Kita- He's becoming I'm going to go on the record and say there should be an untold sounders story podcast for next year. I love that. I love that. If we can find video of that dating thing that was on Comcast. It's on YouTube. It's on YouTube. No, no, no, no, no. You're talking about Evan Brown? Yes. You have it. We could probably find it. Probably find it. He pretended he was a dolphin trainer based out of cows. And by the time he finished talking, he was so drunk. He was over sideways.
But was it Chad Marshall post 2019? Oh my God. That was my favorite interview. I just got a minute to do a higher life. All right. Are we doing this? Yes, we're doing it. Go. Oh, Mr. Host. No, we're not live. We're just recording. All right, everyone. Welcome to this special edition of Side by Side podcast. It is Side by Side. We have Keeley Taylor Graham and Michelle Lutka. Welcome. Thank you. And we are live from Mo Pop today. The sounders unveiling a refresh.
Are we calling it a refresh, Taylor? Brand evolution. We are not a club that needs reinvention bed. Oh, like, can you expand on that? Let's just jump straight into it. Yeah. First of all, I've lost my voice because it's been so fun. Anytime Mike Facito shows up at a party, you know, it's going to be a good one. To Boxery. Look, I think this is personal to me. I think it's personal to a lot of guys that are here. It's been a two year journey trying to build the work that was showcased today.
But look, I moved to Seattle, I knew nobody, and I slept on somebody's couch before I trained in my first session with the team. My journey started with this club before Major League Soccer. A lot of people did too. Today was about building a brand identity system that's representative of all four. Are there's the club not just Major League Soccer? Because for those that don't know, there was a lot of pushback. The sounders were minor league. And you guys are joining Major League Soccer.
And what we know for the first 15 years of Major League Soccer, we're the most successful MLS franchise in the last 50 years. And so that history and heritage is what makes us unique. And so as we build for the next 50, to me, it's only emblematic of this club that it's built on the foundation of the roots of the last 50 years. So you've been around other sports. You've been around a number of other sports, Michelle.
What you guys have seen tonight, and I was that Columbus crew, and then straight here in Kansas City. And the only thing, a Kansas City kind of, they went through a whole rebranding at some point. So that felt a little bit different to today. But have you guys ever been around anything like this where you've seen an evolution of a club that's been so successful? Because I feel like new brands come when it's needed, right? Like we need a big switch. We need something to change in the water.
Yeah, exactly a spark. But this is different. That guy's ever been around anything. The only team I can think of is the University of Oregon football team back when they signed with Nike. And they had 8,000 different jerseys and different combinations. Sorry, everyone at University of Oregon, I know. It was the only team that I could think of. And it was just very cool because all of their merch or whatever. But it was nothing like an actual brand evolution, like Taylor said.
It was just a bunch of cool merch. This is a whole facelift. It's amazing. I completely agree. And I think what is so special about this, and Taylor really hit on it, is the history and the storytelling behind this. It isn't just, OK, what are the colors we want? What is the logo we want? What looks flashy on a kit? What will sell in the pro shop? Things like that. No. Let's evolve the story. This is four or five decades of a club. And we're preparing for the next five decades of a club.
And I love that every single piece tells that story. And for someone like me, I mean, Brad Taylor, you both have been around the club longer than I am. I think I started covering the club in 2012. And was a fan before that. But some of the stories I know and the history I know about this club is because of the players that have told it to me over the years. Or Brian Schmetzer, who shared it with me over the years.
And I think this is such a beautiful way for the next generation of players and fans to continue to understand that history. And back to your question, Brad, I have never been around a club, team, organization, school, anything. That is so ingrained into its storytelling and wanting that message and that history and all the feelings that go with it to continue on and on and build on it. Will you talk about the storytelling a little bit, Taylor? And why you feel that's so important?
Yeah, you know what I was going to say is, so we read and listen to anyone who will talk to us about this stuff. And I think the two of our chin comments that I've heard more than others is number one, why are you guys doing this? Why would you guys possibly try to evolve away from something that's so successful? That's number one. And number two is, don't get it wrong. Because if you're going to make any changes, you don't tweak with the line of it's working. That's winning championships.
That's producing success. And so first and foremost, when you have a history as rich and deep as the sounders, and you look in your closet, and you have two things available. You have a primary crest, and you have a wordmark. And everything else is the folklore that you've heard from your cousin's brother's friend. That's the story. Something's broken, right? Because you have to formalize and pull that history in heritage. And so the why is driven by going deep in our roots.
