And the New Seattle Name Is…

By: Laurie | April 7th, 2008

The official announcement on the name/colors/logo of the new Seattle MLS Expansion team was made today, and those of us who live in and around Seattle have been anxiously awaiting the results.

What was so new and unique about this process?

We were allowed to pick the name. I’m serious.

Well, technically, you were allowed to pick the name. Because I was in Europe during the voting and paying something like $10 trillion dollars per hour for internet access. Or at least that’s what it felt like given the exchange rate. So I somehow allowed this opportunity to pass without casting a vote.

Not that any of the possible options made my heart go pitter pat. The choices were:

Seattle Republic. (Ick.)
Seattle Alliance. (Eww.)
Seattle FC. (I guess I could tolerate this one. Especially given some of the rumors that have been floating around recently.)

There was also a strong write-in push to make them hold onto the USL team name, the Seattle Sounders. That I probably could have gotten behind. If I wouldn’t have had to pay $10 trillion dollars to do it.

But all of that is water under the bridge, because we have our answer. Guess what, folks?

We are now Seattle Sounders FC!!

Of all of the options out there, I’m thinking this one was the best.

~~Logo to follow as soon as I find it.~~ Logo, as tattooed on Drew Carey’s stomach, is on our brand spankin’ new Seattle Sounders FC Offside blog. Be sure to stop by and give Steve a warm Offside welcome. (Warning: Not for those with weak stomachs. And by that, I of course mean the tattoo pic. Not Steve. Who as far as I know hasn’t personally managed to turn anybody’s stomach. Yet.)

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-nickt.-

glad yous got the name you wanted but you'll get no more love once philly is in. that said it's a lot easier to hate d.c and new york and while i'm at it new england.
tenaciouslee

Thank goodness that 'Emerald City Greens' load of bollocks didn't come to fruition. I'm really excited to see the soccer-crazed army of local fans (one of which is me) get behind this club!
S.N.

It's a nice name!
fitz

To my knowledge, no one-off green shirts for the Revs. Red Sox, yes. Revs, no.
And I'm in L.A. Maybe I'll just prop an ear toward the sky and listen for the dueling chants ...
Lucas

$30 gets you a bus ticket to and from Portland for the game, fitz. Best I can do.

Revs jerseys welcomed, but anything green is preferred. (out of curiosity: Revs = Boston = Irish community = have the Revs ever done a one-off green shirt?)
fitz

Okay, okay ... easy ... just having fun with the rest of you. Lucas, if you can provide train fare I'll gladly watch a game at Qwest. Can I bring my Revs jersey?
Jon

Fitz, ever heard of the term "taking the piss?" Don't pull a muscle trying to pat yourself on the back.

In all seriousness, it's good that they're keeping the name. And the badge is fairly decent (no soccer ball on it... hooray!). Now if the organization could just get a decent MLS stadium and ditch the marching band idea, they'd be heading in the right direction.
Lucas

@fitz - if you have been to a sounders game at Qwest field you'll understand where Jon is coming from. Come out on May 10 and see what a real supporters group looks like.
fitz

Wow, Jon, I can't believe how rich the Sounders fan base is, considering all eight fans have made a deposit on 14,000 season tickets.
Laurie

Steve, it's a system quirk. When I was in Ireland last week it was telling me that all of the blog readers were too.

Either that or everyone was following me across Europe.
Steve

I cant understand why anyone would hate on our poor Seattle sports teams.

Yes, much respect to the ownership for following through with the team name vote. I cant wait to see the kits.

Good looks on the link Laurie.

I have a question. Does it just say that anyone who comment from outside the USA is from Chile or do only Chileans and Americans read this blog? Or is this only happening on my computer?
Abby

Awww, everyone hates us already. Cute!

I still don't particularly like the Sounders as a name (although I think it sounds better with the FC), but hey, it's what everyone wanted. So points to the ownership for doing it.
Jon

Congrats on not totally crapping the bed on this easy decision. What an achievement. For one day, the team's fans (all eight of them) can feel proud.

Fvck Seattle.
fitz

I know I already posted on here, but I want to expound on it. Regardless what you think of the name -- whether you think they should have moved forward, whether you have always thought Sounders was a dumb name -- the team promised the most popular choice would be the team name. And they delivered. They looked dumb for a few weeks, but ultimately they listened to their fans. Cheers to Seattle Sounders FC.
Dave's Football Blog

Move up
Move up
And join MLS
And you'll never win a game!
You'll nehhhhhhhver win a gaaaaaaame!

Sincerely,
Carolina Railhawks fans
Steve

I like it. Much better than the other options.

Pictures of the logo are here, tattooed on Drew Carey's chest.

seattle.theoffside.com
mele419

Bleh.
I strongly dislike seattle sounders.
Lucas

Good. Now I won't have to alter the tattoo I have on my ass that says "Go (x) Sounders!"
CSD

My vote DOES matter...when picking team names.
Ian Rose

Shane - I for one sorely hope that we someday have that "problem" in US soccer.
Laurie

Bob, I was counting on you for that one. Thank you for not letting me down.
Bob Kellett

They're flat, they're round, they flop on the ground, Seattle Flounders....
fitz

A team listening to its fans. What a concept.
Shane

In 20 some years when a promotion/relegation system is implemented, this will cause a problem. :P