But how exactly did so many people come. Is that true? The majority owner is the Sounders FC organization, with the non-profit Sounders Community Trust owning minority share of 20%. 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. ", "Sounders FC, LA Galaxy to add another chapter to postseason history", "Bruce Arena and Sigi Schmid molded modern MLS coaching landscape", "Sigi Schmid returns to pitch, coaches Galaxy to scoreless draw against Sounders", "Carey signs on to invest in Seattle expansion team", "Seattle Reign moving to Cheney Stadium, and the S2 team is changing its name", "Reign FC Has Entered into Exclusive Negotiations to Sell the Club to OL Groupe", "Sounders FC nearly completes independent business transition from Seahawks", "Sounders FC opens new chapter in club history, as 11 families with deep Seattle roots join Rave Green Ownership group", "Russell Wilson, Ciara, Macklemore, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and more join Sounders ownership", "Sounders announce Peter Tomozawa as president of business operations", "Kraken CEO Tod Leiweke and his wife, Tara, join Sounders ownership group", "Mariners legend Ken Griffey Jr. to join Seattle Sounders ownership group", "Sounders waste no more time, make Schmetzer permanent head coach", "Sounders announce Freddy Juarez as new assistant coach", "Former Sounders player Andy Rose 'over the moon' to now be a Sounders assistant coach", "Sounders notebook: Brian Schmetzer looking to fill coaching vacancies soon; Nouhou returns to training", "Seattle Hires Henderson as Technical Director", "Sounders formally announce Craig Waibel as new VP and sporting director", "Notebook: Sounders' brass address Providence criticism; Bruce Lee kit sales reach $50,000", "New Sounders President of Business Operations Hugh Weber to lead club's growth strategy", "Peter Tomozawa moves from Sounders executive to SEA 2026 CEO", "Sounders named pro sports team of the year", "Seattle Sounders FC recognized as the 2010 professional sports team of the year", "Leiweke named PSBJ Executive of the Year", "Sounders' Gary Wright named Seattle sports executive of year", "Keller, Polk, Vandersloot win Seattle Sports Star of Year awards", "Major League Soccer's Most Valuable Teams", "Seattle Sounders become North America's 1st carbon-neutral pro soccer team", "Sounders FC Unveils Second Team Sounders FC 2", "Sounders FC 2 debuts with thrilling 42 victory over Sacramento Republic FC", "Sounders and Rainiers baseball team reach deal on soccer-specific stadium in Tacoma to host USL team", "Sounders 2 coming to Tacoma 2 years early and to Cheney Stadium", "Sounders' second-division squad rebrands as Tacoma Defiance", "Sounders FC Youth Academy Teams to Join U.S. Soccer Development", "Acadmey Snapshot: Young Seattle Sounders thriving in early USSDA season", "Seattle Sounders extend their youth network with more affiliations", "Seattle Sounders FC agrees to youth affiliation with Central California Aztecs", "Seattle Sounders sign Henry Wingo and Seyi Adekoya as Homegrown Players", "Sounders FC Aligns With U-23 PDL Franchise", "Jordan Morris returns, active for Sounders U-23", "U.S. goes for Olympic gold as women's pro soccer fails to catch on at home", "Sounders FC to field team at Beach Soccer Club World Cup", "Major League Soccer package on Apple TV to launch on Feb. 1", "Sounders moving local broadcasts to Fox's Q13", "Sounders FC announces new broadcast talent, regional broadcast details", "Sounders FC announces complete regional broadcast lineup for 2019", "YouTube TV Nabs Exclusive Streaming Rights to Seattle Sounders Games, Its Second MLS Deal", "Amazon Prime will stream select Sounders matches", "Seattle Sounders unveil new play-by-play announcers, release regional broadcast details", "Games through June 28 sold out, and if Sounders FC wins tomorrow", "BBC vet Arlo White, 36, to succeed Kevin Calabro as the Sounders play-by-play broadcaster", "Sounders hire announcers Ross Fletcher, Kasey Keller", "Seattle Sounders broadcaster Ross Fletcher to leave club at the end of this season", "Trying to understand the frustration around Sounders new announcers", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Seattle_Sounders_FC&oldid=1141999953, July 26, 2016 November 1, 2016 (interim), Sporting director and vice president of soccer, This page was last edited on 28 February 2023, at 00:20. [229], The Sounders FC Alliance was established at the request of minority owner Drew Carey. A source indicated that Allen will be an active participant in the operation of the team though VSG president Chris McGowan, a sentiment echoed by Hanauer. The club set a new MLS record for average attendance with 30,943 fans per match. [300] Matches were televised in Spanish on Univision station KUNS, anchored by Jaime Mendez with analysts Diego Arrioja and Jhon Kennedy Hurtado. Sounders FC mounts incredible rally to win Western Conference title 3-2", "Columbus Wins M.L.S. In the playoffs, the Sounders were eliminated in the conference semifinals by the Los Angeles Galaxy on a 31 aggregate score. This replaced a previous syndication deal with Root Sports Northwest. [242] The Cascadia Cup was contested without Seattle for two seasons after the Sounders entered MLS in 2009, but Portland and Vancouver were awarded expansion teams that began play in 2011. All right, level with me Is this change good? Should we be worried about the Sounders spending less? The Sounders won 20 on goals from Brad Evans and Fredy Montero. Given the rather unprecedented nature of all this, you probably have a lot of