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Seattle Sounders FC was given first negotiation rights to any player that was not drafted in the [[2008 MLS SuperDraft]] and joins the USL Sounders for the 2008 season. The team can also promote as many players from the 2008 USL Sounders squad as they'd like, as long as the player's rights are not controlled by another team.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/soccer/2004133749_mls19.html |title=Sounders scouting players with MLS potential |work=The Seattle Times |first=José Miguel |last=Romero |date=[[2008-01-19]] |accessdate=2008-01-30}}</ref>
Seattle Sounders FC was given first negotiation rights to any player that was not drafted in the [[2008 MLS SuperDraft]] and joins the USL Sounders for the 2008 season. The team can also promote as many players from the 2008 USL Sounders squad as they'd like, as long as the player's rights are not controlled by another team.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/soccer/2004133749_mls19.html |title=Sounders scouting players with MLS potential |work=The Seattle Times |first=José Miguel |last=Romero |date=[[2008-01-19]] |accessdate=2008-01-30}}</ref>
On August 12, 2008, the MLS bound Seattle Sounders FC franchise announced a press conference for August 14th to make their second signing for the season 2009 public. Team USA goalkeeper Kasey Keller is set to return home to his native Washington State to play for the new side. <ref>{{cite news |url=http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/soccer/374753_keller13.html|title=Keller to join Sounders FC, adding to club's local flavor|work=Seattle Post Intelligencer |first=Matthew |last=Gaschk |date=[[2008-08-13]] |accessdate=[[2008-08-19]]}}</ref>
On August 12, 2008, the MLS bound Seattle Sounders FC franchise announced a press conference for August 14th to make their second signing for the season 2009 public. Team USA goalkeeper Kasey Keller is set to return home to his native Washington State to play for the new side. <ref>{{cite news |url=http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/soccer/374753_keller13.html|title=Keller to join Sounders FC, adding to club's local flavor|work=Seattle Post Intelligencer |first=Matthew |last=Gaschk |date=[[2008-08-13]] |accessdate=2008-08-19}}</ref>




Revision as of 13:21, 19 August 2008

Template:Future sport

For other teams using this name, see Seattle Sounders (NASL) and Seattle Sounders (USL).
Seattle Sounders FC
File:Seattle Sounders FC.PNG
Full nameSeattle Sounders FC
Founded2007
GroundQwest Field
Seattle, WA
Capacity24,500 (expandable to 67,000)
Owner(s)Joe Roth
Adrian Hanauer
Paul Allen
Drew Carey
CoachTBD
LeagueMajor League Soccer

Seattle Sounders FC will be a professional soccer club based in Seattle, Washington that will begin play in Major League Soccer (MLS) in 2009. The team will play its home games at Qwest Field.[1]

History

Seattle Sounders FC is the 15th team to join MLS and will begin play in the 2009 season. The city of Seattle was awarded an expansion team on November 13, 2007. The announcement provided a continuation to a long standing soccer tradition in Seattle that has included the Seattle Sounders of the North American Soccer League from 1974 to 1983 and the Seattle Sounders of the USL First Division[2] since 1994.

Team ownership revealed the first Sounders jersey on May 28 along with announcing Microsoft and Xbox 360 as the team's sponsor worth $20 million over 5 years.[3] As part of the agreement, the Xbox 360 and Xbox Live brands will be featured prominently on the front of the jersey.[4]

Team name, badge and colors

Seattle Sounders FC was announced as the team name on April 7, 2008, along with the team logo, colors and badge design in a presentation held at the Space Needle. The badge design, loosely resembling a heraldic shield, consists of two layers representing the partnership between the ownership, the community, the players, and the fans. The logo incorporates the Space Needle, a universally recognized Seattle landmark. The official team colors are Sounder Blue, representing 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.[5]

Fans were able to choose a new name for the team in an online poll held between March 27 2008 and March 31. When the possible names to be selected from where initially announced, only three names were to be included on the poll: Seattle FC, Seattle Republic and Seattle Alliance, with the Seattle Sounders name being left off to provide a "fresh start."[6] Despite the names having been selected by fan focus groups, internal committees, and fan suggestions, the lack of an option to continue the Seattle Sounders moniker was an unpopular decision.[7] In response to the reaction by the fans, the team added a fourth "write in" option for the team name, leaving the door open to any suggestion.[8] During the voting period, MLS Commissioner Don Garber acknowledged the Sounders name is a popular fan favorite which initiated the addition of the write-in vote.[9]

Of the 14,500 votes received for the new team name, 49% of the votes were a derivative of the name Sounders.[10] Upon announcing the name, Hanauer acknowledged the significance of keeping with tradition: “The team playing at the highest level in our region has always been called Sounders. Starting with the NASL and then the USL 1st Division, we now have the chance to create a separate and distinct identity with the new MLS team.”[11]

Stadium

Main article: Qwest Field

Seattle Sounders FC will play their home games at Qwest Field in Seattle, also home to the Seattle Seahawks. The stadium is a 67,000 seat stadium designed for both football and soccer. When necessary, the upper bowl of the stadium will be tarped off leaving a seating capacity of 24,500 to provide a more intimate feel.[12] The pitch will be entitled "The Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field" as part of the sponsorship deal with Microsoft.

