Editor's Note: SoundersFC.com is counting down the Top 10 Stories of the Year in December, recognizing the top storylines on and off the field in 2015. Here are the five stories that just missed the countdown.
No. 15 - THE NINETY Opens in Pioneer Square
When the Sounders FC front office split business operations from the Seahawks in May 2014 and moved into a new office in Pioneer Square, the possibilities to connect with fans were seemingly endless. With offices just blocks from CenturyLink Field, the club started building a space where Sounders fans young and old could congregate and celebrate their shared love for the Rave Green.
In early March, THE NINETY opened its doors to the Sounders faithful for the first time to unveil the 2015 new Rave Green and Olympic White kits, marking the first of many events to be held in the space on Occidental Ave. Located on the March to the Match route, THE NINETY is a 3,700-square-foot cultural hub of soccer that features a 25-foot custom trophy case that showcases the club’s history, as well as a 2,000-pound, Dale Chihuly green and blue icicle chandelier that hangs above a 30-foot boardroom table.
In addition to the jersey event, throughout the season THE NINETY has hosted regular pre-match festivities, viewing parties, press conferences, music shows and community outreach events including The Seattle Foundation’s GiveBIG – a one-day charitable fundraising event that raised over $16 million.
No. 14 – Dempsey shines for U.S. National Team
Clint Dempsey has put together one of the best international careers in the history of the USMNT, and 2015 was no different. Despite a disappointing fourth-place finish for the Americans in the CONCACAF Gold Cup, Dempsey was certainly one of the highlights, with a tournament-leading seven goals en route to earning Golden Boot honors, including his first international hat trick in a 6-0 rout of Cuba.
Since his first senior USMNT cap in 2004, the 32-year-old has netted 48 international goals, second only to Landon Donovan (57) on the all-time list. However, his goal in the Gold Cup third-place match against Panama marked his 43rd non-PK tally, passing Donovan, who notched 15 goals from penalty kicks throughout his international career. With 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying on the horizon in 2016, a race for the record will surely be on for the man from Nacogdoches.
Dempsey was nominated for the U.S. Soccer Player of the Year for his efforts, seeking his record-tying fourth honor.
No. 13 – Sounders debut Halo-themed jerseys
For an Oct. 4 home matchup with the LA Galaxy, the Sounders did something never before done in MLS. In a groundbreaking initiative, the club worked with jersey partner Xbox to unveil new Halo 5: Guardians-themed Pitch Black jerseys, the first time an MLS club altered its jerseys for any match mid-season. Matchday festivities included a life-size Warthog vehicle featured in the Halo franchise on-site in Soccer Celebration and Halo 5: Guardians characters the Master Chief and Spartan Locke on-site for fans to take pictures and interact with.
The game itself? Chad Barrett netted a stoppage-time equalizer as the Rave Green drew the Galaxy 1-1 in front of 56,097 fans and a nationally televised audience at CenturyLink Field.
No. 12 – Stefan Frei enjoys career year
Goalkeeper Stefan Frei had a career year in 2015, his second between the posts for the Rave Green. The 29-year-old posted a career-high 10 shutouts and set a club record with 111 saves in 2015, while also leading MLS in save percentage (77.6) and ranking second in goals against average (1.06). Frei was one of just two goalkeepers in MLS this season to post 100 saves, 10 shutouts and 10 wins, as well as just the eighth in league history to accumulate 14 wins, 10 shutouts and 110 saves in a single season.
The Swiss netminder was voted the club’s Defender of the Year by his teammates and coaches, but was not included in the three finalists for MLS Goalkeeper of the Year despite ranking near the top of the league in almost every statistical category. In an up-and-down year riddled with injuries and international absences, Frei provided a calming, steady and consistent presence for a defense that was tied for the fewest goals allowed in MLS.
No. 11 – Community outreach shines in October
Under the guidance of Director of Community Outreach Roger Levesque, Sounders FC made waves for its charitable efforts this past season. With the launch of Levesque’s United in Green initiative, the club was as active as ever in the community this past season connecting fans and impacting those in need through the game of soccer.
Throughout the month of September, Sounders FC teamed up with various local and national charitable organizations – including Make-A-Wish Foundation, Seattle Children’s Hospital, Ronald McDonald House and the Austen Everett Foundation – for its 30 in 30 campaign for Childhood Cancer Awareness month, a commitment to engage with and positively impact children and families battling cancer each day throughout the month.
2015 Sounders FC Humanitarian of the Year Brad Evans was especially active, teaming with Austen Everett to stand shoulder to shoulder with Sounders FC Honorary Captain Isiah Waiters for the September 4 match vs. Toronto FC.
For the charitable efforts throughout the season, Seattle Business Magazine honored Sounders FC as the “Business of the Year in Midsize Companies” at their 2015 Community Impact Awards on Oct. 21, making the Sounders the first sports franchise to ever receive the honor. Additionally, Evans finished as runner-up for MLS WORKS Humanitarian of the Year to Columbus Crew SC’s Kei Kamara.
