Author: soundersalliance

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Season Ticket Renewals: Key Dates, Benefits, and Updates

The Seattle Sounders Alliance Council recently met with the Front Office to review important details for the 2026 Season Membership renewal process. Here’s what you should know about renewal dates, updated benefits, and new policies for the upcoming MLS season.

Renewal Window and Automatic Enrollment

The renewal period will open on August 27 or 28 (final date depends on Leagues Cup results) and will close on September 10. The first payment will be due on September 11.

All current Season Members will be automatically renewed into their same seats on a six-part payment plan, unless they opt out during the renewal window.

UPDATE: Because of the Leagues Cup Final, the renewal period will now open on September 2.

New and Enhanced Member Benefits

The 2026 season brings several exciting new perks that celebrate member loyalty and enhance the matchday experience at Lumen Field:

  • Tenure Recognition – Special acknowledgment for members at 5, 10, or 15 consecutive years of membership.
  • Mobile Wallet Concession Discounts – 10% off for General Members, 15% off for Club Members.
  • 15% off Single Match Seattle Reign FC Tickets – Members will enjoy discounts on single-match tickets for Seattle’s NWSL side, the Reign.

These updates reflect member survey feedback emphasizing community connection and longtime supporter recognition. Nearly 13,000 seats are held by fans with over a decade of continuous membership.

Important Dates for 2026 Season

  • Seat Relocation Window – Opens September 29.
  • New Membership Sales & Public On-Sale – Begin October 4.

*Dates may change slightly as the club finalizes plans.*

Season Ticket Policy Updates

  • Inaugural Members will continue receiving their preferred season ticket rate.
  • While pricing discounts based on tenure are not currently planned, the club is actively evaluating long-term opportunities as more members reach milestone anniversaries.

Member Gifts & Renewal Portal

The Member Gift Portal opens September 15, giving fans a chance to select from items like a scarf, sweatshirt, hat, and—for longer-tenured members—a blanket.

Some items will include tenure-specific recognition, and all members will receive an additional bonus item in their gift box. Gifts will begin shipping around February 6, 2026.

Pricing & Invoicing

The 2026 season will feature the lowest ticket price increases in four years. Invoices have been redesigned for clarity, showing:

  • Return ticket credits clearly itemized
  • A simplified six-installment payment plan applied by default

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News

Inside Seattle’s FIFA World Cup 2026 Plans with Peter Tomozawa

The Seattle Sounders Alliance Council recently had the honor of sitting down for a roundtable discussion with Peter Tomozawa, Chief Executive Officer of Seattle FIFA World Cup 2026, to hear first-hand how our city is preparing to host the world’s biggest sporting event.

From Lumen Field to the new waterfront, Seattle is aiming to deliver a world-class fan experience rooted in local culture, accessibility, and sustainability. Here are the highlights every Seattle soccer fan should know.

Strategic Pillars for Seattle 2026

Seattle’s vision for the 2026 FIFA World Cup focuses on three core pillars:

  • Human Rights – Ensuring inclusivity, equality, and safe spaces for all fans and participants.
  • Accessibility – Creating a fan-friendly experience for residents, visitors, and supporters of all abilities.
  • Sustainability – Minimizing environmental impact while maximizing positive legacy for the community.

The “Unity Loop” Fan Experience

One of the centerpiece features of Seattle’s World Cup festivities will be the Unity Loop, a pedestrian-friendly pathway linking some of the city’s most iconic locations.

The loop will start at Lumen Field, extend through the Seattle waterfront, Seattle Center, Westlake, and the Chinatown-International District, before returning to Lumen. Along the way, visitors will enjoy public art installations, cultural landmarks, and 15–20 selfie stations designed for sharable moments on social media.

Public Art Installations

Seattle is already bringing the vision to life with new murals downtown:

  • United Currents by Seattle artist Leo Shallat at Spring Street & 5th Avenue.
  • United by Nature by internationally recognized street artist INO, covering 17 stories at 1306 Western Avenue.

These works mark the start of a larger plan to showcase Seattle’s vibrant art scene to both local fans and global visitors.