And number two is, I hope today means we stuck the landing. That the club stuck the landing, that we didn't mess it up, that we listened to the insights and finding of the fans. And it was super interesting to hear the why behind their selections. 71% of fans, over the 10,000, said the MLS identity embodies the spirit of this club. And when we said, well, why? What is it? Two things stood out. Number one, it's a space needle. The space needle is iconic. It's recognizable.
It's appealing. It's the Eiffel Tower in the middle of the PSG batch. I might not go there. That's not where I spend my weekends. But it's the thing that's one of a kind and put this region on the map. And that, to me, is it stands out as being a unique across a global scale. Number two is the shape of the bag. It was pointy. It was edgy. It was unique and different. And when you look at it, it screams, sounders. The new badge is the same. Nobody else has the same form or shape to it.
It's just more efficient. And it can be scaled in different places. It's really important that this brand can translate onto a crest, onto a kit, onto a stadium in our match day, because that is our core product. It's also really important that this brand can translate into signage and consumer products and smartphones, because the next generation of sounders fans are going to start with the thing that's in their pocket.
And so the way that this system can have doors that invites people in, since day one, Brad, I don't know if you felt this, I've felt a sense of belonging with this club. A place to be myself and to be my true self. And whether you're a soccer nerd like myself or you're a sports fan or you're just want to be part of a community that's committed to doing really cool stuff, there's a place for you in this club.
And so if you've never tasted what a sounders match day is, you've always been adverse to trying something, come and try it, because it's unique and different. And that's why I moved here and never left. So the funny that you said that about the Eiffel Tower, was just at the Space Needle with some family from out of town. And one of the quotes on there says that the Space Needle is the Eiffel Tower of North America. And it brings me to my second point.
And I think a little bit of chatter I've heard is why isn't the name on the logo. But to your point, everyone knows what the Space Needle is. And the club is so successful. I don't think we need a name on the badge. Everyone, anyone in MLS, that's a fan, knows exactly what that team is. And we've done a good job of keeping it pretty neutral in a way that we didn't go too far off the scale. We kept enough that people are going to know what it is. It's more modern.
What was the biggest hiccup in the whole process? Gosh, roadblocks, roadblocks, something like that. Where are we miss? Well, let's be positive today. I think it's a good challenge. What's a challenge? Sure. Yeah, sure. And where we were just like, oh no. I got you. I got you. Honestly, I think it was the commitment to undertake the process. Once you say, we're going to open the door and see what the research says. You're opening yourself up to change. And change is really hard.
And no one wanted to change a lineup that was working either. And so there was a lot of concern that this was an exercise to solve something that needed to be fixed. And as soon as the research and insights surface, and everyone said, our history is unique and different. And if this is the moment to acknowledge that that has not always been the phase, the case, and to fix it, they were all in. The re- there was a lot of discussion about the name being in the badger not.
The starting point of not having your name and your request is a position of privilege. The fact that this symbol can scream sounders means that you are relevant. You're relevant. Locally, you're relevant within your league. You're relevant within the global soccer community. And for those that don't know what this badges, you compare it with the word mark. So it's flexible. It creates more extensions for the brands. When it's on your crest, you know it's a soccer kit.
When it's on a bumper sticker on the back of your brand new Subaru brand, maybe you want the name and convention on. Toyota. Yeah, Toyota. Excuse me. It's OK. Doesn't everyone in Washington drive a Subaru? You got to have at least one. I'm actually surprised, Brad, doesn't. But I agree with you on that. I'm a Prius guy. I'm a Prius guy. Especially with the logo. And when you were talking about that, all I could think of is I'm a proud cougar. I went to WSU. Everyone knows the WSU logo.
And yes, it is WSU. But it's in the shape of a cougar. It doesn't say Washington state. And that is known worldwide all around. You see people saying go cougs whenever you see it. Gameday. It's like that. College Gameday. Yes. And it's, yes. College Gameday. Have not missed a college Gameday in what, 15 years, something like that. But for me, the Sounders logo has started to become that. And I have noticed it in the last five, three, five years traveling.
