MLS values climb as Sounders pursue capital ahead of World Cup wave

The Seattle Sounders person launched a “strategic superior raise” to bring successful a important extracurricular partner, a determination that could assistance money a soccer-specific stadium. The nine has hired Moelis & Co. to tally the process, its archetypal open-market hunt for concern since joining MLS successful 2009. Sportico values the Sounders astatine $825 million. The rise applies lone to the MLS nine and does not see the NWSL’s Seattle Reign, acquired past twelvemonth for a reported $58 million.

This is not different personage sliver. The squad is seeking a large, strategical number involvement that delivers fiscal musculus and semipermanent alignment. Majority proprietor Adrian Hanauer framed it arsenic a generational step. “I americium highly arrogant of what Sounders FC represents successful our assemblage and the broader North American shot ecosystem,” helium said. “We’ve built a instauration of excellence implicit the past 51 years, and we judge that present is the close clip to question further partners who tin assistance america execute our imaginativeness for the adjacent 50 years.”

Stadium calculus and the Longacres plan

A cardinal usage of proceeds could beryllium a dedicated stadium astatine the club’s Longacres tract successful Renton, Washington, which already houses the office and grooming complex. The Sounders’ lease astatine Lumen Field runs done 2032; caller superior would fto the nine afloat research a Longacres physique portion keeping options open. The enactment stresses this is an enlargement of ambition, not a pivot from success: Seattle finished 2nd successful MLS attendance this twelvemonth and has lifted 2 MLS Cups (2016, 2019) and the 2022 Concacaf Champions Cup.

Market discourse and ownership dynamics

MLS woody travel has accelerated up of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Real Salt Lake sold for astir $600 cardinal past year; Vancouver and San Jose are presently connected the market, portion Austin and Columbus person added investors. In Seattle, Hanauer—majority proprietor since 2015—intends to stay astatine the helm, but the nine has not ruled retired a alteration successful power if the close connection emerges. The aim, helium says, is to adhd momentum astatine a pivotal infinitesimal for the league and the region.