Sounders - A debate on franchise naming (Merged)

[sussexcentralsoccer]

Just wondering will the Sounders move up to MLS so to speak or will a whole new franchise be created? If this is the case will Sounders fans stay with the USL team or will they jump ship to MLS side?

[sounderfan]

The fate of the Seattle Sounders and Seattle MLS are connected...

but rumors suggest not in the way that has recently been stated.

If Seattle are awarded an MLS franchise for 2009 then the USL-1 Seattle Sounders will fold.

This was hinted at by USL-1 VP Tim Holt who said on the Final broadcast that Seattle are 'up in the air' about 2008 until they know about MLS.

Next, there is a strong rumor that a "name the team" contest will kick off after the MLS announcement.

So while the new MLS club could be named Sounders, it would be a completely new organization and not held-over in anyway from a 2007 USL-1 side, which all indications are has just played its (glorious) final match.

Finally, regarding the guy who holds the fate of the Seattle Sounders in his hands, an investment colleague blogged this today about Adrian Hanauer:

http://www.kellysmith.com/inspiration/congrats-sounders/

The Seattle Sounders have won their fourth USL soccer championship on Saturday night. The Sounders now have the most titles in USL-1 history. What a fitting way to end the season as Adrian prepares to bring a major league soccer team to Seattle in 2009.

[flippin269]

The fate of the Seattle Sounders and Seattle MLS are connected...

but rumors suggest not in the way that has recently been stated.

If Seattle are awarded an MLS franchise for 2009 then the USL-1 Seattle Sounders will fold.

This was hinted at by USL-1 VP Tim Holt who said on the Final broadcast that Seattle are 'up in the air' about 2008 until they know about MLS.

Next, there is a strong rumor that a "name the team" contest will kick off after the MLS announcement.

So while the new MLS club could be named Sounders, it would be a completely new organization and not held-over in anyway from a 2008 USL-1 side, which all indications are has just played its (glorious) final match.

Finally, regarding the guy who holds the fate of the Seattle Sounders in his hands, an investment colleague blogged this today about Adrian Hanauer:

http://www.kellysmith.com/inspiration/congrats-sounders/

The Seattle Sounders have won their fourth USL soccer championship on Saturday night. The Sounders now have the most titles in USL-1 history. What a fitting way to end the season as Adrian prepares to bring a major league soccer team to Seattle in 2009.

Don't get me wrong; it'd still be good for Seattle to get an MLS team finally. But it would suck if Seattle had to start from scratch, take away players from all the other team's talent pools, and put themselves in a position for a losing season their first team instead of bring in the team that won this year's USL championship, beat an MLS team 5-0 this year, and has a name that's been tied in to their sports heritage for over 30 years.

[sounderfan]

But it would suck if Seattle had to start from scratch, take away players from all the other team's talent pools, and put themselves in a position for a losing season their first team instead of bring in the team that won this year's USL championship, beat an MLS team 5-0 this year, and has a name that's been tied in to their sports heritage for over 30 years.

Haven't all MLS expansion teams 'started from scratch?'

Adrian Hanauer is one smart cookie. I think he already knows which personnel from the current Sounders he'd like to 'keep tabs on.'

[thanatos80]

Please read the umpteen other threads, that are already on here, about this subject. And Mods, please delete this thread, we have enough different ones on this subject already. Thank you.

[gregro]

I know what name I am going to be lobbying for... Wanna Guess? I will give you a hint... It is a nickname of a very storied NASL franchise and the most successful franchise in USL history. : )

[bright]

David, why do you insist on squeezing every little bit of "no more Sounders" juice out of every piece of dried fruit you come across?

- Paul

[thanatos80]

The fate of the Seattle Sounders and Seattle MLS are connected...

but rumors suggest not in the way that has recently been stated.

If Seattle are awarded an MLS franchise for 2009 then the USL-1 Seattle Sounders will fold.

This was hinted at by USL-1 VP Tim Holt who said on the Final broadcast that Seattle are 'up in the air' about 2008 until they know about MLS.

Next, there is a strong rumor that a "name the team" contest will kick off after the MLS announcement.

So while the new MLS club could be named Sounders, it would be a completely new organization and not held-over in anyway from a 2007 USL-1 side, which all indications are has just played its (glorious) final match.

Finally, regarding the guy who holds the fate of the Seattle Sounders in his hands, an investment colleague blogged this today about Adrian Hanauer:

http://www.kellysmith.com/inspiration/congrats-sounders/

The Seattle Sounders have won their fourth USL soccer championship on Saturday night. The Sounders now have the most titles in USL-1 history. What a fitting way to end the season as Adrian prepares to bring a major league soccer team to Seattle in 2009.When Bell interviewed Eylander, after the match, Chris said that most of the team would be returning next year, and that they want to make another run at the USOC, as well as defend their USL1 title.
Sounds to me like the "Road to MLS" scenario (from another forum), i.e. using the USL1 side as a stepping stone, on the pitch, for MLS in '09, may just be spot on.