Seattle Sounders FC have created a web site that will be used to identify seating arrangements for season ticket holders based on personal interests including preferred method for watching a game and foreign team preference.[13] The team is currently in negotiations to use the Starfire Complex in nearby Tukwila as a training facility.

Supporters

The Seattle FC Association was established at the request of minority owner Drew Carey. Based on the fan association at FC Barcelona members of the Association will have the ability to vote on the General Manager and other team decisions. Season ticket holders become automatic members while non-season ticket holders may buy into the Association for a fee. Membership grants the members voting privileges, invitation to an annual meeting and other team perks. Members can be nominated and selected to the Sounders FC Association Council on a yearly basis. Those interested must receive at least 25 nominations from other association members, with the first nominations accepted in June 2008. The first election on General Manager is scheduled to be held November 2012 following that season. [14]

Another of Carey's requests prior to his involvement with the team was that the team would have a marching band, making it the only professional soccer franchise in America with a marching band.[15]

Unofficial supporter groups

In 2009 the Emerald City Supporters, the current supporters group for the USL Sounders, will move to general admission section 122 directly behind the south goal and begin supporting the new MLS team. [16]

Players

The Sounders officially announced the 2007 USL First Division MVP and current USL Sounder Sébastien Le Toux as its first signing on May 7, 2008.[17]

Seattle can begin to sign players in the 2008 calendar year in accordance with MLS rules, which also allows Seattle to have first pick in the 2009 MLS Draft in January 2009.[18] The team is also expecting to use an expansion draft to select up to 10 current MLS players from a pool left unprotected by the other teams.[19] Another source of players being considered is the current roster of the USL Sounders. Sébastien Le Toux was the first player to be officially signed by the club and Hanauer expects several of the team's other key players, including Taylor Graham, to transfer to Sounders FC based on MLS Competition Committee rules.[20] Roth is considering the impact Asian players could have on the new team, "...I hope that we'll be able to bring in the same caliber of player as Ichiro Suzuki with the Seattle Mariners."[21] In independent interviews, European players and Washington natives Marcus Hahnemann,[22] Kasey Keller and Preston Zimmerman, have expressed interest in playing for the new Seattle team.[23]. Houston Dynamo forward, Nate Jaqua, is expected to join Seattle in 2009, when his contract expires.[24]

Seattle Sounders FC was given first negotiation rights to any player that was not drafted in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft and joins the USL Sounders for the 2008 season. The team can also promote as many players from the 2008 USL Sounders squad as they'd like, as long as the player's rights are not controlled by another team.[25] On August 12, 2008, the MLS bound Seattle Sounders FC franchise announced a press conference for August 14th to make their second signing for the season 2009 public. Team USA goalkeeper Kasey Keller is set to return home to his native Washington State to play for the new side. [26]


Current squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
— GK United States USA Kasey Keller
— FW France FRA Sébastien Le Toux
No. Pos. Nation Player

Ownership and team management

The team ownership is split among several investors. The majority owner is Hollywood producer Joe Roth, with minority owners Adrian Hanauer, current owner of the USL-1 team Seattle Sounders; Paul Allen, Microsoft co-founder and owner of the Seattle Seahawks and Portland Trail Blazers; and Drew Carey, comedian and game show host.[15] The Seattle franchise is believed to have paid a $30 million expansion fee, $10 million more than the last expansion fee paid by the San Jose Earthquakes team.[27] Over 16,200 season ticket deposits have been made since becoming available.[28] This gives the Sounders the second most season ticket holders in MLS.[29] Notable season ticket holders include Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels and Washington Governor Christine Gregoire.[30]

Coaching staff

In an interview with The Olympian on May 5, 2008, Hanauer named only one candidate for the role of coach, current USL Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer. He continued with "We will probably begin sort of a formal process in September - maybe mid-August - and try to make a decision in October."[31]

Team management

Former MLS player and Everett, WA, native Chris Henderson was named technical director on January 24, 2008.[32] Joining Henderson in the front office is longtime Seattle Seahawks VP Gary Wright as the senior vice president of business operations.[33] Drew Carey was named the chairman of the Membership Association.[29]

Broadcasting

Sounders FC matches will be televised locally by either KING or KONG (exceptions being nationally telecast matches on Fox Soccer Channel or ESPN2/ABC). Former Seattle Supersonics play-by-play announcer Kevin Calabro has been chosen to announce the televised matches.[34]

