The Sounders Tuesday announced plans to hold the first vote on the general manager’s job in U.S. pro sports history. Season-ticket holders and Alliance members may vote on retention of, or lack of confidence in, Sounders General Manager Adrian Hanauer.
The online vote will begin Sunday, Oct. 7 at noon and conclude Friday, Dec. 7 at 11:59 p.m. The Sounders said that additional details on the voting process will be announced next week.
In March 2008, the team launched a public vote to name the team and more than 14,000 votes were cast for some derivative of “Sounders.” Throughout the club’s history, season-ticket members have voted on the name of the association (Alliance), band name (Sound Wave), and Golden Scarf recipients, to name a few.
Patterned after the FC Barcelona model, which boasts more than 160,000 members worldwide, Sounders season-ticket members will have a voice by participating in the general manager elections every four years.
Membership in the Alliance is complimentary for season-ticket members, and non-season ticket holders can join for an annual fee of $125. Benefits include voting privileges, membership pin, membership card, discount at team shops, an invitation to the annual meeting, electronic newsletters during the season and more.
Although voting won’t begin until next month, no harm in taking the current local pulse.
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