The soccer fans of Seattle have spoken. The official name for the new MLS expansion franchise in Seattle is the Seattle Sounders FC.
The nickname Seattle Sounders FC beat out Seattle FC, Seattle Alliance and Seattle Republic, which were the three original choices in the club’s write-in ballot.
What’s my take? They could have done without the FC but you can bet the FC will become an afterthought. The MLS Seattle team WILL be known as the Sounders.
Like it? Love it? Hate it?
Share your thoughts below.
Why does anyone even care about the “FC”? It’s like the “Coporation” in “Microsoft Corporation” of the “Inc” in other businesses. It hardly matters.
It’s like when watching FC Dallas or Toronto FC on TV. Annoucers tend to say the FC almost as if it was a nickname. If they’re trying to sound European, they’re failing. You don’t hear Liverpool FC incessantly referred to as “Liverpool FC”. They’re just Liverpool.
irishapple21: I’m with you. This name isn’t out of the ordinary, even when compared to English Teams.
Paul: Not true. Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers, Queens Park Rangers, etc. all have those terms in the official club name…but these aren’t even necessarily the team’s nickname. Bolton’s nickname is the Trotters and QPR’s nickname is the Hoops.
I don’t know why everyone is so set on the English or European method of naming teams. There are countless ways of naming teams from countries all over the world. They don’t always have to be simply the name of a city, county, etc. Seems kind of boring if every MLS team followed that model.
Examples from other countries: Hearts of Oak, Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates, Tigres UANL, Once Caldas, Ajax Amsterdam, Sparta Rotterdam, Young Boys Wankdorf. There’s more than one way to skin a cat.
Now the mascot must be the Geoduck.
I think FC was more of a legal thing. Isnt Seattle Sounders a USL team? Shouldnt there be some distinction between that and the MLS side, thats probably why the added the “FC” there and not for any other particular reason.
My first sports event was the Sounders vs Philadelphia Atoms in 1974 – as a local it is good to see we stuck with tradition
PJ, seriously, what is your idea for the name? If the MLS can’t be different in naming, but can’t copy Euro teams word for word, what can they possibly name their teams? Sounders will make the fans happy, and honestly, it doesn’t sound that outrageous. When I look at transfer lists for the premiership, seeing that a player came from LA Galaxy (or the like) doesn’t strike me as that much more outrageous than seeing one that came from Racing Santander, Heart of Midlothian, or Energie Cottbus.
Simply put, our names should reflect our country and culture. If we keep desperately trying to make our league like every other one, it’s going just be a wanna-be league forever. Sure, our names are a mishmash of differing ideas, but really, isn’t that pretty representative of the culture of the US?
I personally think the name is great, and the staff at Seattle are doing an incredible job.
To follow up my previous comment – those long-held traditional nicknames developed over years and years and years. Seattle doesn’t have years and years. They’ve got year, singular. Do you *really* think you can do better developing a name without sounding like some cheesy Euro-ripoff (paging Salt Lake!)
Anyone complaining about the “Sounders” nickname need only look to Europe. After all, the Tykes, Cottagers, Magpies, Citizens, Trotters, Toffees, Latics, Potato Beetles, Red Hose, Brief Ones, and Young WIlders are all sooooooo much cooler and likely to bring in American fans.
The name makes no sense to me for several reasons:
1. People that support Sounders say it’s “traditional”. Okay, a whole 30 years makes it traditional? Someone actually is trying to compare it to the teams in England like Tottenham who have been around since the late 1800’s. Now that’s traditional.
2. What kind of tradition is naming a team that was part of every defunct league in the history of the US? Except of course the USL, which is minor league soccer.
3. The owners were talking about making it a “global” brand, yet were emphasizing the local ties the name has with the area. Uh, yeah, that’s a good way to kick off your world domination of brand names.
