Seattle Sounders FC today announced that after an accomplished 20-year career with the club, longtime executive Bart Wiley is bidding farewell to the Rave Green. Seattle’s longest-tenured employee in the club’s modern era, Wiley joined the Sounders on September 18, 2001, playing a pivotal role in guiding the club from its USL days into Major League Soccer in 2009. He served in a number of positions within Sounders FC, including Chief Operating Officer from 2014 through 2019, going on to become the club’s Executive Vice President & Chief Global Officer. Over the past two decades, Wiley has cultivated a legacy of service and leadership, helping to grow the Rave Green into a leading MLS club and an organization that annually ranks in the global top 40 in average attendance.
“Bart Wiley has been a trusted advisor, executive and friend for the past two decades, helping to build Seattle Sounders FC into the community asset the club has become,” said Sounders FC Owner Adrian Hanauer. “Bart has been with the club since I first became involved with the organization in 2001, and in that time, he has helped steer us from our humble USL days into the Major League Soccer club we all know and love today. While Bart is saying goodbye to his day-to-day role with us, he departs our club as a friend, and someone we know we’ll be seeing again at our matches and in the community. Thank you to Bart, his wife Erin and their two girls for continuing to be a part of our Sounders family.”
Beginning with the club during its USL era in 2001, Wiley served in multiple roles prior to Sounders FC’s ascension to MLS, including General Manager of the USL Sounders. Promoted to Chief Operating Officer in 2014 from his previous role as Vice President of Business Operations, Wiley oversaw all business-related efforts for Sounders FC, including sales, marketing, corporate partnerships, communications, broadcast and digital-related content, international marketing and community outreach. Under his guidance, Seattle led Major League Soccer in attendance from 2009 through 2016, with the club never finishing outside the league’s top two. In 2019, he took on the role of Executive Vice President & Chief Global Officer, representing Sounders FC around the world at numerous conferences and events, while also working with the club’s ownership group on strategic priorities.
“I wish to thank Adrian for the amazing experiences and opportunities I've been a part of for the last 20 years,” said Wiley. “From playing in front of 2,000 fans as a minor league team in 2002 to hosting MLS Cup in Seattle in front of a sold-out Lumen Field in 2019, I'm honored to have worked with my colleagues in building the organization into what it is today. Having 15 months in a pandemic to reflect on my future, I've chosen to explore other options outside this incredible organization. I love the Sounders and am excited to attend matches as a fan.”
Wiley previously spent four seasons as Director of Business Development for Sounders FC, receiving the MLS Operations Director of the Year Award for his efforts during the club’s inaugural MLS campaign in 2009. Prior to his time in Seattle, he worked as Director of Communications for 711, Net Inc., Director of Publicity for NASCAR Busch Grand National Division driver Bobby Hillin and as publicist for former Major League Baseball player Brett Butler.
“Bart has been a mainstay at this club for two decades, and I have always enjoyed working side-by-side with him for those 20 years,” said Sounders FC Head Coach Brian Schmetzer. “Bart was involved in all aspects that led to the tremendous growth of our club, from the USL to what we see today as a leading MLS franchise. We wish him every success in his next venture, but no matter where he goes, he’ll always be a Sounder.”
On the field, Wiley has been a part of sustained success as a Sounder, seeing the club win the 2005 and 2007 USL First Division titles, Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup championships in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2014, in addition to the 2014 Supporters’ Shield and two MLS Cup titles in 2016 and 2019.