You'll see people in random places and countries. You didn't think that know it. Or if I have something on, people will be like, oh, Seattle Sounders. They'll know it. And so I think you guys really hit the nail on that. I don't know. Does it make you like them? You go up and you give them a hug. It's this. It's this. We are all Sounders, right? Isn't that the whole branding and messaging behind it? I think it's beautiful. Well, Taylor, you want to leave us with anything else? My gosh.
I need a nap. Yeah, yeah. I'm going to say cathartic release tonight, Taylor. Yeah, look, I think I said this to a couple people today. I woke up with the same butterflies I had when we played, whether you're playing an open cup game or you're playing in any competition. There was a sense of pride and responsibility that I felt every time I wore the jersey of this club. That's that same pride and responsibility that I was thinking about this morning.
Because there's nothing more important than the identity of this club, especially for where it aspires to go, and you can't win championships on the first day, but you can lose them. And the fact that the voices spoke today that said that the work is good and it was rooted in good work isn't indicative of the North Star. We've been trying to follow this whole time. So thank you for those who participated. I'm a fan, first and foremost. So it's been fun to participate myself.
And hopefully people like it. I think they do. I think it's, I think you guys killed it. And it was a really fun night to be a part of. So thanks for coming on. Yeah. Congratulations, Taylor. Likewise. Likewise, likewise. Thanks all. All right. Thanks. Thanks. Bye. So favorite, there was a lot of read doing some different brand and we're not going to call it read-for-hand. But we've got so many different usable logos now.
And when I filled out the survey, it was, we actually sat there in a Zoom group of former players, all alumni. And welcome. Do you want to introduce yourself? You just jumped on the podcast. Yes. Danny Jackson, alumni of the Seattle Sounders. And current play-by-play-play-play-play-play-play-play. So what I was saying is we had a big Zoom and they were asking former players about, OK, what does Seattle mean to you? And we took a survey beforehand.
And I think everyone pretty much said the space needle, right? But also paying homage to different logos. And somehow, we've always seen the off brand kits in the past are Mitchell and Nest and brands like that that have done a couple different logos. And people are like, wow, that's really cool. But now we have it all under one umbrella. And how important that is to take pieces from every single era and have it in one crest. What sticks out to you the most with this?
I think it's modern, it's clean, it's symbolic of who we are and what we are. And I think it shows, as you mentioned, I think the word heritage is really important, but history. I think on the stage today, we saw all those players from the players from the very, very beginning all the way through. Brian Schmetz was obviously being a consistent theme in that from the 80s all the way through to today. And I think just a longevity of friendships is really important. I think this crystallizes it.
And I think the most important thing in Adrian mentioned it, you mentioned it, it's the fans. And even when I was playing the depth of support for this club in the community was amazing. And it's just obviously grown and evolved over the years when MLS has been around. And yeah, it's just really exciting to see what the next 50 years will have and what an amazing team of people to put this together. What was your initial reaction?
I'll ask that to everyone, but first, Danny, initial reaction when you saw it. Dynamic. Dynamic. Michelle? Ooh. My initial reaction? Well, am I supposed to pick a word? Whatever. Your initial reaction? I'm not being one word. My initial reaction. I mean, you know I'm a woman of many words. You don't need me to talk more. But I loved it. I thought it reminded me honestly of logos from Europe is kind of what I thought, which I thought was really a special in need.
And to your point, Brad, about all the different options, I just couldn't wait. I can't wait to see what the kit looks like. I can't wait to see what makes it on there. Kila? I was just so excited because it was so authentic. Authenticity. I think that a lot of times when other teams and other clubs do these rebrands, fans get upset because it deviates so far from not just what the old logo looked like, but what the team stands for and represents.
And we took the fact that the sounders are amazing. Like, they just killed it. They killed it. It so fits the brand. I just used quotes. I hate using the brand, but they just did such an amazing job. Authenticity. Yeah. When I first saw it, I just thought modern. And I thought that we've now kind of grown up. Because I think when you look at logos from yesterday, they're very playful. I think playful. They're kind of reaching a younger demographic.
But I think we've come to this point where everything is streamlined. Our phones are streamlined. Our cars are streamlined. And now we've come to a logo that embodies things from the past, but it just feels more grown up. And even more professional to me. And so I'm really excited about it. Is there a moment, Danny, from yes, your year where you put a jersey on and you were like, this is my jersey. This is my favorite jersey. This is what I would wear when I'm buried in my coffin.
