Feb. 21Puget Sound Energy is pushing for legislation that would help it secure a large ownership stake in new renewable projects in the state. They joined MLS in 2009, and won MLS Cups in 2016 and . Please enter a valid email and try again. [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. [171] The Sounders announced their appointment of Craig Waibel as the club's new general manager and Chief Soccer Officer on November 30. We love our Starfire location, but we are very close to deploying some resources for the long haul and we want to get it right., While Hanauer said the team is happy with the relationship with CenturyLink Field, there are some areas for improvement, and he hopes this new ownership group and better communication with the Washington State Public Stadium Authority can lead to improvements which will help the Sounders going forward. I heard something about $58.5 million being exchanged. [8] In the end, Seattle was not among the cities chosen to establish a team during the first season of MLS. [126] Seattle lost 20 to Toronto, who clinched the first domestic treble in MLS history. If Hanauer really increased his holdings by 16 percent which would give him a true majority this offering would have placed the Sounders value at about $360 million. 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 Beyond the money, though, Im genuinely excited at the prospect of having owners who are as invested in this team and the community as the fans are. It depends on how you look at it. Avg. [220] The largest attendance during the pandemic era came during a doubleheader with OL Reign against their respective Portland opponents in August 2021, which drew 45,737 people for the MLS fixture. [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. Teams throughout our league have challenges with scheduling at times and were no different. Russell Wilson and Ciara have been added to the MLS Seattle Sounders ownership group, This is the QB's first stake in a sports ownership @brgridiron Russell and Ciara also created their own. 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. While the Sounders may not suddenly have a lot more money, the new owners bring a host of new ideas and connections. See which MLS players are injured today and get the latest MLS Soccer injury news with our injury report for every team in the league. They advanced to the round of 16, where they lost 41 to Los Angeles FC. Sounders FC won both times and new attendance records were set each year it was hosted at CenturyLink Field. Braudilio Rodrigues joins Defiance after putting up rather ridiculous numbers in NCAA DII. [260], Brian Schmetzer is the Sounders' current head coach. 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 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. [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. Seattle Mariners legend Ken Griffey Jr. is joining the team's ownership group. [37] They finished the season with 14 wins, 10 losses, and 6 ties. Are Macklemore and Russell Wilson the new Sounders owners? Former Microsoft executive Terry Myerson contacted Hanauer to see what he could do about strengthening local ownership ties. 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, Everything you needed to know about changes to Sounders ownership. [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. [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. ", "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. [13] However, when Seattle was passed over again in 2006, Hanauer announced that he would not be able to secure an expansion team without the help of more investors willing to cover the increasing MLS franchise fees which had grown beyond $10million. Seattle Sounders Portland Timbers . Terry was intent on keeping the Sounders almost exclusively locally owned, I felt the same way and Joe felt the same way as well. [211] The team's original business plan expected only 12,000 tickets per game. All right, level with me Is this change good? [88] Marco Pappa, an experienced MLS player and Guatemalan international, was added to the team. [279] In 2019, the club announced that they would become carbon neutral by reducing emissions and purchasing offsets. 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 . [170], On November 22, 2022, Lagerwey departed the club after a seven-year tenure to assume the role of President and CEO at Atlanta United FC. ", "Sounders hire talent firm to help in search for naming-rights partner", "Sounders, Reign ink new jersey sponsorship deals with Seattle-based online retailer Zulily", "Seattle Sounders jerseys to be sponsored by online retailer Zulily", "Sounders FC announces WaFd Bank as jersey sleeve patch partner for 2020 season", "Sounders FC and the Puyallup Tribe of Indians' Emerald Queen Casino announce new multi-year partnership between the Rave Green and iconic Coast Salish people", "Sounders announce partnership with Providence Swedish. [224] If an MLS rule change requires natural grass playing surfaces, the field will be permanently replaced with natural grass. [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. Former USL Sounders coach and assistant coach Brian Schmetzer took over as head coach in July 2016 after the departure of Sigi Schmid. [228] Plans for a new training facility, named the Sounders FC Center at Longacres, were announced in February 2022. [207] For Sounders matches, the field was called "The Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field" as part of the sponsorship deal with Microsoft from 2009 to 2018. LA would go on to win the MLS Cup. [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. That doesnt seem to be of particular concern, either. [115] The Sounders advanced from the Knockout Round of the playoffs through a 10 win over Sporting Kansas City, and beat FC Dallas 42 on aggregate to return to the Conference Final. In the playoffs, the Sounders were eliminated in the conference semifinals by the Los Angeles Galaxy on a 31 aggregate score. 