Seattle Sounders FC (MLS)

[sounderfan]

Rather than keep starting lots of individual threads, I though I'd start this Seattle MLS SUPERTHREAD! Jump on in!


1/31/08:
Here's a very recent interview with Kasey Keller:
http://ussoccerplayers.com/exclusives/index.html?article_id=1039

"It’s an extremely attractive proposition. Hopefully at some stage it becomes a viable option, and coming from that area, it’s obviously something I’d find extremely interesting."

1/31/08:
Drew Carey is hysterical. Really.
http://www.socceramerica.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Articles.showArticleHomePage&art_aid=25359

"In Seattle, I don't think we'll need to mandate anything like drinking or scarves. It would be like requiring that everyone keep an umbrella handy in case it rains. Although, a pub inside the stadium is a great idea. I'll take it up with Paul Allen the next time we shoot darts together."

[Dragon]

Maybe Squash will "sticky it" for you :mrgreen:

[sounderfan]

Good-guy coach Jimmy Gabriel is itching to come back to Seattle and to coaching...

http://mlsinseattle.com/article.aspx?id=888



"I’ve been in a lot of cities in my time, but Pat and I really love Seattle. I had a couple years of relaxing, but now I want to get back and do some work. I want to take a couple teams and get back into coaching. I’d never retired before and didn’t know what it would be like. I’m always busy but at the same time I just missed being involved in soccer on a day-to-day basis. In Seattle I can keep my mind focused on it."[/i]

[sounderfan]

Talk about continual *free* publicity for Seattle. Drew is bringing much more to the table than just his investment capital.

1/31/08:
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/jan/31/no-writers-no-problem/

"I’m a big soccer fan and Seattle’s a really good market for professional soccer. They’re going to use the lower half of the bowl of Qwest Stadium, where the Seahawks play. They’ll cover up the top half and use the lower half. It was built for both football and soccer ... The stadium seats 24,500. We have commitments for over 11,000 season tickets. Soccer is huge in Seattle. I just don’t think I can go wrong."

[sounderfan]

Adrian Hanauer hints today (2/1/08) that Seattle's 2008 Sounders will see some overseas talent that could also stick around for MLS in 2009...

http://goalseattle1.proboards101.com/index.cgi?board=sounders&action=display&thread=1200516955&page=1#1201893182

[sounderfan]

The Seattle MLS to-do list:

http://mlsinseattle.com/article.aspx?id=890

[sounderfan]

http://groups.myspace.com/MLSINSEATTLE

Join. I did!  :mrgreen:

[sounderfan]

and on FaceBook...

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7504094007

[sounderfan]

http://www.mlsinseattle.com/Article.aspx?id=914

As general manager, Adrian Hanauer has the task of building MLS Seattle’s team from square one. But because Hanauer is also an adept poker player, he’s not going to give away much information before he makes his move.

No doubt, Hanauer and technical director Chris Henderson are already crafting a plan of how to construct that first roster, at least in theory. So, questions could be posed and perhaps some cryptic answers received.

Then again, maybe those same questions could be answered in straighttalk by a couple of guys with ties to Seattle. Not just any guys, but two linchpins to arguably the most successful MLS franchise in existence.

Houston’s Brian Ching and Craig Waibel cut their teeth with the Sounders and have since gone on to win a total of four MLS titles, including back-to-back cups for the Dynamo. Bottom line: They know what works and what doesn’t.

So, what would they be thinking if they were in Hanauer’s boots?

“It’s difficult to start a new franchise now,” admits Ching, the forward from Gonzaga who has since established himself with the national team. “It’s difficult in this league to get good players on your team right away.”

The article goes on to talk with Brian Ching and Craig Waibel about the challenges faced in building an MLS team.

[sounderfan]

Are you an MLS fan in the South Sound?

Join this Ning group page!

http://pugetscrew.ning.com/

[sounderfan]

A guest blogger over at GOALSeattle.com talks about MLS and the new 'Concacaf Champions Cup.'

http://goalseattle.blogspot.com/2008/02/seattle-soccer-fans-picture-this.html

[sounderfan]

Qwest Field is getting new Field Turf this spring...

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2008/02/04/daily35.html

The stadium authority and First & Goal have been in discussions for months about replacing the playing surface, which has faded and become impacted, raising concerns that it could lead to more on-field injuries. But the scheduled was bumped to take advantage of a window between now and April to complete the six-week job of pulling out the old surface, pouring a new rubber foundation and installing the new synthetic playing surface.

Seahawks officials say the hope to have the job done in time for the Dalai Lama's event at Qwest Field, scheduled for April 12.

FieldTurf won out over Polytan GmbH, a German maker of synthetic playing surfaces

[sounderfan]

http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/story/281015.html



“Seattle was to be able to create in Qwest Field a number of the advantages that we were able to achieve in soccer-specific stadiums,” MLS president Mark Abbott said. “Specifically, … when the public voted to help fund the stadium, soccer was very much included in the planning. Secondly, the team has a plan for downsizing the venue so that we can try to create an intimate atmosphere in that lower bowl. … I think we had a unique opportunity in Seattle that doesn’t present itself in other markets that we’re in.”