Not a nice suit. Which jersey of yes, your way? I would say my final game for the sound was against Montreal in Montreal. And I got a red card. And my shirt is ripped in half. Because it was a game against Montreal, always highly competitive. And we were reminiscing about the 2004 championship. We lost there in the final against Montreal. And the place was rocking. But my shirt from the sound is my final game is ripped in half.
And somebody pulled it and I struck back harder and left a mark on him as well. So you still have the jersey. I have my jersey. I love that. Which one is it? It's the blue one with the blue sound is one, kind of like a royal blue. Yeah. It's very fun. Please tell me that it's hanging somewhere like in a frame and you can really see the rip. It is hanging, yes. It's hanging. OK. So Taylor talked about heritage and fans from a long time ago.
You may have found something of sound has had a good will. Or like he said, from a family member or something like that. How deeply entrenched do you feel that the sounders are in this community? Like I said, when we did camps, so back in the day, soccer's not what it was then as it is now. And we had to earn a buck here and a buck there. And we did sounders camps.
And again, I remember parents of the times, this is nearly 2000s, dropping their kids off to a summer camp for the sounders and then telling stories about when they were kids. Because it was a lot less national and international the city than there was. Myself and many of the sounders players came from different areas of the country. And we were some of those outsiders. And that was what resonated to me as a player.
I didn't quite understand the depth of it until you start to hear the stories from people from the street who drop their kids. I was like, hey, I remember doing this. So I remember meeting these players like the Bobby Moors and the Jeff Hurts and the Harry Rednecks and stuff. So that resonated to me how deep it was in the community. So I was one of those kids. Oh, yeah. I didn't attend camp. But when I was on a youth team in the 1990s, I went to, it was like kids day at Memorial Field.
And I went with my whole team. We all were our jerseys. And we went and I remember the players signing autographs afterwards. And they were doing giveouts. And I actually have a soccer ball signed from, I need to figure out the year. But I have a mini soccer ball signed by the entire sounders from the late 1990s. And it's so funny to me now being in this role with the club that I'm like, I know I have it in a box somewhere. I'm like, I need to find out. I need to see who signed it.
Because I'm like, who is my colleagues? Who are my colleagues now that signed this ball that I was a little girl eight, nine years old watching and cheering on over at Memorial Stadium. So I think it's beautiful. That's very fun. What you and the sounders really instilled in the community. I mean, from years ago and on, I think it's just really a special thing. Yeah. So we got two more sounders stepping up to the plate. Any parting words for us tonight, Danny?
No, I think Brian Schmets has said it well. I think he's the person that transcends the years of the sounders. He continues to be the best voicepiece for this club as does Adrian Hanau. And I think the consistency of personnel through the sounders, yourself included, right? Player now in the community. I think that's what makes this club so powerful and strong. You see, a lot of clubs just kind of navigate through different people and different personnel. And there's no connectivity.
And I think that's what, when I look at the players on the stage and the words that was said, it's bringing that community together on and off the field. It's great. Thanks, Danny. Well said, Danny. All right, thank you guys. So we got two more sounders to come on the podcast at the same time. Both of you guys, let's go. Come on. Oh, yeah, we've got two good ones coming. Yes, don't be shy. Hi there. We got two waiting. One's going to step up to the plate right now. It's Mr. Mike Fasito.
Forming up, you want to introduce yourself? How would you introduce yourself? Go ahead. I don't know how to answer that. You don't know how to answer that? Hi, my name is. My name is Mike Fasito. I was the first sounder's draft class with Steve Zachowani. What number was Steve Zachowani? Numerou, who know? What number were you? Like 94. 94, 95. And then Mr. Paul Rothrock. It's not Paul. Welcome, though. Good to see you. Good to see you. Thanks for coming.
This is a really exciting moment for me, because I have never had the pleasure of meeting either of these two individuals. Personally. Yes, this is incredible. I just had the pleasure of meeting Paul a few minutes ago, actually. Oh, there we go. So you didn't know anything about this guy? Actually, on the contrary. Yeah, really funny story. Yeah, tell us. So Jackson and I have known each other for a while. And Jackson's joke when we were little, I was always a short little guy.
He called me Mike Fasito. You were the Mike Fasito of the club teams. Yeah, I was Mike Fasito of our CIA United team and our Sounders Academy team. Oh, I love that. He's always called me Mike. And Mike, you're like, yes, finally. And one of you has grown up and the other still hasn't. That being said, somebody did just come up to me and say, are you Taylor Graham? And I was like, wow. Interesting. Have been like the movie twins. I'll take it. Do you have any memories of Mike playing? Yes, I do.