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. And in May of 2013 a new ownership group paid $100 million just as. The Sounders became the first MLS club to win the CONCACAF Champions League with their 52 aggregate victory. [73] The Sounders continued their five-year streak of setting a new MLS average attendance record, reaching 44,038 in 2013. While there are new people signing the checks, Hanauer clarified that this ownership change does not mean there will be necessarily be an infusion of cash to the team. [207][226], The team's training facilities and offices are located at the Starfire Sports Complex in nearby Tukwila. [281] The team, initially named Seattle Sounders FC 2 (S2), began play at the Starfire Sports Complex in 2015, under the management of former assistant coach Ezra Hendrickson. Along with several organized groups, a 53-member marching band called "Sound Wave" supports the club at each home match. Beyond that, I was assured that the combined wealth of this group far surpasses Roths, so concerns about the team being under-capitalized are probably unfounded. [198] In 2021, the Sounders announced a multi-year partnership with the Puyallup Tribe of Indians to sponsor the right sleeve on kits, with the Emerald Queen Casino on primary kits and the tribe's emblem on secondary kits. In 2015, Hanauer and Roth essentially swapped their stakes, making Hanauer the new majority owner among the group. In the Champions League, Seattle progressed through the preliminary round, beating Isidro Metapn 21 on aggregate, but was eliminated in the group stage. Speaking of stadiums, was there really anything to the possibility that new owners might try to move the team? [192] The jersey has been modified several times to include promotions for Xbox games, including Halo 5 and Gears of War 4. [162] Seattle then faced Club Len in a rematch of the Leagues Cup Final, winning 30 at home in the first leg and drawing 11 in the second leg to advance to the semifinals. But even when Roth was the majority owner, he never wrote checks for more than his 35 percent ownership share and Hanauer has always been the guy making the big day-to-day business decisions. [291] This team would field former academy players during their summers off from university teams. The station also airs a weekly show dedicated to the Sounders on Tuesdays. 1. [49] Despite setbacks and a slow start to the season (the club won just 3 of its first 10 matches), the Sounders went on to finish the season with the second-best record in the league at 18 wins, 9 draws, 7 losses, and qualified for the playoffs for a third consecutive year. 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). [241] The trophy is exchanged by the three teams' supporters groups and is based on the results of certain regular season matches. Drew Carey, Seattle Sounders (initially bought 7.5%) Photo by Tom Hauck/Getty Images. . [105] Lagerwey also traded Marco Pappa and Lamar Neagle to other clubs in the offseason. The ensuing penalty shootout took 11 rounds and was won 109 by San Jose. But beyond the status that comes with fancy training grounds, there are both the hard and soft benefits. Carey has increased his investment in the team as well, according to Hanauer. Alejandro Bedoya. [6], In a June 14, 1994, announcement, Seattle was not included among the first seven cities to be awarded an MLS team. The Seattle Sounders missed the MLS . [160], The team qualified for the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League as the best-performing MLS club without their own berth, replacing the slot reserved for the cancelled U.S. Open Cup. [70][71] The Sounders began the 2013 season with the knockout round of the 201213 Champions League, facing Mexican club Tigres UANL in the quarterfinals. That was important to me and it was important to the league. [51] In the MLS playoffs, Seattle lost its Western Conference semifinal series 32 on aggregate to Real Salt Lake. Manager Brian Schmetzer switched to a 352 formation that led to only eight conceded goals during the streak. [255] Roth departed the club's ownership group in 2019. 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. They qualified for the playoffs but were eliminated in the first round by Real Salt Lake in a penalty shootout. The Sounders also operate a players' academy and the lower-division Tacoma Defiance, which have produced homegrown players, including forward Jordan Morris and defender DeAndre Yedlin. The Seattle Sounders made plenty of headlines Tuesday morning, with the announcement that 11 new families have joined the club's ownership group. [163] The team played MLS Cup 2021 champions New York City FC in the semifinals, winning 31 at home in the first leg and drawing 11 in the second leg to advance 42 on aggregate. [236][237], Besides the Alliance, there are currently four recognized, independent supporters groups for the Sounders. [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. [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. [167] The club resumed league play, where they had fallen to 13th place in the Western Conference, and used rotated lineups to balance a congested schedule; by early July, they had improved to fourth in the West. By 2000, MLS was moving away from league-operated teams to investor-operated teams, so wealthy individuals would need to step forward for Seattle to obtain an MLS expansion team. As the majority owner, Hanauer was clear that the buck will stop with him. [171][172] Prior to his appointment, Waibel was serving as the club's technical director, having replaced former MLS player and Everett native Chris Henderson in January 2021; Henderson had served in the role from January 24, 2009, until he left the club to join Inter Miami CF. 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. [4] Cities seeking consideration for an inaugural MLS team were also expected to secure 10,000 assurances from fans for season tickets. Last year, renderings apparently commissioned by the Sounders even leaked. [303] In 2020, the team switched its streaming rights to Amazon Prime Video. Odds & lines subject to change. News of Roths decision to step back meant that other interested groups from outside the area were looking to pursue the Sounders, which could have led to an uncertain future. [66], During the 2013 preseason, the Sounders signed their first homegrown player, right back DeAndre Yedlin,[67] veteran defender Djimi Traor,[68] and forward Obafemi Martins, who paid his release clause to his Spanish club. When the Sounders moved into Starfire ahead of the 2009 season, it was among the best training facilities in MLS. In the new estimates, about 81% of Seattle households owned at least one vehicle in 2018 that's the lowest rate since the 1980s. No. Hanauer said. The biggest share is still owned by Hanauer, who actually increased his holdings by buying some of Roths portion. Feb. 27, 2023 Updated Mon., Feb. 27, 2023 at 12:47 p.m.. A Tesla store in Colma, California, this month. [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. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2016 with the third-highest vote total in history at 99.3 percent. We want to make sure that if we invest for the next 20 or 30 or 50 years, were in the right location. [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. MLS has 24 participating teams spread across the US and. 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