Seattle Sounders FC Logo PNG
The Seattle Sounders football club emblem, executed in a traditional graphic style, features an important city symbol. The emblem’s overall symbolism demonstrates the close unity of the team, fans, and city. The color palette reflects the natural features of the region.
Seattle Sounders FC: Brand overview
Seattle Sounders FC is a football team from Seattle. It is a member of the Western Conference of the Football League. It is the successor to a North American Football League club of the same name, founded in 1974 and disbanded on September 6, 1983, due to financial problems.
Seattle Sounders was revived in 1994. Seattle joined the United Soccer League with a new franchise owned by former Microsoft executive Scott Oki. In 1997, the team moved to the USL First Division. Paul Allen, one of the decision-makers, tried to promote the team to MLS, but the city didn’t meet soccer standards. He considered the commissioner’s requirements and built Seahawks Stadium but was again denied: since 2000, sports organizations had to be managed by investors, not the league.
In 2002, general manager Adrian Hanauer became the club’s principal owner. The entrepreneur joined forces with strong partners to cover the 30-million-dollar franchise cost: Joe Roth received 35% of the shares, Adrian Hanauer – 32.5%, Paul Allen – 25%, and Drew Carey – 7.5%. On November 13, 2007, the league agreed with them. A team replaced the “Seattle Sounders” from USL with a similar name. In 2009, it moved to MLS. It was a “phoenix club” that became the successor to the original NASL club.
Managers organized a survey to determine the club’s name. From March 27 to 31, 2008, fans had to choose between Seattle Alliance, Seattle Republic, and Seattle FC. Organizers intentionally removed the “Seattle Sounders” to radically change the brand’s image. This caused a wave of protest among the local population, so the owners were allowed to put forward their names.
Among 14,500 respondents, 49% suggested various forms of the word “Sounders.” It’s connected to Puget Sound, a bay located near Seattle. “FC” stands for Football Club, but the official version contains the abbreviation.
The name belonged to Adrian Hanauer, so there were no problems with transferring rights to MLS. In 2015, Hanauer became the majority investor instead of Joe Roth. In 2019, Roth left the ownership group. His place was taken by the company Eleven Powerful Families New Sounders FC Partners, managed by Microsoft Vice President Terry Myerson. The remaining shares were divided among minority shareholders, such as Peter Tomozawa, Jody Allen, Drew Carey, and Paul Allen.
Meaning and History
The Seattle Sounders football club emblem symbolizes the collective spirit of the region, which is known for its unique combination of traditions and innovations. The emblem serves as a beacon for casual fans and devoted supporters, representing the team as an organization with historical roots open to contemporary influences. The logo emphasizes that Seattle Sounders FC is deeply connected with its community and strives for excellence. The team’s role goes beyond the football field, serving as a symbol complementing the region’s cultural fabric.
One of the main symbols of the Seattle Sounders football club is the pointed Space Needle. It’s the city’s main attraction, located in the very center of the city. One can see the nearby islands, Mount Rainier, and the large Cascade Range from its top. Another feature of the tower is its unique architectural style, Googie. The emblem creators tried to convey its originality but did so without much detail: they depicted only the general outlines of the Space Needle without details.
What is Seattle Sounders FC?
Seattle Sounders FC is a professional football team from Seattle, Washington, founded in 2007. It entered the league in 2009 as part of the expansion program. The club is a member of the Western Conference, representing it in MLS. The principal owner of the franchise is Adrian Hanauer, with minority owners being Paul Allen and Drew Carey.
1994 – 2008
After the club’s return in 1994, the Seattle Sounders logo adopted an original design: the letter “O” was replaced with the image of an orca striking a soccer ball. More precisely, the orca appears to leap from the letter “O” and hit the ball.
The emblem is rendered in a vibrant color scheme dominated by blue and turquoise, suggesting the club’s connection to the ocean and the active marine life of the region. Above the orca’s head is a stylized soccer ball, surrounded by a burst of red-orange color, adding liveliness and the excitement of the sport to the composition.
The orca was chosen as the club’s symbol, reflecting natural strength, energy, and Seattle’s bond with water. The word “Sounders” is displayed in a large font with soft, flowing letterforms, conveying the club’s character and atmosphere focused on movement and team play. The word “Seattle,” positioned above the main text, is set in a smaller size, neatly completing the overall composition.
Using an orca as a soccer player distinguishes the team from other clubs, conveying ideas of boldness, energy, and athletic passion. The color palette and line dynamics form an image of a club that is deeply connected to the city and its natural surroundings.
2009 – 2023
In 2009, the Seattle Sounders logo was changed again, related to the club’s transition to MLS. The presentation occurred on April 7, 2008, at the Space Needle. This place was chosen because the famous landmark was again in focus. The globally recognized symbol of Seattle was drawn inside a complex heraldic shield consisting of two parts. The combination of elements symbolizes cooperation between the team’s owners, players, city, and fans.
The color palette of the “Seattle Sounders” logo is also symbolic. The blue color (Sounder Blue) symbolizes the water around the city, specifically Puget Sound. Green (Rave Green) represents the forests of the Pacific Northwest. The dark gray outline signifies the Cascade Range mountains east of Seattle. The words “Seattle Sounders FC” are printed in the same color and inside a curved white rectangle opposite the “Seattle Sounders” logo.
The font matches the style of the illustration: it looks as futuristic as the famous tower. The first word – “SEATTLE” – is written in a rough rectangular font with serifs. Against its background, “SOUNDERS FC” doesn’t seem so strict: the letter “S” here is smoother and rounder than in the previous case. But some letters (“U,” “D,” “E,” “R,” and “F”) have sharp triangular serifs, with “E” and “F” having them in the middle, not at the ends.
The colors were chosen considering their hidden meaning: each shade reflects the bodies of water, mountains, and forests. The designers used Cascade Range (#1D252D) for the outlines and Space Needle, Rave Green (#658D1B) for the triangular heraldic shield, and Sounder Blue (#236192) for the pentagonal geometric figure in the background.
2023 – today
The football club emblem is designed as a shield, conveying strength and reliability. The outer shape is multi-layered, creating a sense of depth and volume. At the center is a recognizable regional symbol — the iconic Space Needle tower, representing local identity and urban tradition.
The depiction of the tower is schematic, composed of straight and curved lines. The thin, pointed top element reaches upward, reflecting the club’s ambition and pursuit of success and high achievement.
On either side of the tower are the numbers “19” and “74,” indicating the year the club was founded. The symmetry of these elements organizes the composition and adds structure. The font’s geometric style and the numbers’ blue color harmonize with the emblem’s other elements.
Two borders run along the outline of the emblem, organizing the visual perception and emphasizing the key components of the design. The inner blue border highlights the central composition with the tower, while the outer emerald line adds a sense of motion and finishes the overall look.
The emblem design connects the club’s historical background with its regional identity. The visual image of the Space Needle signifies belonging to a specific place and reflects the city’s atmosphere where the club originated and continues to grow. The colors and shapes convey the location’s spirit, uniting natural elements with the urban environment.
Font and Colors
The color scheme of the emblem reflects the club’s close connection to the surrounding area. The main green shade is associated with the region’s natural richness — forests, hills, and parklands. The accompanying blue elements reference the city’s proximity to water and the coastline. A vivid emerald line around the outer edge completes the design and adds expressiveness.