I do. Which one sticks out? Well, I don't know if I have like a, it's more of like a broad, broad, because I remember that year 2009. Obviously, I was a Sounders fan before MLS days, but I remember 2009 how eager my dad and I were to get Sounders tickets and going to that. We didn't make it to the inaugural match, but we went to several matches that year. And I remember specifically that season because I was going into my senior year in college.
And I remember we had to plan it so I could go do it before we went to school. And I'll never forget the atmosphere and seeing the players come out there because for me, I mean, it was the first time I'd seen soccer in person on that big of a stage. And so for me, that's what I remember when I think of like the 2019 and on. And I mean, I remember watching you play too, Brad, and it's just, yeah. Amazing. What are your first memories, Paul? I went to the 2009 game as well. The opener.
Oh, you were lucky. You got tickets. I was 10. You were 10? That was terrifying. That's, yeah. Give me my kid, man. Yeah, I remember, you know, I went to a lot of the games with my dad. I remember, you know, I loved watching Freddie play. Freddie was one of my favorite players growing up, so it's cool to play with him now. I remember Mike, actually, Freddie's nutmeg from that first game. Oh, dirty. Oh, yeah. And I saw that Oba's goal. Who is that against again?
San Jose. The one in the corner where he flicked it over. I was playing on that. You were on San Jose at the time. Thanks for coming. Thanks for trading me. Yeah, thanks for trading you away. So how does it feel to come kind of full circle? Like you were at those games as a youngster. You're kind of in that decade of, you know, emblem. Like your identity is kind of built around that logo, right? And so how does it feel to be here tonight, CD Unveiling?
Sure, you saw it before this, but can you talk about from, you know, a youngster's point of view of kind of what it feels like? Yeah, for sure. I mean, watching some of those videos tonight, I definitely got some goosebumps. It's cool to see how they've integrated the history of the club into a more modern approach. I think some of Steph Fries words were really well put.
Yeah, I mean, I think for me, it's especially cool because tonight I got to see the whole history of the club a little bit like, you know, Pepe was here and I got a photo with him tonight. I got to see Schmezzer. I hadn't known the whole history of how like Schmezzer took over the coaching job in 2002 and, you know, when he was playing as well.
And then to just see how many people in Seattle soccer are part of the sounders, or we're part of the sounders organization before and still are playing some role. And, you know, Jimmy McAllister was a coach of mine way back when, and, you know, Wade Weber obviously. Yeah, it's been really special. And it's time. The guys are making me laugh over here. They're popping in. But no, I feel very lucky to be a part of this and it does feel like a full circle moment.
I mean, meeting Mike tonight was really full circle. That's wild. Because me and Jackson are looking at each other like, is that Mike to see? It's me. I'm curious for all of you guys, just as former players, current player from different generations involved in the club and different capacities all back here tonight. Adrian Hanover said something to me earlier tonight when he first got here about how he feels like he's just just steward of the club.
That, you know, it's bigger than just the players or the front office or the ownership or anything like that. I'm curious from all of your different unique perspectives of how you're related to this club, what it feels like to really see the journey to kind of to your point of seeing the history firsthand and seeing the journey of where it's come and knowing that there's just so much more for this club to come.
That will be around for years, decades after you're not playing, after you're not working with the club, after you're not living in Seattle, things like that. I want to kick this off because I think when I think about owners of sports franchises, they can either, you know, the hunts were the owners of Columbus when I was there, but I maybe saw them at, you know, one or two games throughout the year.
They were hands off, they lived somewhere else, they weren't in the community, they weren't a part of that club before, and it's great that they started an minimalist club in 1996, but after that, they were kind of on the fringes. They owned other clubs too, right?
They owned FC Dallas, they owned football clubs also, and if you're talking about Adrian, he just sleeps, eats and breathes, sounders, he plays a little bit of tennis, but he eats sleeps and breathes, sounders, and I don't think that there's a lot of owners like that,
but until Columbus crews sold to Pete Edwards in that group, that's a guy who has been in Columbus for a long time, he actually cares about the club to go above and beyond, and you've seen the turnaround with a new stadium, a new rebranding, and also the success that that club has had pretty consistently since they had a rebrand. And Mike, you've been a part of other MLS clubs where the owner is an egotistical maniac who's only in it for themselves, and then you look at Colorado, right?
