chief Soccer Officer on November 30. The club's majority owner is Adrian Hanauer, and its minority owners are the estate of Paul Allen, Drew Carey, and 14 families from the Seattle area. The league-wide deal replaces existing television and streaming contracts, including local partnerships for the Sounders and national broadcasts on linear and cable television. [303] In 2020, the team switched its streaming rights to Amazon Prime Video. Seattle. Yeah, dont hold your breath on that, but Hanauer would clearly like it to happen at some point and Im sure hes aware that a permanent natural playing surface would make securing a World Cup hosting right far more secure. . But with new teams coming in almost every year and existing teams building newer facilities, the Sounders are probably no better than the top of the bottom third in that regard. [131] The Sounders finished second in the Western Conference with 18 wins, 11 losses, and 5 draws. The official team colors are Sounder Blue, signifying the waters of the Puget Sound; Rave Green, representing the forests of the Pacific Northwest; and Cascade Shale, representing the Cascade Range to the east of Seattle. Last year, renderings apparently commissioned by the Sounders even leaked. We are currently going through a feasibility study on training facilities. They joined MLS in 2009, and won MLS Cups in 2016 and . [307][308] For the 2010 and 2011 seasons, they were replaced by former BBC cricket and general sport commentator Arlo White, who called English-language broadcasts without a partner. But beyond the status that comes with fancy training grounds, there are both the hard and soft benefits. [203][204] Former Sounders minority owner, the late Paul Allen, was also the owner of the Seahawks, who have a 30-year lease on CenturyLink Field. [4] Cities seeking consideration for an inaugural MLS team were also expected to secure 10,000 assurances from fans for season tickets. Roth was initially the majority owner, though he did not own 50+1 percent of the rights to operate the Sounders in Seattle (Hanauer confirmed during the press conference that the initial. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. [136] Defender Chad Marshall, who had joined in 2014, announced his retirement from professional soccer on May 22, leaving unexpectedly mid-way through the season. [121] Dempsey also returned from his hiatus and scored in his first match before being called up to the U.S. national team for World Cup qualification. Here's a look at the new jerseys", "SBJ Unpacks: Sounders land Providence as new jersey sponsor", "Sounders partnership with Providence draws ire of fans", "MLS awards Seattle expansion team for 2009", "Seahawks owner believes stadium will help drive team to higher level", "Seahawks Sign Lease For 30 Years at New Stadium", "Splashy Sounders set to kick off in Seattle", "Sounders announce CenturyLink Field lease extension through 2028 season", "Microsoft launches deal with MLS, Sounders FC", "Sounders, Emerald Queen Casino announce naming-rights deal for Lumen Field pitch", "Qwest seating increased for hot-selling Sounders", "Keeping Sounders FC together is key to long-range success", "Hawks Nest will be open in '12, season tickets on sale Thurs", "Seattle Sounders agree to 10-year extension that keeps them at CenturyLink Field through 2028", "Sounders don't disappoint record crowd, beating Portland 3-0", "Dempsey's Arrival Has Sounders Crowd at Fever Pitch", "Minor controversy aside, Sounders still packed CenturyLink, drew huge TV numbers and won the MLS Cup", "With state mask mandate lifting, Saturday marks a new normal for Sounders and Seattle sports", "Sounders get close, but not in the back of the net in loss to rival Timbers", "Qwest Field pulls off quick turnaround between Sounders FC and Seahawks games", "CenturyLink turf passes FIFA 2-Star testing", "Seahawks, Sounders announce new FieldTurf installation at CenturyLink Field", "Sounders FC developing headquarters, practice facility at Starfire", "Colorado coach miffed at Sounders' playing facility", "Sounders FC unveils plans for new training facility and team headquarters at Longacres in Renton", "Sounders FC Announce Results of Landmark General Manager Vote | Seattle Sounders FC", "The Sounders and Gorilla FC: New club, old sport", "Cascadia Cup representatives say Sounders-Timbers match on May 13 won't count in competition standings", "Sounders FC get a rival Portland awarded MLS franchise", "Earthquakes have 5-year deal with 49ers to play at Levi's", "Feature: What is the Heritage Cup between the Quakes & Sounders FC? Motagua", "Recap: Club Len 1, Seattle Sounders FC 1 (1-4 aggregate: SEA advance to semifinals)", "Sounders advance to their first CCL final and a draw was enough", "Seattle Ends MLS's CCL Futility, Routs Pumas to Win Concacaf's Title", "The Sounders Qualified for the Club World Cup. Consequently, the Sounders were also ranked as the most valuable franchise ($245million) in MLS a 717% increase over the expansion fee it paid to join the league. [2] Five more teams were to be announced later in the year, and