Seattle's MLS team spurs ticket rush

When Adrian Hanauer talked about the Major League Soccer team he plans to put on the field for Seattle's inaugural season in 2009, the general manager and minority owner of Seattle's expansion franchise used words such as "fast" and "aggressive." Little did Hanauer know he was also describing the team's fan base.

After waiting 13 years since the league's inception to get a team, more than 3,000 fans couldn't wait another day and submitted a deposit on season tickets Wednesday for the first season of Seattle MLS -- even though the opening game is still 17 months away.

"This is what we were hoping for, but we didn't know exactly what to expect," Hanauer said. "To hear that so many people responded just within the first 30 hours shows me that this is going to be a success."

Deposits for season tickets were being taken through the team's Web site (mlsinseattle.com), guaranteeing priority seating for those who put down $50 per seat.

Hanauer said he doesn't expect the initial boom in ticket sales to last long, but does think there will be a steady stream of new tickets sold in the coming months. With several announcements still in the works -- including a team name, coach and players -- several sales spikes could happen again while the season approaches.

The team is taking suggestions for a team name, already fielding more than 2,000 submissions through the Web site.

The club's ownership group consists of Hanauer, Seahawks owner Paul Allen and his Vulcan Sports & Entertainment unit, comedian Drew Carey and majority owner Joe Roth. The Seattle MLS club will play its home games at Qwest Field.

Although the team is far from naming players or coaches, Roth expressed interest Tuesday in starting the team with U.S. national team goalkeeper and Lacey product Kasey Keller. Keller has played his professional career in Europe since 1992, but has said he would like to finish his career in Seattle.