Seattle Sounders FC 2 is here.
And in its creation, the Sounders organization did more than provide a team for its reserve and academy players to get regular minutes with. Quite a bit more, in fact.
“With the combination of the atmosphere we’re going to be able to create at Starfire—especially with the partnership of our supporters—and the launch of the Sounders Community Trust, we’re able to provide an atmosphere at Starfire which is going to be so important to that ‘winning is learned’ element that we’re trying to bring to our development system,” said Andrew Opatkiewicz, S2’s General Manager.
Opatkiewicz, who comes to the Sounders with years of experience in club development, sees the potential of S2 and what it can provide the city.
Its creation has given the soccer supporters in Seattle a way to own a piece of the club – an aspect that everyone involved is extremely proud of.
“The whole impetus behind it is to give the fans an ownership stake in the club so they get more deeply involved with the club,” said Paul Cox, President of the Sounders Alliance Council. “We’re also looking to build some community ties with local businesses and community organizations. We want to find ways to support soccer in the Puget Sound community.”
Sounders Owner and General Manager Adrian Hanauer echoed that sentiment and hopes the relationship between the club and its supporters will continue to grow.
“S2 is hopefully the next evolution in fan engagement,” said Hanauer. “There’s probably more to come. We’re sort of at the tip of the iceberg in terms of what we can do with the Trust, with the supporters groups, to make sure that we’re connected at the hip, and that when S2 succeeds, the fans succeed and enjoy the relationship, and vice versa. It’s a reflection of our fans as well.”
While the hundreds of part owners are in the stands cheering on the team, S2 will also act as a fantastic way for Sounders First Team players and others to see regular playing time on the pitch in a competitive and organized league.
Whether it’s Homegrown Players Aaron Kovar and Sean Okoli, two Seattle natives who didn’t see extended first team minutes in 2014, or the next Academy product to burst through the ranks, S2 will allow regular competition for the burgeoning talent in the Sounders organization.
“It’s just super exciting that players that Sigi mentioned, whether it’s an Aaron Kovar, or a Sean Okoli, or players that are currently in the academy, can have 30 or 34 quality games, the pressure, the fans, the environment, and to be able to have that direct pipeline to the first team,” said Hanauer of the team’s forming.
Sounders FC 2 don’t begin play until 2015 but the impact has already been felt both on and off the pitch.