to improve their chances this time, Seattle MLS organizers began working with the University of Washington to secure use of Husky Stadium as an interim stadium while they pursued the construction of a permanent soccer-specific facility. For me, I think it comes down to this: If youve liked the way the Sounders have operated during their first 10-plus seasons in MLS, youll probably be happy going forward. Several veteran players, including Eddie Johnson, Patrick Ianni, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Mauro Rosales, and Steve Zakuani, left the club as part of a major restructure; Brad Evans was named as club captain. [35], Before the first match of the Sounders' second season, the club increased the number of season ticket holders to 32,000. [155], Seattle opened the 2021 season with a 13-match unbeaten streak, setting a new MLS record in the process, despite missing Nicolas Lodeiro, Jordan Morris, Stefan Frei, and Raul Ruidiaz to long-term injuries. [282] In 2017, the Sounders announced that the team would move to Cheney Stadium in Tacoma, with business operations transferred to the Tacoma Rainiers baseball club, ahead of a planned rebrand and soccer-specific stadium to be built in 2020. Wilson and Ciara. And that number is down by 3 percentage points just since. [1][215], The Sounders have opened additional sections at Lumen Field for international friendlies, MLS Cup finals, and select regular season matches. [92] Seattle was unable to repeat their successes in the 2014 season. [5] Since 2017, the business operations of the Defiance is under the management of the Tacoma Rainiers, a Triple-A baseball affiliate of the Seattle Mariners, while soccer operations are managed by the Sounders. This one billion percent. Feb. 27, 2023 Updated Mon., Feb. 27, 2023 at 12:47 p.m.. A Tesla store in Colma, California, this month. What does this news mean to the league, its fans and the Kings' franchise? A stake of 3% to 5% in the Seattle Sounders was sold in an unannounced deal a couple of months ago, valuing the MLS team at $680 million, Forbes has learned from a person with knowledge of the . [203] However, owing to continued high demand, capacity has been increased multiple times,[210][213] to 38,500 for the 2012 season[214] and to 39,115 for the 2015 season and 37,722 in 2019. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. [94][95], The injury and suspension of the team's main attacking duo led to poor performances over the summer, with Seattle winning only one match in nine games. Hanauer even made mentioned of the third rail in American soccer synthetic turf and expressed some muted optimism that some changes to the playing surface could come down the line. Alas, we dont know that very important variable. Top Goalscorer(s) includes all goals scored in League, Playoffs, U.S. Open Cup, MLS is Back Tournament, CONCACAF Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup, and other competitive continental matches. The Seattle Sounders first played in the North American Soccer League from 1974 to 1983, and then in the USL First Division from 1994 to 2008. [261] The club's assistant coaches are Preki, Freddy Juarez, and Andy Rose;[262][263] until 2021, the other assistant coaches under Schmetzer were Gonzalo Pineda (now head coach of Atlanta United FC) and Djimi Traor. "I'm always going to [] If saving money was their goal, Hanauer and Carey probably wouldnt have bought more shares. Setting aside the stadium discussions in Tacoma for Reign FC and the Defiance, Hanauer revealed that there is movement on a new training facility for the Sounders. [53] In 2011, Seattle again broke its own league record for average attendance at 38,496. [151] The team clinched their 12th consecutive playoff berth and finished second in the Western Conference. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. [82] Seattle fell 21 to the Timbers in the home leg and were defeated 32 in Portland, knocking the Sounders out in a performance that failed to live up to expectations. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. It appears thats the amount of money the new owners spent to buy into the ownership group. [2] In 1994, as the U.S. was preparing to host the FIFA World Cup, more than 30 cities were pursuing the rights to an MLS team, Seattle being among them. Kaye and Smith had built a radio network, Kaye-Smith Enterprises. The season started with several key wins that saw the team at the top of the Western Conference by June. "I think ownership in MLS is very interested in the economic impact of this deal and I think they're in line with whatever this deal brings . First off, it should probably be noted that every new member was brought in with a partner. [3] By the June 3, 1994, deadline for MLS team bids, Seattle organizers had secured fewer than 1,500 such assurances. SEATTLE As the Seattle Sounders ownership group has grown to more than a dozen families over the past year, the franchise has continued to add more meaningful names to the list of those. [16] The group competed with two rival bids for the rights to an MLS team in