Sounders

Daily coverage of Seattle Sounders FC, MLS and world soccer.

Sounders FC will be offering food discounts, access to training sessions, match day sideline passes, opportunities to meet players on the field after matches and other loyalty rewards this season through a program called “MatchPass”.

This is something I don’t know much about as the team has been working with season-ticket holders on the program. You can read more about it here.

The MatchPass (pictured) is similar to the size of a credit card and will store the tickets for all 17 regular-season games. It can also function like a credit card within the stadium.

Here’s a note from the release: “Last season, Sounders FC season ticket members were given the preference of how they received their season tickets – either by MatchPass or paper tickets. More than 11,500 season ticket members opted for the card. This year, more than 25,000 season ticket members selected MatchPass.Starting in 2014, all season ticket members will receive MatchPass.”

Let’s get to some links:

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— The Sounders dominate the latter parts of ESPN’s MLS broadcast schedule.

— Sporting director Chris Henderson was a guest on SoundersFC.com’s podcast.

— MLSsoccer.com takes a look at Seattle’s rookies, with some analysis from coach Sigi Schmid.

— Around the league, midfielder Michael Nanchoff has signed with Portland, forward Olmes Garcia has signed a five-year deal with Real Salt Lake, a couple rookies signed with New York, and defender Nana Attakora has signed with San Jose.

— Also, it sounds like Torsten Frings is on the way out in Toronto, Eddie Johnson is one of 12 MLS players still around from the 2001 season, here’s a league notebook from ESPN.com, and here’s a look at the LA Galaxy and DPs.

— The Whitecaps have officially signed midfielder/defender Nigel Reo-Coker, who has played for teams like Aston Villa and West Ham United. Some up in Vancouver think this could push Y.P. Lee over to his natural left-back position.

— Over in D.C., here’s a notebook from The Washington Post reporting DP forward Hamdi Salihi has agreed to a buy out.

— Chivas USA’s coach spoke out on an alleged Latino-only offseason and preseason strategy.

— Here is a short video clip of Landon Donovan expressing his desire to return to the USMNT at some point.

— The U.S. U-20s return to CONCACAF action later today against Costa Rica.

— Interesting story here on Puerto Rican soccer.

— The Sounders U-23s will have four different homes in the upcoming season.

— Lastly, here is a full roundup of Thursday’s Europa League action and here is Martins’ goal against Olympiacos. That’s nine goals in 20 games, I believe, for the reporters Sounders’ target.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OO4NIVmP3zo