Seattle Sounders Football Club is an American professional soccer club based in Seattle. The Sounders compete as a member of the Western Conference of Major League Soccer (MLS). The club was established on November 13, 2007, and began play in 2009 as an MLS expansion team. The Sounders are a phoenix club, carrying the same name as the original Sounders franchise that competed in the North American Soccer League (NASL) from 1974 to 1983.
Does Drew Carey still own the Sounders?
Drew Carey is a stand-up comic turned actor and producer and is now regarded as American soccer’s most recognizable supporter. Carey is an owner of Seattle Sounders FC and serves as chairman of Sounders FC Alliance, the club’s member association.
Carey had the distinction of having two hit shows simultaneously: the long-running comedy “The Drew Carey Show,” which ran from 1995-2004, and the improv/sketch show “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” on which he was host and a producer. The success of that show led to the creation of “Drew Carey’s Improv All-Stars,” an improve group that performs in showrooms across the country. In July 2007, Carey was named the host of “The Price Is Right,” America’s longest-running game show.
While in the Marine Reserves, his military buzz cut and black wide-rim glasses became part of his trademark look. He began his successful career as a comedian in April of 1986 at the Cleveland Comedy Club. One of his first big breaks was competing on Star Search ‘88. In 1991, Carey landed a spot on HBO’s 14th Annual Young Comedians Special and appeared on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. Carey openly credits Carson with launching his career. He received a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2003.
Carey’s interest in soccer began while attending an L.A. Galaxy game in 2003. Shortly after, he started seeing every professional game he could find time for, including European league games and U.S. National Team qualifying games. He learned more about the game and, during a later visit to Spain, saw FC Barcelona in action. He also worked as a press photographer during the 2006 World Cup in Germany, his efforts chronicled on a Travel Channel show entitled “Drew Carey’s Sporting Adventures” and his photos have appeared in numerous publications.
What percentage of the Sounders does Drew Carey own?
Ever since Don Garber played matchmaker by helping to bring together Adrian Hanauer, Joe Roth, Drew Carey and Paul Allen, the Seattle Sounders have enjoyed a remarkably stable ownership group. Up until this year, the only notable change in the ownership structure was when Hanauer bought a small percentage of Roth’s shares in order to become the majority owner in late 2015.
That all changed on Tuesday when the the Sounders announced that 11 new “families” had joined the ownership group as minority stakeholders, buying out the remainder of Roth’s share (Update: three more families have joined the ownership group since the initial announcement). Given the rather unprecedented nature of all this, you probably have a lot of questions. Lucky for you, I’ve got answers.
Prior to this change, Hanauer said he owned 35 percent, Roth had 32.5 percent, the Paul Allen estate had 25 percent — which is now controlled by Allen’s sister Jody and operated by Vulcan Sports and Entertainment — and Drew Carey had 7.5 percent. The Sounders have not confirmed how Roth’s shares were divvied up, but Hanauer did say he and Carey both increased their percentages. It’s been speculated that Hanauer may have actually moved to acquire 50+1 percent of the pie, which would make it impossible for anyone to seize control of the team without going through him.
Does Russell Wilson own Seattle Sounders?
Russell Wilson is already a minority owner of the Seattle Sounders, a Major League Soccer franchise. Wilson’s ownership aspirations extend to the National Football League, as well, though.
However, it’s likely those hopes have a long wait, as the Seattle Seahawks superstar quarterback has plans to stick around the NFL for plenty of autumns to come.
“I knew I was wildly crazy about the game, but I’m ridiculously obsessed with it,” Wilson said on an upcoming AP Pro Football Podcast, via The Associated Press. “That’s why I want to play 20-plus years. I think the other part that you learn about yourself is to have patience. At the same time, you have to have drive. I think that’s such a critical part. The third thing is [having] unrelenting confidence. You don’t want to mistake that with arrogance. It’s strictly confidence in what you do and how you do it and you’ve done it before, and we’ll do it again and with great faith, all things are possible, and that’s really what’s been very evident to me in my journey.”
KEY OPTA FACTS
- LAFC has won six times against the Sounders in all MLS competitions since entering the league in 2018 (D2 L5), only Portland (7 wins) has done so more often. LAFC has avoided defeat eight times against Seattle, tied with Portland for most in MLS since 2018.
- ·Now that their CONCACAF Champions League responsibilities have come to an end, the Sounders are once again focused on league play, and getting results. Seattle has won four of its last five league matches (L1) after winning two of its first eight this season (D1 L5).
- LAFC has been lifted by its road form, with the Black and Gold winning four away matches already this season. LAFC totaled just five wins over 26 away matches in the 2020 and 2021 seasons combined.
- The Sounders have recorded three comeback wins in MLS play this season, tied for most in the league, with two of those wins coming in recent home matches (vs. Min, Cha). LAFC, meanwhile, is one of two teams (NYCFC) to win every game in which it had the lead.
- ·Substitutes have played a key role in Seattle Sounders great start to the season, scoring a league-high 10 goals, with seven different players coming off the bench to find the net. Only four times in MLS history has a team had more than 12 goals from substitutes in a single campaign.
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