The Seattle Sounders 2016 season is right around the corner. This article will highlight the teams brief but successful past and present.

The Sounders team, or MLS soccer in Seattle, has been a dream since 1994. However, at the time, a suitable home for soccer in Seattle was not to be had. 

Paul Allen eventually came along with interest in being part owner of a soccer team. He was in the process of beginning his ownership of the Seattle Seahawks NFL team, and was vital in securing the field that the MLS so desired. That is what is now their home Century link Field.

With the issue of a field settled ...new issues arrived. The biggest issue of all was the want of MLS fto have soccer teams to be investor operated.

This is where current majority owner Adrien  Hanover came into play in 2006. He along with partnership from Paul Allen, Hollywood producer Joe Roth, and celebrity Drew Carey finalized the current investment team that heads the Sounders. 

The team then finally got the stadium and backing to be awarded to become the next MLS team in 2007. This marked the league's 15th team, and was the third soccer team in Seattle to share the same name. 

Before any of that could happen, however, the team needed an identity. In 2008, an online poll would decide the team's name. Originally, the Sounders name was not on the ballot due to many wanting a new team name for Seatte. Many more wanted the Sounders name though, and public outcry got the Sounders name on the ballot...which ultimately won. 

The team's logo was next. It features a badge design with Heraldic Shield and incorporates the Space Needle. The color scheme provided colorful earthly names including Sounder blue, Rave green, and Cascade shale. The blue was to signify Puget sound while the green was for the pacific northwest forest (also the team nickname rave green) The shale color was for the mountainous areas within the region.

Due to the team nickname, Rave Green, along with the Sounders name... a 53 member band known as the Sound Wave help keep the Sounder faithful energized all game long. The band must be working well also, as the team has had MLS attendance and ticket sale records in each of their first 7 years.

The record attendance and tickets have equalled wins also. The team qualified for the playoffs in every year of their existence. The success did not take long starting with game number one in 2009. In the end, then Sounders came away with a 3-0 victory over the NY Red Bulls.

It was quickly apparent the Seattle area may have struck proverbial gold bringing soccer to the area. They have won the open cup three times straight and have 4 straight Lamar Hunt US Open Final Appearances...one of only too MLS teams to complete such a feat.

In 2016, hopes will be just as high for Seattle in the West Conference. There, the team's biggest rivals are Portland and Vancouver. Despite the team's recent introduction into the league they have shot out of a cannon. The MLS Cup has still eluded them, however, and the team hopes to change that in 2016. 

Sounders flag: https://www.flickr.com/photos/sounderbruce/14024355592/in/photolist-nnhu...

Sounders fans: https://www.flickr.com/photos/sounderbruce/14024296972/in/photolist-nnhb...

Seattle Sound band: https://www.flickr.com/photos/stephenrwalli/3872851566/in/photolist-6Uen...