Expansion franchise Seattle Sounders have experienced an outstanding first season in MLS, both on and off the pitch.
The Sounders have set records in all parts of the game including average attendances and merchandise sold in one season whilst qualifying for the play-offs and claiming the 2009 US Open Cup.
In their debut season, Seattle Sounders FC gained great numbers including 16 Consecutive MLS sellouts (plus 4 sellouts for cup-related matches), 22,000 Season-ticket holders, 30,943 average attendance, an MLS record (this figure would have ranked among the top 50 clubs in the world for 2008-0), 35,807 attendance for first leg of playoff series against Houston, an MLS record for a conference semifinal and No. 7 all-time in MLS playoff games, including finals, 65,372 ttendance at Qwest for friendly vs. Chelsea and 66,848 Attendance at Qwest for friendly vs. FC Barcelona.
The club's website, www.SoundersFC.com, is the most visited and active online community in MLS, they have more than 51,000 supporters on Facebook, more than nearly all other MLS clubs combined, they set an MLS record by raising more than $23,000 for the "Nothing But Nets" program and more than 4,000 kids participated in Sounders youth soccer programs.
They also had the best record and most goals scored by MLS expansion team since 1998 and became the first expansion team to qualify for playoffs since 1998 (third total, joining Chicago and Miami, both 1998).
All these facts point to a club who has a great base for success which could begin this Sunday when they take on the Houston Dynamo in the second leg of their semi-final clash after the first leg at Qwest Field ended 0-0.
