So with the announcement of the season-ticket capping came the news that the season-ticket package is once again 18 games, meaning three big friendlies are part of the deal.

One won't be the MLS Cup. And none will be any CONCACAF Champions League games, as those will be played at Starfire unless the team advances deep into the tournament, and then the site will be revisited.

"That'll be just like the U.S. Open Cup," VP Gary Wright said. "Should we play in a Champions League final and its a home game, that would be a little different."

For the three friendlies, Qwest will likely be opened up at all levels just as it was for Barcelona and Chelsea. Wright said that as soon as the team has contracts in hand, those friendlies will be announced. That will be after the MLS regular-season schedule is released early next month.

"We're working on some big ones again," Wright said. "We feel good about it. One of the tough things, we've got lots of teams that want to come and play here. It's being able to fit them all in the same little [scheduling] window, because all of the European teams and a lot of the other clubs around the world, their training camp is July and that fits perfect for them."

The Sounders also have to consider the World Cup schedule in booking friendlies. Last year, Chelsea came at the start of its training camp, and Barcelona was here just before it started its regular season.

"I don't think we can fit all three of our friendlies [in July-early August]." Wright said. "We're going to have to take another window and find a team from like, another part of the world then Europe, to come play in October or May or somewhere that fits in their calendar."

Hmmm...so let the speculation begin. Everton had a glorious time here last summer before the MLS All-Star Game. But it seems to me that Sounders FC is looking above a team of even that caliber. And a Latin American team, especially one from Mexico like a Club America, could go over much better than the last time CA came here (I was there, plenty of seats available).

Mexico's Clausura season ends at the end of April.

It's worth wondering if something could be worked out with a big name club in Argentina, since Sounders FC fostered good relations there by going to South America last season. How about Boca Juniors or River Plate here?

It's clear Sounders FC has the world's attention. Now we just have to see what "big ones" are willing to come out here.