4. Should we just dump all traditional names and have minor league baseball names? You know, for the people that want to talk about marketing, that’s what bush league baseball does……Montgomery Biscuits, Lansing Lugnuts, Columbus Catfish…they sell a lot of t-shirts.
But it doesn’t surprise me that people can’t seam to get this right. Our national team has their badge drawn up by a graphics firm stuck in the 80’s and can’t even decide on a general idea for uniforms. (I think we should go with all black since most other countries already use red, white, and blue, and they would look intimidating).
I am glad though that MLS is expanding, and I’m glad they went with the green in their colors to differentiate themselves within the league.
Pardon my ignorance, but what’s a Sounder?
Also I agree with the comment that Real Salt Lake sounds ridiculous.
wow people criticizing the name are just funny to me.
The most important step that was taken today was the step towards democracy in sports. Fans did in effect change this club already.
I hope for a even deeper relationship with the Sounders front office. Join our ranks at http://www.weareecs.com
Great name, great badge. Go Sounders! May you finish as high as second (to the Earthquakes) each and every season!
They have a minor league crest to go with their minor league name. Seattle must be full of idiots.
Every team is going to have its name, like they do over in Europe, so just get over it. I dont know why they have the Sounders when they have the exact team name already with the USL. They should have just taken that team out of the USL and had them go to the MLS. I also agree with the FC being dumb. As much as I say we should call the sport football, and the American football should change the name of their sport, untill that happens the teams should just go with the SC.
For the life of me, I don’t know why Seattle Grooms wasn’t the winner.
I don’t mind the name, and it was certainly a great move to not alienate fans before the club had even played their first game, not sure what I think about the crest, have to see what their uniforms end up amounting to before I make a final judgement…
JB – Good to know.
The question then I wonder is can you not separately trademark your nickname versus your team name, like e.g. “FC Dallas”, and “Hoops”.
I’m happy the Seattle fans got what they wanted. Personally, I’m not a huge fan of the name, but I can live with it. A cheesy name for a team with trendy colors playing in oversized NFL stadium. That sounds familiar. Does Colorado Rapids or NY/NJ MetroStars ring a bell? I wouldn’t be surprised if this team is called Seattle FC and playing in a new SSS in 10 years. Seattle fans got their name and are confident that Quest field will be great. I really hope they are right.
Paul–difference in laws between US and EU. In the U.S. you can’t have an unofficial team nickname because of laws regarding team merchandising and trademark infringement. Under U.S. law if the nickname isn’t trademarked anybody can use it. So your example of European clubs not using their nickname in an official capacity isn’t applicable. In U.S. law the nickname has to be protected or the team and league won’t be able to make money off of it.
It is a great and beautiful thing when fans have input and are listened to.
http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/thebigblog/archives/134951.asp
I’m content with the name. the sounders fans and seattlelites got what they wanted. Although there seems to be more emphasis put on “Sounders” than “Seattle”.
I actually would’ve preferred just Seattle FC and have “The Sounders” as the nickname like many european clubs. although i like the colors, i thought the crest design could’ve been better. i actually like designs made by bloggers.
but the name is set and Seattle Sounders FC it will be. can’t wait till the start of the ’09 season and hopefully Seattle finds some quality players as well as promoting some of their good usl players.
This is the best result Seattle fans could have hoped for; good for them.
For those who say we should call the clubs SC instead of FC I’m inclined to agree, but it’s really no big deal.
For those whining about the presence of any initials after the name Sounders (FC/SC or whatever), you have to understand the issues involved with the old name. I don’t know where I read this but I had heard that there was a problem with the Sounders name in that the previous owners of the name had not defended their copyright, thereby allowing the name to slip into the public domain. I think it would be unreasonable to expect MLS to use a name they could not copyright. I’m no expert in intellectual property rights but I suspect that adding the FC to the name allows MLS to create a new copyright, which they can then protect. A win-win.