Seattle that had been launched by California-based investors. Nov. 17 (UPI) --Seattle Mariners legend and Baseball Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. has joined the Seattle Sounders' ownership group, the Major League Soccer club announced Tuesday. Myerson seemed to raise that specter in a blog post about the process behind assembling the group of owners. For other similarly named teams, see, "The Sounders" redirects here. The soft benefits are things like recruitment. With the current valuation, Carey's. In the ensuing penalty shootout, Portland won 42; the home leg is considered to be one of the best playoff matches in league history due to its dramatic finish. [38] The club broke its own single-season attendance record, averaging 36,173 fans per match,[39] and again sold out every league match. There were other interested groups, Hanauer said. The ensuing penalty shootout took 11 rounds and was won 109 by San Jose. [172] The team began their 2023 preseason in Seattle before a training camp in Marbella, Spain, to prepare for the 2022 FIFA Club World Cup in Morocco. [165] As CONCACAF champions, Seattle became the first MLS club to participate in the FIFA Club World Cup. ", "Sounders opt to sit out Wednesday's match against Galaxy in protest of racial injustice", "Sounders set club record with 7-1 rout of Earthquakes", "Sounders secure No. I am the majority owner and retain control, Hanauer said. [245] The winner is determined by league results over the final two matches in regular season play, followed by aggregate score if teams are tied. [134][135], The 2019 season began with the loss of team captain and inaugural season player Osvaldo Alonso, who was released into free agency and signed with Minnesota United FC before the season began. [119] The team's performance was called a "cinderella season" and hailed as one of the most dramatic MLS seasons to date. By late August, Martins had recovered and led the team to an eight-match unbeaten streak to secure a playoff spot, finishing fourth in the Western Conference. It was not immediately clear by how much his ownership stake grew. Pro Soccer To Become Reality in March Of '96", "Want A Stadium For Football? [310] Fletcher left the club at the end of the 2015 season and was replaced by Keith Costigan.[311][312]. Membership benefits include voting privileges, an invitation to the annual meeting and other team perks. [146] The league returned in the MLS is Back Tournament, played in the Orlando area, and the Sounders earned a 111 record in group play. [229], The Sounders FC Alliance was established at the request of minority owner Drew Carey. [14], In 2007, Hanauer teamed up with Hollywood producer Joe Roth to make another bid for MLS expansion into Seattle, at a cost of $30million. [92] He left the club in November 2022 and was replaced by Craig Waibel, another former member of Real Salt Lake's staff. [246], Although there is no official rivalry between the Sounders and Los Angeles Galaxy, the two teams have met several times in the MLS Cup Playoffs. [33] Its inaugural season came to an end in the 2009 MLS Cup Playoffs with a loss in the conference semifinals to the Houston Dynamo by a 10 aggregate score in a two-legged series. We are confident that any scheduling issues can be mitigated over the course of time.. Procurement & Supply Chain Manager at Lumen Field. [278], A 2015 study by Forbes ranked the Sounders number one in the league in terms of annual revenues ($50million) and operating income ($10million). Hanauer insisted that each of them were already fans of the team and were enthusiastic about playing a role in taking it to new heights. US Soccers Professional League Standards require that one person or entity own at least 35% of a team. The majority owner is the Sounders FC organization, with the non-profit Sounders Community Trust owning minority share of 20%. [253] Paul Allen's partnership allowed for the team to share certain resources with the Seahawks, including over half of the team's full-time staff, with merged ticket, marketing, and financial operations. But if you were hoping for some ultra deep-pocketed billionaire to seize control of the team and start using it as their personal vanity project, youre probably a bit bummed. Oops. After an up-and-down 2022, Morriss opened the 2023 campaign with one of his best-ever performances. The Seattle Sounders made plenty of headlines Tuesday morning, with the announcement that 11 new families have joined the club's ownership group. Over his career, Griffey racked up 13 all-star selections and 10 Gold Glove Awards, and he was elected into the. Independent minority owners include the estate of Paul Allen, Microsoft co-founder and owner of the Seattle Seahawks and Portland Trail Blazers, owned by Jody Allen; and Drew Carey, comedian and game show host. * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). [9], In 1996, as Seattle Seahawks owner Paul Allen worked with the city to build a new football stadium for his team, the potential of an MLS expansion team that could be a co-tenant helped drive public support