questions. [118] On December 10, 2016, the Sounders defeated Toronto FC 54 in a penalty shootout, to win MLS Cup 2016, their first MLS championship in franchise history, going the whole match without a shot on goal. [77] In August 2013, the Sounders completed the signing of U.S. national team captain Clint Dempsey from Tottenham Hotspur for $9million, the largest transfer deal in the league's history, and a record salary of $32million over four years. [274][275] Former Seahawks and Sounders CEO Tod Leiweke was recognized by the Puget Sound Business Journal as the newspaper's 2009 Executive of the Year. The remaining interest in the Sounders operational rights in Seattle will go to the newly formed Seattle Futbol LLC, comprised of Russell Wilson and Ciara, Macklemore, several current and former Microsoft executives and an assortment of families in the area. More likely, hes teasing a training grounds announcement. 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. Forbes estimated that the Sounders were worth $310 million in 2018. English television broadcasts were called by Keith Costigan alongside former Sounders goalkeeper Kasey Keller for color commentary and former Sounders midfielder Steve Zakuani for analysis. [27] Seattle was the first MLS expansion team to win its first three matches, and they did so with a shutout in each. Teams throughout our league have challenges with scheduling at times and were no different. Homegrown player DeAndre Yedlin was transferred to Tottenham Hotspur but was loaned back to Seattle until the end of the MLS season. The 10-year sponsorship was brokered by Oak View Group and signed for an undisclosed amount. SEATTLE This has been quite a journey. Well, kinda. From its MLS inception until 2022, the team qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffsthe longest record in league historyand competed in the CONCACAF Champions League six times, becoming the first MLS team to win the modern version of the competition in 2022. 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. [6], In a June 14, 1994, announcement, Seattle was not included among the first seven cities to be awarded an MLS team. That group has expanded its percentage of the interest in the team from 35% to a number which has yet to be disclosed. [139][140], The Sounders defeated FC Dallas 43 in the first round with a hat-trick from Jordan Morris, who had been named MLS Comeback Player of the Year following his return from an ACL tear. [175][176], In response to the backlash, the team added a fourth write-in option for the team name, allowing for any name to be suggested on the ballot. [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. [103], Prior to the 2016 season, Obafemi Martins abruptly left the club to sign with Shanghai Greenland Shenhua F.C. Satya Nadella made $25.8 million at Microsoft in 2018 and chief financial officer Amy Hood another new Sounders owner made $14.9 million, according to an SEC filing. The Sounders tied the Galaxy on aggregate score but lost on the away goals rule after losing 10 away and winning 21 at home. The Sacramento Kings could soon be the Seattle SuperSonics. [290], In January 2012, the Sounders announced a partnership for the Tacoma Tide, an amateur team in the USL Premier Development League, to rebrand as Seattle Sounders FC U-23 and appoint Darren Sawatzky as head coach. Speaking of stadiums, was there really anything to the possibility that new owners might try to move the team? Should we be worried about having too many chefs in the kitchen? 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 Allens sister Jody and operated by Vulcan Sports and Entertainment and Drew Carey had 7.5 percent. [217] The record was surpassed during the following year's home match against the Portland Timbers in August with 67,385 in attendance. Griffey's 22-year Major League Baseball career included 13 seasons in Seattle. [142][143] Seattle hosted the MLS Cup final against Toronto FC, playing them for the third time in four years, and won 31 to clinch their second championship. MLS teams that carry on the names of their NASL predecessors are eligible to compete, but the Timbers and Whitecaps declined to participate. [265][266], Garth Lagerwey was hired from Real Salt Lake in January 2015 as the club's general manager and President of Soccer, replacing Adrian Hanauer. [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. [309] In 2012, White was hired by NBC Sports Network to be the voice of their soccer coverage. They advanced to the round of 16, where they lost 41 to Los Angeles FC. The MLS expansion team Seattle Sounders FC, began its inaugural season in 2009 at the stadium. The Sounders advanced to their first Champions League final and faced Mexican club UNAM, who hosted the first leg. Wilson will make an. When asked about a report last week that Russell Wilson tried to have him and general manager John Schneider fired before the Seattle Seahawks traded the veteran quarterback to the Denver Broncos last March, Carroll maintained support for his former player. The club lost the first leg 30 in Salt Lake, and could only net two goals in the second leg at home. 