References

  1. ^ "MLS awards Seattle expanison team for 2009" (Press release). Major League Soccer. 2007-11-13. Retrieved 2007-11-17. {{cite press release}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ Moroney, Laurence (2007-11-13). "MLS announces expansion in Seattle". MLS.net. Retrieved 2007-11-20.
  3. ^ Futterman, Matthew (2008-05-28). "Soccer's Sounders Get a Microsoft Kick". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2008-05-28.
  4. ^ "Sounders FC Announce Sponsorship with Microsoft and Xbox 360". Seattle Sounders FC. 2008-05-28. Retrieved 2008-05-28.
  5. ^ "Seattle Sounders FC colors". Seattle Sounders FC. 2008-04-07. Retrieved 2008-04-07.
  6. ^ José Miguel Romero (2008-03-21). "NW Briefs: List narrows for Seattle Major League Soccer team names". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2008-03-21.
  7. ^ McNerthney, Casey (2008-03-21). "Soccer team names? No gooaaaallll, cry fans". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved 2008-03-21. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ Matthew Gaschk (2008-03-25). "Sounders name isn't dead yet". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved 2008-03-27.
  9. ^ "LA Galaxy vs Colorado Rapids post-game report". 2008-03-29. {{cite episode}}: Missing or empty |series= (help)
  10. ^ "Seattle Sounders FC Selected as Team Name". Seattle Sounders FC. 2008-04-07. Retrieved 2008-04-07.
  11. ^ "Seattle Sounders FC Wins Out in Name Contest". Goal.com. 2008-04-07. Retrieved 2008-04-07.
  12. ^ "MLS awards Seattle expanison team for 2009". MLSNet.com. 2007-11-17. Retrieved 2008-04-10.
  13. ^ Gaschk, Matthew (May 1, 2008). "Sounders FC expected to sign star". Seattle PI. Retrieved 2008-05-06. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  14. ^ "Sounders FC announce fan association". Seattle PI. 2008-05-17. Retrieved 2008-05-18. {{cite news}}: |first= missing |last= (help); Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  15. ^ a b "Carey signs on to invest in Seattle expansion team". ESPNSoccernet. ESPN. 2007-11-12. Retrieved 2007-11-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  16. ^ "Emerald City Supporters website". Retrieved 2008-05-13.
  17. ^ Gaschk, Matthew (May 7, 2008). "Present and future Sounders". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved 2008-05-08. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  18. ^ "MLS in Seattle". MLS in Seattle. Retrieved 2007-11-14.
  19. ^ Ruiz, Don (2008-05-05). "Major roadwork ahead for Sounders FC". The News Tribune. Retrieved 2008-05-07.
  20. ^ "MLS Seattle". Prost Amerika. Retrieved 2007-12-24.
  21. ^ Moroney, Laurence (2007-11-13). "MLS announces expansion in Seattle". MLS.net. Retrieved 2007-11-20.
  22. ^ Ubha, Ravi (January 1, 2008). "Marcus' Plans". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved 2008-01-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  23. ^ Gaschk, Matthew (2007-11-14). "Seattle MLS Buzz, Volume One". GOALSeattle. Retrieved 2007-11-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  24. ^ Soccer By Ives: The PM roundup: Jaqua rejoins Houston, McBride deal looks dead and is Parkhurst headed to the Olympics?
  25. ^ Romero, José Miguel (2008-01-19). "Sounders scouting players with MLS potential". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2008-01-30. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  26. ^ Gaschk, Matthew (2008-08-13). "Keller to join Sounders FC, adding to club's local flavor". Seattle Post Intelligencer. Retrieved 2008-08-19. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  27. ^ Stone, Larry (2007-11-10). "Big-time soccer coming in 2009". Seattle Times. Retrieved 2007-11-10. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  28. ^ Romero, José Miguel. "Microsoft will sponsor Sounders FC". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2008-05-28.
  29. ^ a b Gaschk, Matthew (2008-05-16). "Sounders FC owner caters to fans". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved 2008-05-19.
  30. ^ Romero, José Miguel (2007-11-27). "NW Briefs: Tickets for Seattle's MLS team top 9,300". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2007-11-28. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  31. ^ Ruiz, Don (May 5, 2008). "New Sounders have work to do before first game". The Olympian. Retrieved 2008-05-06. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  32. ^ Romero, José Miguel (2008-01-24). "Henderson named technical director for Seattle's MLS team". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2008-01-30. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  33. ^ "Longtime Seahawks VP moves to MLS team". Puget Sound Business Journal. 2008-03-24. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
  34. ^ "Sounders find voice: Kevin Calabro". Seattle TImes. 2008-07-22. Retrieved 2008-07-22.

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