The Sounders time forget (1994-2008)

When the Sounders tried to join the MLS in the year 2000, with a at the time new Seahawks stadium making it a attractive prospect. But the at the time MLS Commissioner Don Garber said that it didn't make a sure thing. "I know that soccer helped to get the stadium approved, but I don't think it's a good business decision to have league-operated teams anymore," Garber said. "It might have made sense years ago, but to take on the additional burden of running a team is not something that's smart for us or Seattle." With no 1 wanting to invest in a MLS franchise in Seattle at the time. The owners of the Sounders were determined though. "We had Doug Logan come to Seattle and he guaranteed that we would have an MLS team here, even without an ownership group," Farnsworth said. "Basically, he came here because we asked him. We needed the soccer vote. Then I met with the new commissioner two months ago and he basically was shocked Doug would make that commitment." But that would be enough to deter Garber from granting the franchise to Seattle. As the league was still going through early struggles with 2 of the league's 12 teams are league-operated, Tampa and Dallas, but Garber said he expects those teams to have local investors within 12 to 24 months. He wants the league to be completely free from operating teams within that time frame. So for now Seattle would have to do with their USL franchise.

In 1994 soccer would return after almost a decade away. Former coach Alan Hinton bought the rights to the Seattle Sounders after the club suffered it's only death after 1983. And originally made a campaign to the American Professional Soccer League to create a "super team" of local talent in the Seattle area called the Seattle Storm that began play in the Western Soccer Alliance before going to the American Professional Soccer League. 1st catching the attention of heartbroken Sounders fans with the d the F.C. Seattle Challenge '84 which was this super team facing the 3 NASL teams at the time, the Vancouver Whitecaps (2–2 tie) ,Minnesota Strikers (0–3 loss) ,New York Cosmos (1–2 loss), as well as the 1984 U.S. Olympic Team. Which was our origin for our rivalry with the Whitecaps. But it couldn't fill that void due to not having the same success and unable to maintain staying in a top league.

So when the Sounders were being proposed to the ASPL by former Microsoft executives Scott Oki and Neil Farnsworth in September 1993 the whole city was electrified. And even the rest of the nation recognized how major this as the bid's approval was announced by United States Soccer Federation secretary general at the time Hank Steinbrecher on January 30, 1994, during a men's international friendly match between the United States and Russia at the Kingdome that was attended by 43,651 fans.

To show how chaotic starting a new franchise is the Sounders debut season they played in 2 different stadiums both the Tacoma Dome and Memorial Stadium. The Sounders finished the 1994 season with a 14–6 record, the best in the A-League, but lost in the first round of the playoffs to theColorado Foxes. The Sounders though quickly hit a huge problem when Alan Hinton the man who bought the rights to the Sounders after the original Sounders died and was the head coach plus was the club president. And the naming rights were sold to Oki. Though they during this chaotic period they still found great success. As The Sounders played in the 1996 CONCACAF Champions' Cup and advanced to the final group/round in Guatemala City, where they finished at the bottom of a 4-team group.

In 1999 the Sounders went through another giant change before the start of the 99 A-League season. As the Sounders had to go cap in hand to the Renton School District as they had to get permission to use the Renton Memorial Stadium. Which was granted at a school district meetings of all things. This is because from 1994 to 1999 Sounders attendance had dropped from a average of 6,132 to 2,100. And thus making the club less profitable which believe it or not is bad. The club then moved to the Seattle Memorial Stadium but quickly moved out as attendance still suffered. Due to the stadium's rotten faciality's like your rock-hard turf and hard wooden benches plus was in need of repairs. So in 2003 they moved into the Seahawks home ground like they play in today. Though they were planning on making a soccer only stadium at the time. Showing our ambition to join the MLS as this was to make a stadium to bolster a MLS proposal. Something the MLS was even helping us out with. Looking in places like Kent and Fife and was estimated to be around 30-35 million dollars which was actually half as expensive as a soccer only stadium Dallas built around the same time. Again showing how aware the nation is of how important having a thriving soccer scene in Seattle. Though if the Seattle lost out on a expansion bid to Portland at the time owner Adrian Hanauer he might've let the club fold. Which if the MLS choose Portland over us I would've done the same thing, because that means we're doing something wrong.

And starting in 1998 but really expanding during this era. We began a relationship with German Werder Bremen because in 1998 we brought in all sorts of Werder Bremen legends in all sorts of ways during this time. Such as Fernando Clavijo, Raffaele Ruotolo, and Jean Willrich. This connection was formed due to Andrew Dallman's involvement with the club and US indoor soccer league. But that wasn't the only European club who helped us out. As we also had a partnership with English clubCambridge United starting in 2006 due to the shared involvement of Adrian Hanauer, who bought the Sounders in 2002. And with him came a familiar face.

After English manager Bernie James led the Sounders who had won the the league cup in 1995, 1996 led them to a abysmal 2001 season was fired and this time they decided to look locally for a coach. And so called the coach of the the indoor club, the Seattle SeaDogs and offered him the job. And history was made when Brian Schmetzer accepted the job. Success was immediate (hence why he's been here since before we were in the MLS) with 23 wins and only 1 loss in a 28 match season. Winning the Commissioner's Cup by 22 points also clenching the Pacific Division regular season title with a points total of 107. But lost to our Cascadia Cup rival the Whitecaps in a horrible blowout a blowout 6–2 defeat that saw them lose on aggregate.

A loss that it take Brian and the team take 3 years to avenge. After finishing 4th in the USL standings for 2005 easily took care of the Portland Timbers 3-0 on aggerate then taking on Montreal in the semis. Winning the 2nd leg 2-1 after the 1st leg ended in a 2-2 draw. And in the 2005 USL championship final against the Richmond Kickers the Sounders would win on penalty kicks. And while we finished 4th we were led but some of the most elite players in the USL. Sounders goalie Preston Burpo, was 2nd in the league in goals against average, averaging only .85 goals a match. Defender Taylor Graham won the league's "Defender of the Year" award as well and was named to the "USL First Division Best XI" that year, as well.

2006 though would prove to be a poor title defense though. After all you can't defend a title if you don't make the playoffs. Which the Sounders failed to do so that season. With a extremely disappointing 7th place in the USL table that season. But that gave the Sounders something to avenge once again and that's when they were at their best. With the only highlight being Sounders rookie striker Cam Weaver who scored 18 and got 3 assists having the 2nd most goals that season behind Miami FC's old but still gold striker Brazilian legend and World Cup champion Romario. In 2007 the Sounders created success for themselves again. With the club being bolstered by the announcement that Seattle would be getting a MLS expansion franchise. And showed why they deserved it by having the 1 of the best seasons in the clubs history. They went a extremely impressive 16–6–6 which won them another Commissioner's Cup. But this time had a much better post-season run making it to the final where they thrashed Atlanta 4-0 to take their and new Seattle hero Brian Schmetzer's 2nd USL championship.

But the most notable part was our incredible US Open Cup run in 2007. Where as a USL club they made it all the way to the semi finals. This included the largest ever blowout a USL team ever beat a MLS side Colorado Rapids, 5–0 after we already beat Chivas USA,Portland Timbers and Banat Arsenal to complete a impressive run to the semi-final. But the glass slipper fell off in the semis as we lost to FC Dallas 2–1 in extra time. 2008 was the last year we'd spend in the USL before going to the MLS and we went a clean 10-10-10 to close out our USL era. Brian Schmetzer would continue his coaching work with the Sounders but as the top assistant to former Los Angeles Galaxy andColumbus Crew boss Sigi Schmid, well at 1st. Thanks a bunch for reading!