Key Dates & Initiatives for Fans

  • Fall 2025 – World Cup ticket strips go on sale.
  • December 5, 2025 – Official FIFA World Cup match draw.
  • Spring 2026 – Launch of a FIFA World Cup mobile app (inspired by Pokémon GO) with interactive challenges and prizes.
  • 100 Days Out – City celebration featuring the unveiling of a permanent statue by a Seattle artist.
  • Volunteer Program – Apply now to join FIFA’s official volunteer team.

Stadium & Field Preparations

Once the NFL season ends, Lumen Field will replace its artificial turf with natural grass, currently expected in February 2026. This will give fans, and players, a grass pitch experience for World Cup matches. The Seattle Sounders are expected to begin their 2026 MLS season on the new grass field.

MLS Season Pause for the World Cup

Major League Soccer has confirmed it will pause league play during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This ensures full player availability for national teams and an undistracted fan atmosphere across North America.

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Seattle Sounders FC Alliance Council Statement on Club World Cup Compensation

The Sounders FC Alliance Council firmly supports the Seattle Sounders FC players in their pursuit of fairand increased compensation for participating inthe FIFA Club World Cup. At the time of negotiating thecurrent Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), the expanded version of this tournament did not exist. Itis unreasonable to argue that the players bargained for participation in an event that was fundamentallychanged after negotiations concluded.

Major League Soccer (MLS) leveraged the unprecedented circumstances surrounding COVID-19,including the looming threat of a league lockout, to compel players into twice re-negotiating their ownCBA agreements in 2020 and 2021. It is those particular concessions by the players that extended theoutdated CBA bonus clause to cover this event. It is imperative that MLS now honor the principles ofgood faith negotiations and incentivizing future success rather than pursuing actions that underminelabor protections and the fair treatment of its players.

The Alliance Council is united with our players, calling upon MLS to engage in sincere and transparentnegotiations, ensuring that our athletes receive just compensation and respect for their participation inthe prestigiousFIFAClub World Cup.

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Meetings

Summary of the December 2024 Council Meeting

The Seattle Sounders FC Alliance Council held its meeting on December 3, 2024, at the Sounders Performance Center and Clubhouse, with 19 of 20 members present either in person or via Teams. The meeting began with introductions of three new council members: Patrick Holmes, Tyler Schnaidt, and Amanda Shellenberger. Council President Cameron Collins announced he would not seek re-election after five years in office, thanked the council for the opportunity to serve, and humorously pardoned Sammy the Sounder for a past incident. Elections for the Executive Committee followed, resulting in Duane Nakamura as President, Lucas Michaud as Vice-President, Cameron Collins as Secretary, and Nicholaus Biela and Jerry Neil as At-Large Members. The meeting adjourned unanimously.

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News

Seattle Sounders FC Alliance Council Statement on Sounders FC and Providence Partnership – Follow-up

On Friday, May 12, representatives of the Alliance Council met with several executives within the Providence Health system and representatives of the team’s supporter groups. The meeting began with Providence sharing programs that both themselves and their affiliate, Swedish Health Services are focusing on, like increasing training to respect trans patients and creating health care navigators to increase access to LGBTQ services in rural areas. They committed that the Work2BeWell program at Renton Schools includes support for LGBTQ students. They told us that Medicaid patients that were illegally referred to debt collectors was an unfortunate oversight, and that they were reimbursed with interest. And the speakers from Providence and Swedish seemed to want to be supportive of values that we treasure.

But after questioning at the meeting, it seems pretty clear that as expected, despite the long waiting lists for gender-affirming care for example, there are lots of services that Providence will not offer (like hormone therapy or tubal ligations) unless deemed “medically necessary” and requires refusal or contracting out to other providers outside the Catholic health system.

One clear takeaway from the discussion is that Swedish and partners like Planned Parenthood are more in line with the values of our community than the Providence ministry is. However, as several members of the supporter groups pointed out, Swedish is not the brand on our jersey, but Providence is. And for many Sounders fans, it is the placing of the Providence brand on our jerseys for our fans to buy and our players to wear that they feel especially betrayed by.