Although I don’t necessarily agree with the socalled “euro snobs” out there, I have to agree that “americanizing the sport” (who can forget the counting backwards clock, or the shootout) are just not going to work here in United States. Trying to attract the “white, middle class american sports fan” has not worked, and will not ever work until MLS has a serious TV contract, which means MLS will have to have sold out, week-in week-out stadiums.
But you cant have sold out games without a fan base. So the dilemma ensues. But guess what, there are more than enough “fans” in this country of immigrants who are knowledgable about soccer, but don’t go to MLS games. Why is that? There are several reasons of which we could go on ad nauseum, but a simple a relevant one here is, stop trying to “americanize” the game. Its NOT an american game.Its the worlds game. So as far as I am concerned, getting as far away as possible from the traditional american norm such as “puting stupid nicknames on the front of ones jersey” is fine with me. As far as I am concerned, the only thing that belongs on the front of the jersey is the teams crest, and potentially any sponsor who is paying good money to support your team.
signed,
Born and raised in America.
A great day for Seattle soccer fans and for the belief that there is a tradition in soccer in this nation that predates the MLS.
This is the name that Seattle-area fans wanted, with the exception of a couple of outliers who aren’t really soccer fans anyway (who would refuse to go to a game because of the team name?)
Our area loves the sport and will love the Sounders in a way unmatched in the history of the MLS in the U.S.
I’m extremely excited that this franchise continues to do things right.
to fuego fanatico,
they have basketball teams in the new york area? i didnt know that, but i usually only watch my pistons come playoff time.
Henry to the Motor City Marauders! LOL
Last I checked Seattle is in the United States. Here in the United states we put our “goofy” team names on the jerseys, no reason to change that because it doesn’t seem right to some euro-snob.
PERFECT!!…. I actually think tagging FC on the back separates it from the old club.
Two issues:
1) Seattle Sounders (USL) will not necessarily go out of existence after this year. They may still move and act as an unofficial feeder/reserve club for Seattle Sounders FC.
2) Seattle Sounders FC is copyrightable, and the addition of the “FC” will help the club maximize long-term revenues.
Mistake. This was the name of the city’s NASL franchise, so some of the comments hail the choice as a nod to “tradition.” But, the NASL failed because it tried to “Americanize” the game, bring in aging European stars and expand too quickly. So, in bringing the Sounders name back, this is essentially a nod to a “tradition” of failure. MLS is never going to be as big as the 3 big vulgar American sports (football, basketball and baseball) and it should stop trying to compete on that level. Expand slowly. Model your league after the European football leagues ( and not the other American sports leagues). Get rid of stupid team nicknames, except as they are used secondarily and informally by the fans (i.e. Man U as the “Red Devil”).
Go Ajax!!!
Excuse me but the only option that was available for the Seattle name that you liked was the “fake” euro one, you know the Seattle FC. The point is that the other options like the Seattle Alliance were the “represent america” choices. Nice to paint yourself into a box.
To the point that the USL Sounders will have to now change their name, they won’t since they won’t exist. The USL ownership is on board with the MLS franchise and it therefore bringing its history, some of its management, and the option of its players with it. Nice Choice by Seattle.
Did anyone else notice that in this case the Seattle was subordinate to Sounders in the Crest? It looks like they will be focusing on Sounders FC rather than the Seattle part.
I wrote in John O’Brien Wants Relegation/Promotion FC but I guess they went another way. Its a good name nonetheless.
I’m really happy about this one! I’m sick and tired of these “fake” Euro names. The name still has to represent America, and the league does as well. Seattle FC would have been tolerable, the rest were repulsive! Seattle Sounders is THE name!
I would’ve given up on the MLS if they named the team InterSeattle or something really stupid!
“hey did the right thing by leaning on the only soccer tradition that we have (a longer tradition than any of the other MLS cities) and naming it Sounders. ”
Nice to see Seattle fans, like Toronto fans, are already gazing at themselves in rapt admiration, with no reference at all to facts. Let the pissing contests begin.
The NASL Earthquakes started the same year as the NASL Sounders.