Their ownership group doesn't want anything to do with that club, so we have to say, like we're really lucky to have an owner like Adrian who actually truly believes, like this club is for other people, and you wouldn't see someone like that selling off shares and inviting other people into that circle. Yeah, there's things that go behind closed doors, but you know.
And I think that's indicative of the connection that players feel to the club having played here, and I think that's unique to having played a bunch of places. I feel like I have stronger ties here because of the community, because of Brad's point and Adrian and the ownership, but also just the crew of people in the camaraderie with whether you're on the Sounders front office staff or on the team or whatever it is.
I think I've had a lot of fun here tonight reconnecting with people, and I move back here because of the sentiment that I have, you know, or that being in Seattle meant to me and so much so that I was willing to drive across the country to move back here. So it's a great place. It's, I think, a sense of pride being associated with it, and definitely exciting to see the young crop come through and the success that they've had and will continue to have. So yeah.
Yeah, and for me, I'm new to it a little bit, but I remember going to the games on the light row with my dad, and I especially remember getting off at the international district exit and then making that walk and just feeling the excitement that you get walking into Century Link and now it's Lumen.
But that, to be on the other side of that now is really, really special and really cool and I think my experience at Toronto has been good for me too to see the flip side of things, you know, it's an organization that's struggling to find the connection with the community and in a way that I feel like this club really has right now and also, you know, being a player in Toronto when I have no connection to the city feels really different.
You know, they give, you know, they give speeches to the second team and to the younger guys about like this is our club and our city and I didn't feel that and now I know what they're, I know what that means and I know what people are talking about like you do
really, you feel like a real sense of pride with this club and with the connection it has the community and I think Seattle, you know, Seattle fans and Seattle clubs in general, you know, from the sounders to the Seahawks to the Sonics RIP. They're coming back, they're coming back. Michelle, you probably know more than anyone, they're coming back, right? Yeah, give it a couple more years. Yeah. Yeah, well thank you guys for jumping on. You're more than welcome to hang out and stay
otherwise, get your, get your dance on. Mike, what do you got for us? Leave us with some other than if you need any coaching, private coaching lessons, reach out to us. No, just, I'm here, you know, I'm really into golf these days, I can't run so much anymore, so I like to hit the golf ball around, so anybody needs a force, let me know. But otherwise, I'm really taking that. I got a question on that. Yeah. Do you guys, do the guys still
do the Ryder Cup? I mean Ryder Cup's this weekend, did that start when you were here? That was after. Oh, that was after you. I think not as many guys are playing golf these days. But, yeah, but it might be something that Cornish could bring back and get it back to. I feel like there's a good group. Yeah. Do you know about the Ryder Cup that they do with the team? 12 of them. I got to show you some photos from yesterday. Yeah. They
used to be the world. Yeah. And they was, what up the team and have a whole golf day. You show up with a giant American flag on the back of the golf cart dressed out in all the same gear. Oh, it's epic. Epic. A lot of trash talking. A lot of trash talking. Probably not a lot of good golf, but that's beside the ball. Yeah. Well, yeah, it sounds like because it took a lot of after you. Yeah. From what I've heard, Bradst will be quite the
golfer. Yeah. Sometimes. Yeah. All right. Thanks, guys. Thanks. Thanks. You all. Have a nice day. Enjoy the night. Nice finally. Me and you both likewise. Take care. Um, how, how deeply in grain was your dad in soccer? Oh, my, my dad was. Was he a fan from? Oh, my gosh. Yes. So early days, early days. So my dad, uh, this is actually kind of fun. This just speaks to what soccer is, I think. So my dad grew up in Ellensburg, Washington, and
his parents always had exchange students. And he played soccer, but when he was in high school, he had an exchange student who, to this day, is his best friend. Um, and he was from Dortmund, Germany. And that experience of having a German exchange student and the soccer culture in Germany. And then my dad visited him in Germany. My dad fell in love with the sport. And then, um, my childhood, he was coached dad. I started playing when
I was three years old. My dad coached me all the way up until a select soccer. Um, and then he's a season ticket holder of the sounders. He doesn't miss a game. Doesn't miss a broadcast, but that first season, we could not wait to get to the stadium. And, and he, yes, I would, I would say he would fight most people in this city for title of number one fan fan. Yeah. Uh, welcome to the podcast. You want to introduce yourself? I don't know if any
fans know who you are. Uh, I'm just, I'm just sad that they don't allow, they don't know the voice. He doesn't even have to say his name. Exactly. They don't allow drinks past the little thing back. Oh, what a discipline. I really said, because look at these, I thought you were going to bring some guitars. That's my plan. I had two glasses in my hand. But you weren't allowed to. Well, so what am I supposed to do with two glasses?