[sounderfan]

More from TD Chris Henderson today:

http://mlsinseattle.com/article.aspx?id=932

We’re in the process of setting up a system where every single MLS game is going to be on our desk the next morning in DVD or DVR’d. USL games will be part of our scouting this year, so there are a lot of games to see and study.

We need to get a lot of background on all the new players who have come into the league, both the foreign players and the new draft picks. We want to go into 2009 knowing about these new players. And we want to build information not just about players in MLS but in world soccer, and that’s it’s good that the owners are into this as well. It will definitely help when we go look for our foreign players.

That’s something that really impresses me about our ownership group. The whole group is very into what’s going on in world soccer and MLS. They are into the sport, and which players are doing well. They are not just here for the business side; they’re in it for the soccer side, which is great.

[sounderfan]

www.MLSinSeattle.com continues its feature story focus.



This time the article is on Seattle's "All Nations Cup" experience.

http://mlsinseattle.com/article.aspx?id=940

When folks refer to Seattle as a world city, what are they talking about? Probably its port, its industry and businesses, many of which are far reaching?


Several years ago, Jessica Breznau saw Seattle as a world city for completely different reasons.


Soccer’s equivalent of a gym rat, Breznau is always looking for a game of pick-up in the park, and living in the city’s south end, there seemed to be a different language spoken on every lot.


“I would go out and play pick-up with the Laotian guys, then I’d go the valley and see Somali guys playing and then I’d go play with the Hispanic guys,” says the Edmonds native.



ANC site:

http://www.allnationscup.org/default.aspx

[toykar]

We go to ANC every summer.  DD picks a country and that is who we cheer on.  Last summer it was Ghana.

[sounderfan]

Team name with two weeks?

http://goalseattle.blogspot.com/2008/02/name-and-crest-in-next-two-weeks.html

[sounderfan]

I was given a March 2008 copy of Washington CEO Magazine which has a spread on Seattle MLS:

http://goalseattle.blogspot.com/2008/02/are-you-ready-for-some-futbol.html

Click the link at the bottom of the blog post to read the entire article.

Of note:

An actual photo of Paul Allen next to soccer people!

Sounders to Kitsap still possible, 'but lots of work ahead' according to Hanauer, who also addresses 'saying goodbye' to the club he's been running since 2002.

[sounderfan]

Direct link to scanned article:
http://goalseattle.com/MLS/seattle_mls_march_2008_washingto.htm

[sounderfan]

Now online:

http://www.washingtonceo.com/home/story-display/article/188/are-you-read.html

(Magazine website version of previously scanned story)



"Despite the costs involved, Roth says his goal is for the new team to at least break even if not run in the black in the first year. A big help to achieving that is inking a TV deal. All the existing teams have their matches shown on regional or, at times, national television, and Roth says the Seattle group is closing in on a deal with two different networks."

[sounderfan]

Kitsap Sounders? Yes and No...

http://goalseattle.blogspot.com/2008/02/kitsap-sounders-yes-and-no.html

[sounderfan]

I talked with reps. from http://www.d4soccer.org/ and http://www.westsoundfc.com last night.

They'll be hosting a new premier youth cup in Kitsap this summer.



They say talks are well underway to create a 'developmental pyramid' between WSYSA and Seattle MLS, along with an official relationship in regards to players.

The feeling is that local premier clubs like WP, ECFC, Crossfire, etc. would 'feed players' into a higher-than youth PDL club that was part of Seattle MLS. That club might then 'feed' players to a United Soccer Leagues-style U-23 PDL club (like Tacoma Tide are).

Yes, there is also talk of Seattle MLS rewarding player development at the highest levels with cash bonuses to premier clubs for providing talent.

Interesting times, indeed.

[sounderfan]

WYS hires Sawatzky for MLS youth program
 
FEDERAL WAY, WASHINGTON (Friday, February 22) – In partnership with the Seattle Sounders and the newly-formed Seattle Major League Soccer (MLS) team, Washington Youth Soccer has hired former Professional player and Sounders Assistant Coach, Darren Sawatzky as the Director of Youth Development, for the MLS/Washington Youth Soccer Camps and Academy Programs. Acting as the liaison between the organizations, Sawatzky will play a critical role in strengthening the local youth camp system while assisting with the development and identification of youth players for MLS Academy programs.
In this emerging position, Sawatzky’s initial focus will be to design and create youth modules and camps for Washington Youth Soccer in cooperation with the MLS Technical Director Chris Henderson. This combined effort will ensure that when these programs are introduced over the next few months, they are not only appropriate for the current youth soccer environment, but plan for future growth as well.

