An insight from Seattle-based U's director Paul Barry
On November 12th 2007, MLS announced that an MLS franchise had been awarded to Seattle, with its first season being 2009.
The ownership group consists of three major parties. First Joe Roth, a Hollywood movie executive. Next "First and Goal" the ownership entity of the Seattle Seahawks with Paul Allen as its head. Next, the Hanauer family, a well known Seattle family with numerous business connections to the community, headed by (Cambridge United director) Adrian Hanauer who has experienced professional soccer success with the Sounders, the tier below MLS in the States.
The initial plan for the team is that the Seahawks organization will manage the stadium, ticket sales, sponsorship sales and game day operations. Joe Roth will provide high level marketing expertise with his wide-ranging business connections, not least with most movie stars in Hollywood. Adrian Hanauer will manage the football side of the business, acting in a role similar to Director of Football.
The team will play in Qwest field, a modern 67,000 capacity stadium that was purpose built for two sports, American football and soccer. For soccer, the stadium will use its lower bowl with a capacity of 25,000.
So what about the Sounders? They are going to defend their title for 2008 in the USL. Then their future is in doubt as a second tier team could not expect to compete in the same market as an MLS franchise. It is expected that they shall close, with the players being eligible to tryout for other USL teams or for the expansion Seattle MLS team.
The team has no name yet. The ownership group is taking name suggestions for the team and considering even having an online poll to name the team.
Who will play for the team? With an expansion team, the formula is usually as follows. Existing MLS teams get to protect 12 of the current roster of players that are under contract. The rest of their players are then available in an expansion draft for new teams. Secondly, college (ie university) players are available in the same draft. Third, players can be brought in from overseas.
Is there a demand for MLS in Seattle? Going back 30 years when the first professional leagues were tried, the old Sounders used to get an average gate of 25,000. That league eventually folded 25 years ago. The Seattle general area has a population of 2.5million and soccer is the number one participatory sport.
It currently has three main professional teams. The Seattle Seahawks, the American football that sell out every game (OK, that is just eight games per year!). The Seattle Mariners (baseball) draw an average of 30,000 per game with 81 home games a year. The Seattle Sonics, the basketball franchise, draw 15,000 per game in a 41 home game season, but are leaving town for Oklahoma City in the next three years.
So what did the franchise cost? It is rumoured that the price for a franchise is $30-40million. Those funds get distributed to the existing teams. Also, the demand for new teams is high with further rumours that up to 12 different cities are trying to get franchises. Is this the Beckham effect? Personally I do not think so. Soccer is slowly and inexorably becoming a major professional sport in the USA, challenging the four existing ones. The TV viewership increases every season.
In its first two weeks, the new franchise has sold over 8,000 season tickets for 2009 - the best ever start for a new franchise. That result alone portends well for the future of soccer in Seattle.
Paul Barry
Director and Shareholder Cambridge United FC
Co-owner Seattle Sounders
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