In Seattle, soccer has become the star.
In their first season, the Sounders have set an MLS record for attendance, drawing an average of 30,204 fans a game in a league that averages 15,764 among its 15 teams. Not to mention, the league average is slightly down from last season’s 16,460. Across the street, at Safeco Field, the Mariners are drawing an average of 28,500 fans.
Members of the Sounders front office say they don’t have a magic formula, but something is happening in the Northwest.
MLS commissioner Don Garber calls the Sounders’ success a “perfect storm’’ based on events that led to the team’s existence. From an ownership group that includes Hollywood connections to a core group of fans that supported the Sounders at various levels to the loss of the NBA’s SuperSonics, anything was possible.
All of it created “perhaps the most successful launch of a sports team in US history,’’ Garber said. “It’s hard to imagine a league that has had a team be as successful as this was.’’
Tonight, the Revolution will get their first look at the phenomenon. They even sent their front office staff to meet with members of the Sounders and observe the operation this week.
All the surveys and studies suggested reasons for optimism, but no one was prepared for this type of success.
“You just walk around downtown and you’re going to see Sounders [memorabilia] on people, you’re going to see signs in bars, and it just has the feeling of a true professional sports franchise, and you don’t have that in every MLS city,’’ Sounders goalkeeper Kasey Keller said. “There are many factors that go into that, from the ownership group, to the relationship with the Seahawks, to the professionalism of the stadium and training facility. It’s a whole concept, and a lot of pieces have fallen into place to make that happen.’’
The stars align
Getting people out of their homes is what Hollywood producer Joe Roth does. And as an avid soccer fan, he wanted to take that skill to a professional team. Roth founded Revolution Studios, which released films such as “Black Hawk Down,’’ “Anger Management,’’ “America’s Sweethearts,’’ and “Christmas with the Kranks.’’