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. Along with Roth, Paul Allen and Drew Carey, Hanauer launched the team in 2009 to then-unprecedented success: winning a US Open Cup (the first of three in a row) in its first year, a Supporters Shield in 2014, and culminating in a MLS Cup in 2016, setting attendance records at the same time. [147] The team then resumed hosting matches with no spectators at CenturyLink Field (renamed Lumen Field near the end of the season) and primarily played against West Coast teams due to limited travel. Without access to their tax returns, theres no way of knowing for sure. [65] The top scorer in league play was 28-year-old striker Eddie Johnson, who scored 14 goals in his first season with the club; he earned Comeback Player of the Year honors for his performance, which came after an unsuccessful stint with multiple European clubs. The trophies along the way, the fact that this team has has the best record, the most consistent winning record of any team over the ten years, and ultimately winning that MLS Cup in 2016 was something that Ill never forget, Hanauer said. The Seattle Sounders made plenty of headlines Tuesday morning, with the announcement that 11 new families have joined the club's ownership group. Wasnt Roth the guy with all the big ideas? [294] This branding agreement was also terminated by the Sounders in January 2020. [188] Despite hiring a consultant to explore other jersey partnerships in 2012,[189] the Microsoft sponsorship was repeatedly extended with a one-year contract in 2013, for the following season, and 2014, lasting through the end of the 2016 season. [26] During the pre-match ceremonies, the first Golden Scarf was awarded to MLS Commissioner Don Garber. [108][109] The same day, the club announced their signing of Uruguayan midfielder Nicols Lodeiro on a designated player contract,[110] as well as the return of former designated player lvaro Fernndez. Something went wrong. 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 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. [180], The Sounders have usually played in a rave green primary jersey with varying colors and designs for their secondary and third kits. [84] The higher attendances were helped by the opening of additional sections in the Hawks' Nest,[85] as well as the opening of the upper deck of CenturyLink Field for select regular matches. Hanauer made a big point of saying how the new owners never talked about things like prospective return on investment, and were far more focused on being part of an exciting project. [157][158] The team also won twice against Mexican clubs UANL and Santos Laguna in the 2021 Leagues Cup and advanced to the final, where they lost 32 to Club Len in Las Vegas. [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. But beyond the status that comes with fancy training grounds, there are both the hard and soft benefits. After the Kingdome was approved as a host venue, the American League awarded the Seattle franchise to a group of investors for $6.5 million. [259] Retired baseball player Ken Griffey Jr. and his wife, Melissa, also joined the ownership group the following month. Braudilio Rodrigues joins Defiance after putting up rather ridiculous numbers in NCAA DII. 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. [234] The March to the Match, in which fans march from Occidental Park to Lumen Field before each home match, has been accompanied by the Sound Wave. [41] In the U.S. Open Cup, Seattle won matches at Portland and at home against the Los Angeles Galaxy and Chivas USA before reaching the final, which they hosted at Qwest Field against the Columbus Crew. The Sounders recently won their fourth USL championship. It was a pretty clever way to market this, I must admit. On October 25, 2014, the final game of the 2014 regular season, the Sounders defeated the LA Galaxy 20 to secure and win their first Supporters' Shield. If Hanauer really increased his holdings by 16 percent which would give him a true majority this offering would have. [40], The Sounders also competed in two additional competitions during the 2010 season the CONCACAF Champions League and the U.S. Open Cup. They clinched a playoff berth with a come-from-behind victory over the Kansas City Wizards 32 at Kansas City. [236][237], Besides the Alliance, there are currently four recognized, independent supporters groups for the Sounders. As the majority owner, Hanauer was clear that the buck will stop with him. [278], A 2015 study by Forbes ranked the Sounders number one in the league in terms of annual revenues ($50million) and operating income ($10million). Blake led MLS in shutouts with 15 and had a 79.4% save percentage last season, the third time he was honored as the league's best goalie. [123][124][125] In the playoffs, the Sounders beat the Vancouver Whitecaps and Houston Dynamo to win the Western Conference and return to the MLS Cup, once again facing Toronto at BMO Field. [36] The first match of the season was played at Qwest Field, with Seattle hosting a new MLS expansion team, the Philadelphia Union. [205] Because of this relationship, the Sounders made use of Lumen Field without paying rent. [303] In 2020, the team switched its streaming rights to Amazon Prime Video. Are Macklemore and Russell Wilson the new Sounders owners? The most notable names are probably Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Microsoft CFO Amy Hood, but its a veritable whos who of local tech industry movers and shakers. [24] Sigi Schmid was introduced as the club's first head coach on December 16, 2008, after leaving the Columbus Crew following their MLS Cup victory.[25]. [131] The Sounders finished second in the Western Conference with 18 wins, 11 losses, and 5 draws. Theres no way of knowing for sure leg 30 in Salt Lake, and 5 draws ceremonies. Has expanded its percentage of the interest in the team switched its streaming rights Amazon. 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