While we are well aware that this sponsorship deal will not be dissolved, and that Providence will not be changing any major policies based on the views of Sounders supporters, perhaps there can be future compromise in the branding verbiage displayed on Sounders jerseys. Finally, we look forward to seeing Providence keep their commitments through the programs they discussed and the future treatment of low-income patients.

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News

Seattle Sounders FC Alliance Council Statement on Sounders FC and Providence Partnership

The Alliance Council shares the concerns of many regarding the new partnership between Providence and the Seattle Sounders FC. While the announcement focuses on mental health support in teens, and the commitment to bolster resources and options in the community is an admirable step, this does not overshadow the seemingly profound disconnect with the club’s organizational values.

The Seattle Sounders have stood tall as a club that believes, among other things, that “Reproductive Rights are Human Rights” and that they “Stand For LGBTQ+ Equality“. However, these values do not seem to be reflected in Providence’s policies around abortion rights, fairness in the treatment of transgender people, and low-income patients. This is a confusing and disappointing club decision and is in direct opposition to the Sounders’ Social Impact goals and promises.

While the Alliance Council were not consulted on this decision, we will be meeting with Sounders leadership and ownership to discuss this matter and express our concerns over this partnership agreement and what it means to us as a community.

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News

Sounders FC Alliance Council Statement on Departure of Garth Lagerwey

We at Seattle Sounders FC Alliance Council wish to congratulate Garth Lagerwey on his new position with Atlanta United. His time with the Sounders truly brought immortality, with two MLS Cups, three Generation Adidas titles, and the CONCACAF Champions League Final trophy. The Council was lucky enough to work closely with Garth throughout the years, and we are thankful for his time, insight, and candor. Thank you for everything, Garth.

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News

Seattle Sounders FC Alliance Council Statement on Yates Report

The Seattle Sounders Alliance Council was dismayed and disheartened to read the results of the Yates investigation referencing the rampant and systematic failure to protect and respect NWSL players. As fans of the beautiful game in all its forms at all levels we find these behaviors unacceptable and those responsible for this ongoing abuse need to be held accountable for their actions. Despite the MLS Commissioner’s recent disappointing comments, we believe there is more work to be done.

We stand behind the players as they speak out against these findings, respect, and applaud their bravery in sharing deeply traumatic experiences, and join our voices to those seeking specific and immediate changes across these organizations. Additionally, we’d task all US Soccer organizations, including our own Sounders, to review any policies currently in place to ensure the safety and security of all athletes and staff at all levels of play and to immediately put measures into place where they are currently lacking.

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Meetings

Statement regarding the 2019 Alliance Annual Business Meeting

3 December 2019

By Martin Buckley

Firstly, as President of the Sounders FC Alliance Council, I would like to personally apologise for the late changes in dates, venue and format of the Alliance Annual Business Meeting.

I would like to take a few moments and give some comments and colour regarding the 2019 Annual Business Meeting; specifically addressing some of the questions Alliance Council has received and to extinguish the speculative, inaccurate and sometimes malicious commentary that has been circulating.

Firstly: Alliance Council took your feedback from the past two Annual Business Meetings to heart. We heard that the streaming worked for many – but that you missed a lot of the connection and contacts that came from a larger in-person event. The two Annual Business Meetings that were held in the Ninety were smaller in size – but the number of RSVPs to attend were small. In addition we supported the Club in setting up the now annual Fan Appreciation event during the Summer – which allowed a lot more of us to celebrate, meet with players and listen to our ownership and General Manager.

Secondly: the Annual Business Meeting is an important review of the year for Alliance members. Our Constitution demands the meeting at the close of the playing season. This requires a partnership with the Club at all levels. Without this partnership it is near impossible to hold a meaningful meeting – you expect and deserve representation from Alliance Council, Ownership, Front Office and our General Manager.

Since December 2018, Alliance Council have been requesting a larger, in-person event. The club was broadly supportive. During the Spring and Summer our working group was meeting to discuss the requirements and logistics for such an event. During the Fall of this year we were jointly reviewing venues that would support this in-person event. Our original preference for a date was before the playoffs, during the international break. Club limitations prevented this. We settled on a date in mid-November. We had a date, a venue and started the communication.

