Microsoft, Xbox 360 sponsor new Major League Soccer team Seattle Sounders FC

by Griffin McElroy on May 28th 2008 6:30PM

Those of you who enjoy soccer of the North American variety will begin to see jerseys emblazoned with a very familiar logo (that of the Xbox Live service) when a brand spankin' new Major League Soccer team, the Seattle Sounders FC, makes its debut in the 2009 season. The team (not to be confused with other Sounders franchises in the NASL and USL) recently agreed to a 5-year, $20 million sponsorship from Microsoft and its hot-under-the-hood home console.

In addition to fancy new jerseys, the young team's home field will be tiled "The Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field", and the 360 will reportedly be recognized as the "official and exclusive video game console of Major League Soccer." We pray Sony doesn't respond by sponsoring a competing MLS team -- to combine the zealous fanaticism associated with gaming consoles and soccer teams may incite a fanboy war that would tear our continent asunder.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

Source

Tags: major-league-soccer, majorleaguesoccer, microsoft, mls, seattle, seattle-sounders-fc, seattlesoundersfc, soccer, sounders, sponsor, xbox, Xbox-360, xbox360

Reader Comments (48)

Joystiq

Please, fix the hummingbirds ads... it's annoying.

They'd have to get with their parent company, AOL, to drop the whole shebang. Just won't happen.

as annoying as...

=(

I try to be the less annoying I can, but every Sony fanboy only points me every time I say something about the PS3.

But they never see when other people bash Sony; they only point me.

Everyone knows this isn't the place you want to post if you're a big ps3 fanboy. Sure we have some here but let's not fool ourselves. The number of wii fanboys and 360 fanboys is MUCH greater.

I already told you man, you gotta lay off the drugs. They'll mess you up bad.

That's because Joystiq doesn't have overt loyalty, meaning there is a better representation of the actual console owning population here. So, no surprise that 360 and Wii fanboys outnumber PS3 fanboys as there are fewer PS3 owners than either of the other two.

I didn't even think of that. Makes more sense when you put it that way.

Agree... Joystiq is pretty unbiased. The only place with a lot of Sony fanboys is n4g.com, but they are not normal fanboys... they are kiddos trying to look smart, and they say the most brain dead thing over there.

The only biased blogger that I have seen on Joystiq was Vladimir Cole: he was an asshole.

This question always brings an interesting (completely absurd) conversation.

Why the U.S is the only place in the world were people call football is called soccer?

Actually, it's called soccer in a number of other countries, including Japan.

I meant

Why the U.S is the only place in the world were people call football soccer?

I would've fixed this earlier but those mothereffing hummingbirds won't let me pass.

It's the UK's fault actually. There was an irritating trend in the late 1800s in Britain to butcher words. Soccer is a slang term for Association that British colleges used in the 1890s, around the time the sport was introduced to the United States. Just like how the UK's typo in aluminium causes the US to spell it aluminum, it was a British screw up that is the problem, so blame the UK.

yeah... about that Mr.ESC... you're right that it's completely absurd conversation, right up there with "is the world round or flat?"

The US is hardly the only country to use the term Soccer instead of Football(hell, it's not even the only English-speaking country...) bear witness:

http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=77408

What in the Blue Hell is a Sounders FC?

Sounders Football Club.

Fine, but what's a Sounders?

Seattle is located right next to the Puget Sound. A Sound is kind of like a bay but bigger.

Oh, yippee. We lose our basketball team, the only fucking team to win us a god damn national championship, but we gain an FC. I'm sure there is going to be spontaneous dancing at Pikes market.

Hmm. I don't recall clicking reply to this message....interesting.....

I cannot make replies... stupid hummingbirds...

Serioulsy Joystiq... fucking annoying.

Fernando, try Firefox + adblock, you'll never have an ad or popup related complaint again!

Hmmm... Nintendo owning the Seattle Mariners or Microsoft sponsoring the Seattle Sounders. Nice try Microshit.

I thought Paul Allen owned the mariners. Or is that the supersonics?? Hell I don't know Seattle doesn't have a team worth mentioning for me to care

Sony can get the Seahawks.

Paul Allen owns part of the Seahawks and part of the Sounders FC. Nintendo owns the Mariners. Some douchebags now own the Sonics.

I knew it anytime now these consoles will vie for your support and if you pick one you'll have to kill people from opposing sides hopefully this doesn't happen.

Sony will start up a club that revolves around very well known players but getting on in age. They'll do alright, but won't win any championships.

Nintendo will start up a club with mostly unknown college players, they'll be ridiculed in the pre-season and steamroll to a championship.

Also today, the US lost 2-0 to England.

Go US Soccer teams!

I may be in the minority here but I am VERY happy to see yet another MLS team form up. As the league gets more and more popular we will, hopefully, begin to see some real coverage of what is my one and only sport.

