Sounders
Sounders return to Seahawks Stadium

By Michael Chin
Seattle Times staff

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The Seattle Sounders will return to Seahawks Stadium next season, the team announced yesterday, and the one-year contract includes annual options that could keep the team there through the 2006 season.

"Almost every single aspect of Seahawks Stadium is fantastic for the Sounders and playing soccer," Sounders general manager Adrian Hanauer said. "When you added up all the positives, Seahawks Stadium was a pretty easy decision."

The Sounders, who won the A-League's Pacific Division the past two seasons, had considered returning to Memorial Stadium or moving to the new Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila. Either would have provided a more economical and intimate setting than the 67,000-seat Seahawks Stadium, but staying put was always the preferred choice.

"For us, it wasn't a negotiating tactic, although it could've come across that way," said Hanauer, whose team will celebrate its 30th anniversary next season. "We're still trying to find ways to survive and thrive, and we seriously had to look at all options.

"The Seahawks were willing to get creative with us to help us save a few bucks in rent, but more importantly, to partner with us on helping us drive the revenue. They made a commitment to help us build the revenue base."

Hanauer wouldn't be specific, except to say it was "a combination of cutting prices, suite sales, ticket sales, sponsorships, group ticket sales."

Another factor in remaining at Seahawks Stadium is the prospect of Major League Soccer, Hanauer said. Seattle is among the cities mentioned for possible MLS expansion. Hanauer cited the New England Revolution's partnership with the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., as a successful MLS model in a large stadium, and believes the same thing can happen in Seattle.

"We are more enthusiastic about the prospects of MLS in Seattle, and we think that with partnership with the Seahawks, MLS could be very successful in Seattle at Seahawks Stadium," Hanauer said.

In their first full season at Seahawks Stadium, the Sounders averaged 3,452.

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