There was a wrinkle. We knew that our strong finish in the West would mean home playoff games. We knew that permutations in the East gave a small chance of a home final. Then we beat LA. We all held our breath while Toronto did their piece. The Front Office went into MLS Cup overdrive – selling out the stadium, preparing for our biggest home game – and also planning for a potential parade in the week following the cup game.

Hosting the cup, celebrating the parade – that meant that the original meeting could not happen on the same day. Complications were added as ownership and our General Manager were being pulled across the continent for league and confederation business. It’s December – and at short notice most venues are not available. This is where we are.

As I said – we listened – and winning our second star got in the way.

Democracy in Sports requires being thoughtful. Our ask for 2020 is that the Front Office work with Alliance Council early – and lock down the Annual Business Meeting for 2020. We ask that the date and venue details are communicated pre-season so we can have the Annual Business meeting that we all expect and deserve.

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Uncategorized

Alliance Council Bylaw 3

6 November 2019

By Martin Buckley

During our October and November 2019 Alliance Council meetings, we discussed a set of amendments to Alliance Bylaw 3 – describing how the Alliance Council can make formal statements.

Alliance Council has always had two types of statement that can be formally made:

  • a Binding Resolution – which is sent for Alliance-wide consideration and vote
  • an Opinion Statement – which is voted on by the Alliance Council

The Bylaw 3 amendment clarifies some of the language and intent for this – and also gives a clear outline of a process where the Alliance Council Executive can make a rapid Opinion Statement on behalf of the full Alliance Council. We have seen recently several cases where this would have been beneficial.

BYLAW 3. METHODS OF INTRODUCING TOPICS FOR A BINDING VOTE OR NON-BINDING OPINION STATEMENT
There are three types of statements that the Council may make: Binding Resolution, Binding Resolution for Alliance-wide Vote and Non-binding Opinion Statement. Alliance Members may propose resolutions or statements through an Alliance Council member.

3.1 Procedure for Proposing a Binding Resolution. The procedure for proposing a Binding Resolution is as follows:
a) Provide a copy of the proposed resolution or statement to the Executive Committee;
b) If approved by majority vote of the Executive Committee, best efforts shall be made to schedule the first reading of the proposed resolution or statement on the Council agenda within the next sixty (60) days;
c) At the meeting where the first reading takes place, the Council Member who presented the proposal shall read the proposal and a discussion on the matter shall take place;
d) At the next scheduled Council Meeting where quorum is present, a vote shall be taken on whether to pass the proposal.

3.2 Binding Resolution to be Proposed for Alliance-Wide Vote. To initiate an Alliance-wide vote on a binding resolution by the Alliance, the question must be approved for an Alliance-wide ballot by a two-thirds vote of Quorum. Prior to voting to put an issue to the Alliance, the Council shall invite the Club to attend a meeting and discuss the issue fully. After an affirmative vote to place a binding resolution on an Alliance-wide ballot, and with at least thirty (30) days prior notice, the question shall be considered by the entire Alliance during the next Alliance-wide voting period as established in the bylaws.

3.3 Non-Binding Opinion Statement by the Council. To pass an opinion statement by the Alliance Council, the question must be approved by a majority vote of Quorum. This may be done at any meeting of the Council where the Opinion Statement is proposed.

3.4 Non-Binding Opinion Statement by the Executive Committee on behalf of the Council. If a time sensitive issue arises that demands a Non-Binding Opinion Statement, the Executive Committee may, by majority vote, make such a statement. This may be done only after first conferring with the Council via electronic or telephonic means and providing an opportunity for input from the Council.

3.5 Council Votes on Matters Proposed by the Club. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Club may request the Council make a statement on any issue that the Club sees fit; such a request does not require a sponsoring Council member or second. All requests from the Club shall receive consideration, discussion, and a vote by the Council or Executive Committee and the Club shall be entitled to send a Club representative to the Council meeting to speak on the issue during the discussion. The Club should make requests through the Alliance Council President and provide thirty days of notice for such matters.