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Can't Miss It: Weekend Edition Nov 20-22
Dear Seattlest,
You never pay any attention to the Sounders until you start getting all excited about the World Cup and accidentally come across an interview with their GM that seems to indicate that they're leaving the city. When was the last time you went to a game? What gives?
-Pissed off soccer fan
Dear Pissed off dork,
You're entirely correct. We hereby vow to spend more time on the Sounders even when the World Cup isn't approaching and even when we don't stumble on an interview with their GM. In the meantime, please enjoy this interview with their GM.
And we haven't been to a game at Qwest field.
-Seattlest
6. Fans are upset that it seems the Sounders could be leaving Seattle "without even trying" to make it work. What can you say to them?Hanauer: I and my partners have invested millions of dollars trying to make the Seattle market work. First, we played at Memorial Stadium, and while USL was the top division, there was decent success, although, the club still lost more money than it does currently. Then, when we surveyed our fans, they told us that we should move to Qwest, so we did. That has been a better home than Memorial, but obviously there are drawbacks there, as well. We have constantly delivered winning teams, that are actively involved in the community. We have busted our asses to try to get the media to pay attention to the team and the sport. We have made progress in some areas, and have backslided in others. I was born and raised in Seattle, attending every Sounder game from 1974-1983. I love this franchise and would love to see it successful in Seattle. There is still a possibility that that can happen, but I have to look at other alternatives as I and my investors get antsy about losing more millions of dollars.
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You mean grown ups actually play soccer? You guys are sure were not talking about little league elementary school soccer teams right?
The blame for this can be laid at the feet of Doug Logan and MLS. It was there promise of a MLS team that got Qwest Field past the voters, but when it came time to pay up it was "Sorry, took too long, the paradigm has changed." Meanwhile soccer fans in the Northwest have been waiting for MLS and have passed over the Sounders figuring they didn't want to get attached to a lower-level team when the real deal was coming.
Seattle's a big-league town, and people--even big soccer fans--aren't going to support a minor league team.
The MLS faces the same problem. It's viewed as a minor soccer league (compared to English Premier League, Italian Serie A, etc) and big soccer fans won't pay to watch an inferior product.
The future of soccer in the US is towns like Rochester, Columbus, Portland that don't have all the other major sports. The Sounders simply can't compete with the Seahawks, Sonics, Mariners, and Huskies.
Tell management to OPEN SOME CONSESSION STANDS or ADD MORE WORKERS THERE so it doesn't take 25 minutes to get a soda during a Sounders Game. Sheesh. I'm not going back.
If you're a true fan, you support your local team regardless of whether it's in the top division or not.
All the Euro-poseurs and glory hunters who only "support" (and I use that term loosely) whatever mega-side is winning European trophies in a given year don't know what real support is. Get off your barstools and support your local team, and support professional soccer in this country.
MLS isn't going to come here until a smaller soccer-specific stadium is built, and with all the other sports palaces that we're still paying off, that ain't gonna happen. USL-1 level is just fine, so stop whining and come on out to see some real rivalries (P*rtland and Vancouver).
Eric is right about the need for a soccer specific stadium. The Sounders will struggle until they have a 10,000-seat venue with real grass and beer sales.
But I do love my Sounders and would miss them dearly if they were to leave. I've followed players from the college days at UW and SU through long careers with the Sounders. Seen talented international players come and go. I've seen players graduate to MLS -- even seen a couple of players who are on the US roster for the World Cup. And I've watched more championship seasons in the last 12 years than the rest of Seattle's sports teams combined. So, why no interest among the general population?
I've got lots of theories on that. I could go on and on about soccer in Seattle and the US.
p.s. The Sounders play Vancouver this Saturday and Portland next Friday in their I-5 rivalry. The supporters of the teams call it the Cascade Cup or something. I call it a yellow card fest!
Cascadia Cup... and yeah, its gonna look like a Hockey match out there (those prats from Wankover and Portscum are thugs...)
I call it...FOUR POINTS! Sounders take the weekend from Wankhoover with a 2-2 draw and a 1-0 win!