Although I am a Galaxy fan... Donovan ftw!

I'm very happy too. I already have season tickets =)

Yes, it's always nice to see the AYSO expand.
:)

oh they couldnt save the fucking sonics?!?

At this point, there's not much that can. XD

If Microsoft bidded on the Supersonics while there was still a chance of keeping the team in Seattle, I would have given a damn. But MLS? Screw that!

Also of note: SCREW THESE FLIPPING HUMINGBIRDS!!!

MS is only giving $20 million over 5 years for this MLS sponsorship. This is completely different then trying to save the Sonics...that would've taken a lot more then 4 million a year.

*Insert witty joke about how red card = RRoD*

Sorry people, im just too lazy right now.

So, If one of them gets injured, do they have 3 red lights that start flashing?

Do they have to pay a monthly fee for playing for the team??

Considering I am a Seattleite... I can't wait!! I am really pumped to have a Soccer team here and now they are sponsored by our very own, Xbox...that is awesome!

This is awesome news!

Seattle Sounders FC!

To me, soccer in NA is very funny. No one really cares, theres other sports that are way more popular, but white people are funny. Its fun to play though. MS is trying to market to their home base, US, SONY does something similar in europe. Now its nintendo's turn.

What are you talking about? Sony does nothing similar? You don't watch football over here do you? Stop speaking nonsense.

Its good to see Soccer becoming more popular in America, with or without Microsoft or David Beckham's help.

I still don't understand why some still classify it as not manly enough, when practically most of the world enjoys it :S

fanboys + hooligans = !!!!!!

fanbooligans? hooliboys?

lol

Do you get a Red Ring for flagrant fouls?

Nice to see the community support in Seattle though.

I can see it now, sony sponsors another team, as does nintendo. The first time any of these teems meet, a rabid fanboy soccer riot ensues.

Headlines read "geeks maimed in soccer game"

Never thought i'd see an MLS-related topic on Joystiq. And go MLS, it's good to see the league gaining some steam recently.

I'm happy that Seattle has been included in the MLS. It's really about time since the original Sounders team seems to be very successful. Although I was hoping they would call themselves Emerald City FC. I think that sounds a lot better.

Anyways, there have been rumors that Thierry Henry was in talks with the Sounders. Doesn't seem likely, but all you kids in Seattle should hope anyways.

The only soccer I care about is the MISL (Major Indoor Soccer League)

When you see a MISL game, I'm sure you'll like it over the MLS. And since I gotta say it...

GO BLAST!!! GONNA WIN ANOTHER CHAMPIONSHIP NEXT SEASON!!

Microsoft, Xbox 360 sponsor new Major League Soccer team Seattle Sounders FC

Reader Comments (48)

Posted: May 28th 2008 6:35PM FernandoRocker said

Posted: May 28th 2008 6:37PM LaughingTarget said

Posted: May 28th 2008 6:52PM CommentSystem said

Posted: May 28th 2008 6:57PM FernandoRocker said

Posted: May 28th 2008 6:59PM (Unverified) said

Posted: May 28th 2008 7:00PM NO DOUBT GET LOUD said

Posted: May 28th 2008 7:01PM LaughingTarget said

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Posted: May 28th 2008 6:56PM LaughingTarget said

Posted: May 28th 2008 9:04PM AoE said

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Posted: May 28th 2008 6:51PM Kodros said

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Posted: May 28th 2008 6:55PM Kodros said

Posted: May 28th 2008 6:57PM Double J said

Posted: May 28th 2008 6:58PM Double J said

Posted: May 28th 2008 6:43PM FernandoRocker said

Posted: May 28th 2008 9:06PM AoE said

Posted: May 28th 2008 6:44PM (Unverified) said

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Posted: May 28th 2008 7:02PM LaughingTarget said

Posted: May 28th 2008 7:02PM Kodros said

Posted: May 28th 2008 6:53PM L3gato said

Posted: May 28th 2008 6:58PM LaughingTarget said

Posted: May 28th 2008 6:52PM Neebs said

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Posted: May 28th 2008 6:58PM Kodros said

Posted: May 28th 2008 8:25PM Mr Awesomer said

Posted: May 28th 2008 6:53PM CommentSystem said

Posted: May 28th 2008 7:18PM FredFredrickson said

Posted: May 28th 2008 7:26PM Levi Partridge said

Posted: May 28th 2008 10:43PM Kodros said

Posted: May 28th 2008 7:02PM NO DOUBT GET LOUD said

Posted: May 28th 2008 7:04PM Pojomofo said

Posted: May 28th 2008 7:35PM Deck said

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Posted: May 28th 2008 8:18PM Spunky Monkey 190906 said

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