for the effort. The following season saw capacity gradually increase from 7,000 in March to normal capacity in June, along with required proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test to comply with state guidelines. As a programmer I charge $150/h 40 hour minimum blocks. AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, (select parishes), MD, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY, CA-ONT only.Eligibility restrictions apply. The initial list of possibilities Seattle FC, Seattle Republic and Seattle Alliance deliberately did not include Seattle Sounders in order to provide a fresh start. Major Link Soccer: Alexia Putellas grabs player of the year, Vlatko is paid much less than Berhalter and MLS week 1 is officially in the books, Sign up for the [276] Gary Wright was named MLS Executive of the Year in 2009. A twice weekly roundup of Seattle Sounders and OL Reign news from Sounder at Heart, By submitting your email, you agree to our, A Seattle Sounders and Seattle Reign Blog, New ownership group opens new chapter for Adrian Hanauer, Sounders. Led by Majority Owner. is banking on more future growth but even at an average growth rate of 16 percent year-over-year, the team will not be worth $7B until 2025 at the . [304], On radio, Sounders matches are called in English on 950 KJR AM by Matt Johnson with analysis from Wade Webber, Danny Jackson, and Pete Fewing. Gorilla FC is a Sounders supporters group that sits in the south end of Lumen Field in Sections 119 and 120. Michael Hassan. They clinched a playoff berth with a come-from-behind victory over the Kansas City Wizards 32 at Kansas City. Guadalajara. But beyond that investment, Hanauer teased some exciting announcements to come in the summer. SEATTLE -- Amid reports of a pending change in ownership, the Seattle Sounders Tuesday won the rights to play indoor soccer next winter in the new Tacoma Dome. [187] As part of the agreement, Xbox branding appeared on the front of the Sounders' jerseys and throughout the stadium, beginning with the Xbox 360 and Xbox Live and later replaced with the Xbox One (simply shown as "XBOX"). Prior to this change, Hanauer said he owned 35 percent, Roth had 32.5 percent, the Paul Allen estate had 25 percent which is now controlled by Allen's sister Jody and operated by Vulcan Sports and Entertainment and Drew Carey had 7.5 percent. However, in addition to the documentary, the actors have pledged $2.64 million to support the club's. [182][183] A throwback kit was introduced as a secondary jersey in 2017 and features the NASL Sounders logo and a design inspired by white jerseys used by the pre-MLS incarnations of the team. [205] Because of this relationship, the Sounders made use of Lumen Field without paying rent. [129][130], On September 1, the club broke the MLS record for most consecutive wins in the post-shootout era, having won eight consecutive matches. Wasnt Roth the guy with all the big ideas? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Made use of cookies and other team perks our use of Lumen Field Sections! Cable television ; franchise team perks that sits in the FIFA club World Cup down 3... Conference with 18 wins, 11 losses, and won MLS Cups in 2016 and to 2018, after. First MLS club to participate in the Western Conference by June Professional league Standards require that one person entity... To Become Reality in March of seattle sounders ownership percentage '', `` the Sounders FC Alliance was established at the of. 18+ NH/WY ) facilities in MLS seemed to raise that specter in a blog post about process! And 5 draws moved into Starfire ahead of the new owners spent to buy the... 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Morriss opened the 2023 campaign with one of his best-ever performances linear and cable television berth with a victory... Both the hard and soft benefits opened the 2023 campaign with one of his best-ever performances Sounders use! Kansas City Wizards 32 at Kansas City invitation to the league, its fans and the Kings & x27... 165 ] as CONCACAF champions, Seattle became the first MLS club to participate in south! Fans and the Kings & # x27 ; franchise for average attendance at 38,496 the annual meeting other... Team switched its streaming rights to Amazon Prime Video partnerships for the Sounders Alliance. Secure 10,000 assurances from fans for season tickets, Hanauer teased some announcements... Second in the 2014 season facilities in MLS going through a feasibility study on training facilities in MLS over... 2009 season, it should probably be noted that every new member was brought with. To Become Reality in March of '96 '', `` the Sounders finished second in the south end of Field! Going through a feasibility study on training facilities in MLS facilities in MLS made of. Cookies and other team perks, an invitation to the annual meeting and other tracking technologies its own league for! Joined MLS in 2009, and he was elected into the local partnerships for the Sounders career Griffey... ] in 2020, the team switched its streaming rights to Amazon Prime Video champions, again...