“With the MLS coming to town, it was our job as the leading youth soccer association to strengthen our player base and programs in an effort to support both the team and the future of soccer throughout the state,” stated Todd McGann, Washington Youth Soccer Executive Director. “We knew that we needed to make an immediate and positive impact on all levels of the game and hiring someone with Darren’s skills and experience will allow us to do just that.”

In alignment with the philosophical beliefs and practices of the MLS, Sawatzky’s hire re-enforces the great strides already being taken by Washington Youth Soccer to reach out to the state’s numerous diverse soccer communities. This continued outreach will provide training to an extensive number of local players, including many diverse populations, and will ultimately strengthen the overall player base for the MLS in the future and continue the commitment to Diversity in our soccer community that both of these organization share.

Prior to this new role, Sawatzky, a Federal Way native, has had an illustrious soccer career both on and off the pitch. Under the tutelage of the great Clive Charles, Sawatzky made his mark on three NCAA Tournaments at the University of Portland and earned an All-West Coast Conference (WCC) selection and WCC Scholar Award in 1992.

Propelled by his success at the collegiate level, Sawatzky then spent a decade in the professional ranks with the New England Revolution (MLS), the Dallas Burn (MLS), the Colorado Rapids (MLS), the Oregon Surge (USL), Leicester City (England), the Hershey Wildcats (USL) and the Portland Timbers (USL). His playing time also included four years with the Seattle Sounders where he became the Sounders second all-time leading goal scorer and Team MVP. In addition, Sawatzky received USL First Division First Team Honors and tied for third in the USL First Division scoring title before retiring in 2004. Three short years later as an Assistant Coach, Sawatzky helped lead the Seattle Sounders to a USL First Division Championship.

Over the past few years Sawatzky has also played a big part in local soccer community having worked as an assistant coach at the University of Washington, head coach at Thomas Jefferson High School (Federal Way) and as the Director of Coaching for the Highline Premier Football Club.

[sounderfan]

New story in today's SI:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/soccer_america/03/03/seattle.scenario/



So, honestly, how can a Seattle MLS franchise possibly fail?

There's a ridiculously rich, powerful and passionate ownership group, a modern downtown stadium designed to showcase the sport and a fabulous lease deal that virtually guarantees success, decades of soccer tradition in the city, and a tsunami of season tickets sold since the official announcement in mid-November. *

*=SI jinx, be gone!

[sounderfan]

SoccerSeattleStyle.com interviews Seattle MLS owner/GM Adrian Hanuer...
It's a three-part interview and well worth the reading:

http://soccerseattlestyle.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2&Itemid=2

"Yes, I feel good about where we are. On the business side we have had a lot of success selling season ticket deposits. We are one of the greatest success story in MLS history, maybe not quite Toronto yet. Toronto is the leader in the league in season tickets with about 16,000 and we want to beat that. Now, in fairness, we have sold season deposits and not yet season tickets. But we are highly confident that we’ll be able to convert people and that they’ll be even more excited and maybe we’ll sell even more season tickets and convince people to buy four instead of two.

We’re having very good discussions about local TV contracts. We’re having fantastic discussions with major local companies about partnering and sponsoring the organization. We’re having good success talking about suites at Quest Field. So from the business standpoint I think we’re on track.

From a brand standpoint I think we are also on track. We have had very good talks about what our brand should stand for and how that’s manifested in terms of name, color, shield designs, playing styles, type of character we look for in players and in employees and how that brand gets driven all the way through the organization. So, from that respect I feel that we are making progress."

[sounderfan]

We'll know what to call our MLS club...in April.

http://goalseattle.blogspot.com/2008/03/honoring-sounders-then-moving-on.html

[sounderfan]

We'll know what to call our MLS club...in April.

http://goalseattle.blogspot.com/2008/03/honoring-sounders-then-moving-on.html

So, "Seattle Sounders" appears to be out.

The latest rumors have the top candidate as being...

International Football Club of Seattle (Inter Seattle)

...and the team's main color being green, with white and light blue accents.

...there is also a possibility that the club may present 2 final names and let the fans vote sometime in April.

[Brat Jr]

We'll know what to call our MLS club...in April.

http://goalseattle.blogspot.com/2008/03/honoring-sounders-then-moving-on.html

So, "Seattle Sounders" appears to be out.

The latest rumors have the top candidate as being...

International Football Club of Seattle (Inter Seattle)

...and the team's main color being green, with white and light blue accents.

...there is also a possibility that the club may present 2 final names and let the fans vote sometime in April.

yuck!
I can just hear the chant now.... Go IFCS!
Gimme something easier to say!

[sounderfan]

yuck!
I can just hear the chant now.... Go IFCS!
Gimme something easier to say!

I already did:

Inter

[Brat Jr]

yuck!
I can just hear the chant now.... Go IFCS!
Gimme something easier to say!

I already did:

Inter

still yuck!   lol