Soccer
Seattle group plans for MLS in 2006

By José Miguel Romero
Seattle Times staff reporter

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Major League Soccer was set to officially name Salt Lake City as the recipient of an expansion franchise at a news conference this morning.

That means Seattle is out of the bidding for a team for 2005. But in a few weeks, Seattle could find itself at the top of the professional soccer league's list of expansion cities for 2006.

The ownership group fronted by Seattle Sounders general manager Adrian Hanauer has until the end of this month to make a payment — presumably $1 million — to MLS that would secure the rights to a future expansion franchise. The money would serve as a non-refundable deposit and would be applied toward the league's $10 million franchise fee.

Upon obtaining the franchise rights, Hanauer would have to decide on the future of the A-League Sounders. The league's team owners must commit to next season by Aug. 1.

Dave Checketts, the former Utah Jazz and New York Knicks president, paid MLS $1 million on behalf of the Salt Lake bid in May. Checketts' pledge that Salt Lake would be ready for a 2005 franchise and that he would build a soccer-specific stadium sent the city to the top of the MLS list of possible 2005 expansion sites, according to the Deseret News.

For now, Checketts' team will play in Rice-Eccles Stadium at the University of Utah.

In Seattle, Hanauer's group already has a facility, Qwest Field, that can support pro soccer.

If Hanauer's group decides not to have the Sounders play next season, it would be a clear signal that the group is fully committed to MLS. Or the Sounders could play in their final A-League season, in which case Hanauer would have to juggle multiple responsibilities by helping to run the Sounders while trying to build a fan base and operations for an MLS team in 2006.

"It will be a tough decision," Hanauer said yesterday.
 
It's apparent that Hanauer is still very committed to MLS in Seattle. And the fact that Salt Lake City, not Seattle, got a team for 2005, works with his plans.

"We are focused on 2006, and we have been for the last couple of weeks," Hanauer said. "We obviously have been in close contact with MLS. All along, our preference would be to do 2006, and we are continuing down that path."

The 10-team MLS seeks to expand by two more teams in 2006 after adding two teams — Chivas USA of Los Angeles and the Salt Lake franchise — in the past month. MLS officials would not comment on expansion yesterday, but commissioner Don Garber is expected to address the issue at today's news conference.

Cleveland, Houston and Philadelphia are also expansion candidates for 2006. For now, Hanauer has more time to firm up Seattle's bid for a team.

"As passionate as I am about soccer and the community and the MLS, if there's no demand in the market, maybe it's not meant to be," Hanauer said. "I believe there is demand."

José Miguel Romero: 206-464-2409 or jromero@seattletimes.com