That's when you go illegally back down the back way. Oh, I should have known that before they ended up in my belly. How are you guys doing? Good. Are you? What, what do you think? When you saw it initially, give us, I know you're going to be honest about this. Let me guess you didn't like it, but although throughout the day, you started liking it a little bit more. You know, I'm the eternal optimist. Like, when, when I saw it, I was just floored.
Like, I think the first thing that got me was how similar it is to the current, I guess, the current, right, the old crest in the sense of this isn't exactly a full on rebrand change, a la Chicago fire. This is more of just an evolution. And it's a move from, you
know, it's modernizing the crest. It's modernizing the needle and adding just the little things that I think brings the club into the next 50 years, the 74, right, the acknowledgement, the connection to the history, the Orca, the, you know, I think all these little things just make the, I don't even want to call it a rebrand, but the evolution, it connects to the new age in a really just, I think, beautiful way considering how many fans and
how many people they really consulted and connected with. I made a concerted effort to make this a fan evolution rather than just a marketing evolution. And I like that word, evolution. I think that's what we should go with. What do you think, Keely? Brand evolution. Yes. I love it. Jackson, we were talking earlier when the event just started and I asked you what the reaction has been. And you said there were only two negative reviews. Can you
tell me a little bit more about those negative reviews? So yeah, I mean, to be fair, I haven't been on social media as much as I usually do, which is quite impressive, actually. But at the time, at the nice started, I saw three bad tweets my way, which were one saying, me, the other saying, this is garbage, another one saying, I only hate it because I'm a timber fan. What are all three profiles haven't common? They're all people who are Portland timber
fans. So that gives you an idea about the people who don't like this crest. So that means we obviously did something. Yes. I say we because we're all sound. I'm taking a moment to expand. And I wish they showed more about and I know that we did it after every last home game of the season, but it was a handing out of the carnation. Yeah. Right. I love that.
So the storytelling behind that I think is going if we're going to use that on a regular basis because that's the only thing I've heard is like, oh, it's two, is that a rose? Why are we doing roses for a part? So I think if we do, I think it'll be used sparingly, but I think leaning into that a bit more and what that story is is going to be about it.
Does anyone know that you probably know? I don't know story. And I only know it because and as soon as I saw it today, all I could think of is Brian Schmetzer because that story reminds me of Brian Schmetzer because I've heard Brian Schmetzer tell the story and the significance and the importance of it multiple times over the years throughout interviews,
conversations I've had with him. And that it is. It's been around since 1974 that to show appreciation to the fans at the end of the last match of the season, the team would go into the stands and hand out white carnations to the fan. I don't know we'd have to ask Schmetz why the carnation was picked, but that had been has been the tradition ever since and that is something that on the last game of the season that the sounders have always
done. They also throw out balls and different scars and that kind of stuff as well. But if you get an opportunity, ask Brian Schmetzer about it because the way that that man lights up when he shares that story and the significance, it's almost as if you can see the memories flashing across his face as he tells the story. And Kila, you mentioned earlier how authentic
this feels. A, I don't think there's a more authentic person than Brian Schmetzer. But B, when he talks about it, you can feel the authentic love he has, not just for the sport, for the club, for the team, but for the fans. And that's really what it is. And so I think anyone out there when you see the carnation, that is a direct ode to all of us who've never played the game, who've come and cheered, who've sat in the rain,
who sat in the sunshine, who've traveled to see them play. That's for us. And I just think it's, I think it's beautiful. I think another tradition then if we sing Jingle Bells after every away win, we should have like a, like a Santa Claus on a slick. Yeah. That's going to be Santa Claus Christmas time. And then you know, you got the reindeer faces of current current and form right now. I'm imagining and some of you grab Taylor
Graham. Taylor, get back over here. Can you see the T-fo right now? Yes. There's a reason why we hired Brad as a brand of best. Oh, that's it right there. That's it. It's a real title not intern. Easy as Taylor Graham. So you want to talk about the season as we head into the end of this podcast. So your outlook, current outlook. And then we obviously head into Nashville this weekend. Five weeks ago would have been much different.