[SounderMan]

Let's deal with one rumor at a time now. The USL guy seemed more than a little upset at the idea of Seattle not being a part of the USL. I think they are feeling the squeeze of their best markets being a target for MLS expansion. IF the "name the team" contest is on a consensus basis....... I think that Sounders will be a favorite. Not much any of us can do right now to prove or disprove any of the rumors.

[futbolitico87]

Seattle into MLS but heaven and earth and GOD in my opinion keep the history of the seattle soccer team orginisation of the sounders but also what do you guys think about a name change from sounders to Emerald City? before you get mad at me, in history one such team that changed name was Manchester United, they were called Newton Heath L&YR F.C. but check at Wikipedia.org at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man_U in the Early years (1878-1945) topic read it from beginning to end.

keep the colors there unique and not found commonly. and maybe the team can have a premier team that plays in MLS and the other in the USL division to let young players get a shot at the MLS level. the Seattle soccer orginisation is too valuable to be replaced and the colors too. But its up to the organizers but this blog can help prevent a fold and a refranchise or replacement of the original.

:cool:

[Goodsport]

Haven't all MLS expansion teams 'started from scratch?'

Not the 2006 Houston Dynamo (yup, officially an expansion team).


-G

[Goodsport]

I know what name I am going to be lobbying for... Wanna Guess? I will give you a hint... It is a nickname of a very storied NASL franchise and the most successful franchise in USL history. : )

Me too. :)

Do not be afraid to let the Seattle MLS ownership group know that you and many others want the Seattle Sounders team-name intact! It's kept another team-name appropriately intact (http://www.metroactive.com/metro/06.06.07/fly-0723.html), and it can for the Seattle Sounders as well.


-G

[sounderfan]

David, why do you insist on squeezing every little bit of "no more Sounders" juice out of every piece of dried fruit you come across?

- Paul

Ask me that again in just under two weeks.

[sounderfan]

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/soccer/2003915205_sounders01.html

Seattle Times: Sounders may have played last game

[radfordbg]

I'm not from Seattle or anything so I don't really know but...

Why not call the MLS side the Sounders, Keep the USL team and call them something like Seattle Sounders 2. That's the way it happens in Europe right?

You would have a devlopmental squad built right in with the USL team and fans could always go down to watch the second division team/reserves play all of the old USL rivals.

Is that crazy?

[sounderfan]

I'm not from Seattle or anything so I don't really know but...

Why not call the MLS side the Sounders, Keep the USL team and call them something like Seattle Sounders 2. That's the way it happens in Europe right?

You would have a devlopmental squad built right in with the USL team and fans could always go down to watch the second division team/reserves play all of the old USL rivals.

Is that crazy?

You can run an MLS reserve squad for less money than that.

[Sport Billy]

I won't chime in on naming the team - Seattlelites should do that.

My question concerns the players of the USL Sounders.

With SJ, SEA, and STL and/or Philly joining the league, what happens to the players?

Do they all move to the Seattle MLS?
Do they all become part of some expansion draft?
Does Seattle MLS get their choice of Seattle USL AND then get to participate in expansion draft?


Any one have any idea how this will work?

[rurik]

I won't chime in on naming the team - Seattlelites should do that.

My question concerns the players of the USL Sounders.

With SJ, SEA, and STL and/or Philly joining the league, what happens to the players?

Do they all move to the Seattle MLS?
Do they all become part of some expansion draft?
Does Seattle MLS get their choice of Seattle USL AND then get to participate in expansion draft?


Any one have any idea how this will work?


This is my concern exactly!

I really don't understand the year "down-time". Why not push for a next MLS season debut for Seattle MLS? Personally I would like to see a number of current Sounders "promoted" to an MLS side (Eylander, LeToux...), but if there is a year lapse what are they going to do? Are they going to get jobs waiting tables while Seattle MLS sorts things out? You can't blame any of them if they move on and sign contracts elsewhere; the guys have to make a living, and I think there should be a number of clubs knocking on the doors of not a few of our current players to sign them.

So, waiting a year, we might be looking at having to build a team from scratch, which would be a shame IMO.:mad:

[Lendog]

Sometimes I think the "name the team" sites are up just to see what kind of web traffic the site gets so they can go to sponsers and show that the team has interest in the local area.

[radfordbg]

You can run an MLS reserve squad for less money than that.
I see your point.

But, it really would be a shame to kill the Sounders name and replace it with some new team name that has no actual ties to the community there.

Also, the "name the team" idea (that I believe was posted in the rumors thread) sounds like a fantastic idea.

Either way, I'm glad to hear that Seattle is getting an MLS team even if it hasn't been announced yet.