Love every bit of that name. FC is a nice add. Sounders honors the past. FC honors the present and future.
wow, sorry guys, it froze as i was submitting my post and i ended up doing it 3 teams. I’m officially done flooding the SBI board.
I wish Charleston would change their team name.
Charleston SC anyone?
I vote thumbs down because:
-I’m not from Seattle and Sounders sounds silly.
-The real Seattle Sounders have to change their name now, messing with where the real tradition really is.
-I’m against the drop the American nickname tradition because soccer/football is a global game, and I’d like MLS to be taken seriously globally, not just in America.
But what do I know? I will cheer for them because of Drew Carey.
Not a bad name, personally thing it should be SC and that Sounders should be a nickname, but it reminds one of Bolton Wanderers FC or Blackburn Rovers, so not bad. The crest however, is kinda lame, MLS needs to stop looking new-agey and cartoony, and go with a simple and refined crest that can stand the test of time, instead of one that looks lame and outdated in 5 years(most of the original MLS crests). One of my favorites actually is the Portland Timbers crest, or the first and the third one on this site http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=609249&page=3
I think the point is that there are a lot of different ways to name soccer teams and as long as the name doesn’t sound like something like the “San Jose Clash” and “Kansas City Wiz”, it’s really not a big deal.
Not a bad name, personally thing it should be SC and that Sounders should be a nickname, but it reminds one of Bolton Wanderers FC or Blackburn Rovers, so not bad. The crest however, is kinda lame, MLS needs to stop looking new-agey and cartoony, and go with a simple and refined crest that can stand the test of time, instead of one that looks lame and outdated in 5 years(most of the original MLS crests). One of my favorites actually is the Portland Timbers crest, or the first and the third one on this site http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=609249&page=3
Don’t care. Should I?
Just to further the point, of the 20 teams in the premiership, only 3 have the nickname in their official team name, Bolton, Blackburn, and was correctly pointed out by someone, also Tottenham.
Interestingly, how often is a team whose nickname is included in the official name either “Wanderers”, “Rovers”, or “Rangers”? I bet a lot.
Just a side note – the official name of the Oakland A’s is “Oakland Athletics Baseball Club”. I don’t think the FC matters that much, but I like it nonetheless.
Rangers are actually officially just “Rangers FC.” They don’t have Glasgow in the team name. People just call them “Glasgow Rangers” to avoid getting them confused with other teams with the same name. Glasgow Celtic are also just called “Celtic FC.”
Not a bad name, personally thing it should be SC and that Sounders should be a nickname, but it reminds one of Bolton Wanderers FC or Blackburn Rovers, so not bad. The crest however, is kinda lame, MLS needs to stop looking new-agey and cartoony, and go with a simple and refined crest that can stand the test of time, instead of one that looks lame and outdated in 5 years(most of the original MLS crests). One of my favorites actually is the Portland Timbers crest, or the first and the third one on this site http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=609249&page=3
Um, I think Ranger’s FC is really a Glasgow FC. Since there are two teams in Glasgow, I think they probably just opted to call them Celtic and Rangers. Probably worth checking the history.
In any case, it is true that some teams do utilize their nickname as part of their official team name, but I think this is the minority (certainly in europe). In MLS, it used to be the case that EVERY team (sans DC United) had their nickname as part of the official name. You’d otherwise have no idea what sport they were talking about if the Miami Fusion and New England Revolution were playing each other, even for the knowledgable soccer fan. But the same knowledgable fan wouldnt have any difficulty identifying the sport if it were DC United versus FC Dallas.
Adding the FC to Seattle Sounders was a way for the higher ups to save some face.
Also want to echo the Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers comments.
Actually, Hotspur is part of the Official name for Tottenham: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tottenham_Hotspur_F.C.
The FC at the end of the name is not such a big deal. As a Fire fan, were referred to as the “Chicago Fire”, while the official name is the “Chicago Fire Soccer Club”