I mean, you look at the way the team is playing right now. And I think specifically the way the team is healthy right now. And not listen, I'm a broken record. If you've ever heard me, you know that I always said the same thing. If this team is healthy, come playoff time, pick code an MLS cup. You just look at the history of this team since 2016 when they are healthy, MLS cups. That's just, it's just written in law. I mean, and right now you have
role back in full training. As Chimetzr said today, Christian, the concussions are behind him. He's good to go. And there are one or two small injuries here and there and would love to see Kalan Roe get back. But for the most part, this team is, you're your first
choice lineup is 100% healthy. And if they can stay healthy in these final four games, and particularly in the first, you know, a couple rounds of the playoffs, especially which is important because the first round of the playoffs is now a three game series, which is a whole different subject. But there's a lot of games left to play. But if you can stay healthy over the next seven, eight games and not lose a role or a Christian or, you
know, XYZ player, then the West isn't that strong this year. I think we can all agree on that. This Western conference is absolutely winnable. L.A.F.C. is no longer playing like the L.A.F.C. that went to a CCL final. St. Louis, I've been saying it all year on Sounders Weekly, I think they're a fraud. I don't think they're actually as good as their point record shows. And it's, you just look at the games that are being played by their Western
conference teams. Anybody can beat anybody. Yes, that makes it difficult for the Sounders to roll through. But again, if this team is healthy, they have the experience, they have the leadership, they have the quality, they have the skill, XYZ to run through. When games they need to win, we've been winning games on the road, getting great results on the road over these last five, unbeaten in the last five. I fully believe we can make
a run and get them a less cup. Who do we face there? That's a whole different topic. We do miss Nuhoo in the next match, right? Yellow card accumulation. So the Sounders will have to fill a couple holes. But Nashville offensively is no, Honey Moot-Tar is unbelievable player. And that place is going to be rock and we're all going to be there. I'm super excited for this one. We don't get this travel. Speaking of us, speaking of us being there, I
am forcing every single person at this table to go line dancing. Yes. I will do that as long as I have some bourbon whiskey. I thought Keeley was going to say karaoke. She did send me a tax message. Sorry, you cut out there, Michelle. On purpose, Jackson, it's what I wanted to know, but go to karaoke song. We'll do karaoke for home game. We'll do karaoke for home game. I love this way. Okay, let's end on this. Go to karaoke on
Michelle. You first. I should have had an answer ready to go. I would say I am a toss-up between Billie Joule, piano man. Again, it depends on the mood. And then every once in a while, I will throw in. There's two very different wraps, but M&M or Macklemore. Amazing. Do you have a Macklemore song? He's in my kind of debate right now. Really? For me, it's the ceiling can't hold out. And then also, I never know their correct term of the song or
their title, not term, was an old throwback. I go all the way back to Nick's tape. I'm a huge Macklemore. It's the one where... Haunch-up? No, dance. Thrift-shop? Dance. Is that what it's called? Oh, yeah. I wish it's a shoot. I'm going country since we're going to be in Nashville. Thank you. I'm doing Alan Jackson, Chadahoochi. The Jeff Nelson song. Yeah, I'm a musical theater nerd, so I'll probably do Frozen.
Oh, you love that. Hold on. The name is Keely. She wants to do Frozen. We're back at a Ted Lasse. Exactly. It's all Kinexy. You walked into that one. And we dance. And we cry. Yeah, I love you. We really, really, really, really, really good. Yeah, Jackson. Yeah. About 80% of my Spotify is Dave Matthewsband. Oh, so, Saturday. Don't drink water. Probably number one. Alright. Yeah. Alright, well, look out for the mixtape. Yeah, the pod. Oh, God.
Yeah, next week. We'll give honest reviews of everyone. I'm going to take audio and I will possibly maybe edit it. Oh, she's not edited. Good thing it'll be on this podcast. With your sign permission. Okay. Thank you. Thanks for being on here. We had some fantastic guests. Probably the most guests ever. This was epic. The sounders brand evolution of the new crest and just about everything surrounding it. I'm excited for 2024. This was a side
by side podcast. Michelle Lutka, Jackson Feltz and Keely, as always, leading the charge. So thank you. Like, subscribe, comment, get your questions in on Twitter. And we will see you after Nashville. Go Sounders.