Seattle gets Major League Soccer franchise

Major League Soccer is coming to Seattle in 2009.

Sources confirmed on Friday that the long-rumored announcement of an expansion franchise for the city will come early next week.

The new Seattle franchise will play at Qwest Field on Field Turf. The primary ownership group will consist of Seattle Sounders owner Adrian Hanauer, Hollywood mogul Joe Roth, and Seahawks' owner Paul Allen.

Seattle Sounders' officials confirmed today that a press conference would be held Tuesday in Seattle, but would give no further details. Sources said that MLS commissioner Don Garber will attend the press conference.

''I'm excited about a press conference on Tuesday,'' Hanauer said Friday. "There's been a lot of work going on behind scenes to get to the point of having a press conference."

Hanauer declined to discuss the topic of the press conference, but said, "I'm looking forward to it. I don't anticipate eggs and tomatoes being thrown.''

It was not immediately known if the new team will retain the Sounders' name, nor whether the old Sounders will continue to field a team in the United Soccer League's First Division.

Major League Soccer

The top professional soccer league in the U.S. and Canada with 13 franchises, to be expanded by one team (San Jose) in 2008 and two teams in 2009 (Seattle and potentially Philadelphia). With its first season in 1996, the schedule runs from April to November. Two franchises -- the Miami Fusion and the Tampa Bay Mutiny -- shut down in 2001.

Eastern Conference

Team, City, Stadium, Capacity
Chicago Fire, Bridgeview, Ill., Toyota Park, 20,000
Columbus Crew, Columbus, Ohio, Columbus Crew Stadium, 22,555
D.C. United, Washington, DC, RFK Stadium, 56,692
Kansas City Wizards, Kansas City, Mo, CommmunityAmerica Ballpark, 10,000
New England Revolution, Foxborough, Mass., Gilette Stadium, 68,756
New York Red Bulls, East Rutherford, N.J., Giants Stadium, 80,242
Toronto FC, Toronto, BMO Field, 20,000

Western Conference

Team, City, Stadium, Capacity
CD Chivas USA, Carson, Calif., The Home Depot Center, 27,000
Colorado Rapids, Commerce City, Colo., Dick's Sporting Goods Park, 18,000
FC Dallas, Frisco, Texas, Pizza Hut Park, 20,500
Houston Dynamo, Houston, Robertson Stadium, 32,000
LA Galaxy, Carson, Calif., The Home Depot Center, 27,000
Real Salt Lake, Salt Lake City, Rice-Eccles Stadium, 45,017
*San Jose, Santa, Clara, Calif., Buck Shaw Stadium, 12,000
**Seattle, Qwest Field, 67,000

*Expansion team, 2008 season
**Expansion team, 2009 season