Soccer Finds Its Wings in Seattle
The MLS season kicks off facing some heavy competition as the first game will be played Thursday night after the opening day of the NCAA tournament. It may be hard for soccer to woo away fans on one of biggest days in the sports world in America, but fans maybe tired of watching basketballs all day and might enjoy tuning into a different athletic contest at night. It so happens that the MLS's best story heading into the 2009 season will be on display and it doesn't even involve David Beckham.The Seattle Sounders have accomplished an unthinkable feat in this country. The organization has yet to play a game in its history and already is the #2 sports team in a major U.S. market. With the void left by the departure of the NBA's Supersonics , Sounders FC has stepped in as the second team to the Seahawks in Seattle. The Sounders have already sold more than 20,000 season tickets, high above the majority of the current MLS teams.
The soccer club is partly owned by Paul Allen who also owns the Seahawks and thePortland Trailblazers. The Sounders will also share the Seahawks' Qwest Field. Buisnessmen Adrian Hauner, Hollywood executive Joe Roth, Head coach Sigi Schmid, and comedian Drew Carey all have stock in the club. Qwest Field will be set up for soccer games as The XBOX Pitch at Qwest field providing a more intimate experience than simply playing in a half empty football stadium.
To help with the struggles any expansion team faces the Sounders splashed on signing former Swedish star Freddie Ljungberg who played for years at one of the finest teams in Europe, Arsenal, of the English Premier League. The suits in Seattle also brought home American goalie Kasey Keller back from Europe where he had a stellar 17 year career abroad. Keller played in two World Cups and will provide leadership in defense for the Sounders.
The game which will be aired at 9 P.M. ET on ESPN2 will make for wonderful television as the fans of Seattle will have a chance to begin a new sports era in their city. The excitement over the club in Seattle might be MLS's biggest success to date and a big step forward for the league battling for its place within mainstream American sports.
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