List of Seattle Sounders (1974–1983) seasons

The Kingdome, a large domed structure, seen from afar with a gray warship and a small boat performing a water salute in the foreground.
The Kingdome, where the Seattle Sounders played home games from 1976 to 1983

The Seattle Sounders were an American professional soccer team based in Seattle, Washington, that played in the North American Soccer League (NASL) for ten seasons from 1974 to 1983. They were the first of three professional soccer teams from Seattle to bear the "Sounders" name, followed by the minor-league incarnation from 1994 to 2008 and the modern Seattle Sounders FC, who have played in the top-flight Major League Soccer (MLS) since 2009.[1] The NASL franchise played home matches at Memorial Stadium for two seasons and moved to the new Kingdome, an indoor multipurpose stadium with 60,000 seats, when it opened in 1976.[2][3]

The NASL's regular season typically began in April or May and ran until August or September with teams primarily playing against opponents from the same division or conference.[4] The top teams in each division qualified for the playoffs, which were originally single-elimination matches but later changed to two-legged series and later a best-of-three system.[5] The league's championship, the Soccer Bowl, was a single match hosted at a predetermined venue.[6] The NASL also used a modified variant of the Laws of the Game with rules similar to those in other American sports despite opposition from FIFA, the global governing body of soccer.[7][8] Among the changes were a countdown clock with pauses for stops in play,[9] a relaxed version of the offside rule,[10] and the removal of draws in 1975—teams would instead play 15 minutes of sudden death overtime and proceed to a penalty shootout if still tied.[6] Under the modified points system, teams earned six points for a win, three for a tie (until 1975), one for a shootout win, and none for a shootout loss. Up to three additional points were awarded for goals scored in the match.[6][11]

Seattle was among four West Coast cities which were awarded expansion teams in December 1973 to form the new Western Division. The 1974 NASL season saw the league expand to 15 teams, of which 8 were making their debut.[12][13] The new team were named the "Sounders" in a public contest and played their first match on May 5, 1974, a week before the first win in franchise history—on May 12 against the Denver Dynamos at Memorial Stadium.[14] After moving to the Kingdome in 1976, the Sounders drew an average of 23,000 or more spectators to their home matches for several seasons—more than that of baseball's Seattle Mariners and basketball's Seattle SuperSonics in the same venue.[1] The Sounders were part of the Western Division[a] during their ten seasons in the NASL; under the league's conference system, used from 1976 to 1980, Seattle was part of the Pacific Conference and later the National Conference.[11] The Sounders also played in three of the NASL's indoor soccer seasons, which used six-a-side rosters during the winter offseason. The Kingdome was reconfigured to have a maximum seating capacity of 16,500 for the indoor seasons.[15]

During their ten full NASL seasons, the Sounders played 278 total matches and had a record of 151 wins, 124 losses, and 3 draws.[11] The team won their division twice and qualified for the playoffs seven times, but never won a league championship despite making two appearances in the Soccer Bowl.[2] Seattle lost 2–1 to the New York Cosmos in Soccer Bowl '77, the final competitive match for Brazilian star Pelé.[16] In a rematch at Soccer Bowl '82, the Sounders lost 1–0 to the Cosmos.[17] The team finished the 1980 season with 25 wins—an NASL record—and won the 1981 Trans-Atlantic Challenge Cup, an exhibition tournament with invited European teams.[18][19] Like other NASL teams, the Sounders did not participate in the U.S. Open Cup, the national cup competition of the United States.[20] The Sounders folded after the 1983 season amid financial difficulties, including an estimated $7 million in losses, and disputes between the team's owners.[21][22] The NASL itself ceased operations at the end of the next season in 1984 after several years of declining attendance and interest from financial partners.[23] The "Sounders" name was next used by a minor-league team from 1994 to 2008 before it was adopted by a Seattle expansion team in Major League Soccer, the next top-flight soccer league in the United States, that debuted in the 2009 season.[1]

Key

Outdoor seasons

Results of the Seattle Sounders by outdoor NASL season
Season League[11] Position[2][11] Playoffs[11] Other[24] Average
attendance[11] 		Top goalscorer(s)[b]
League Conf[c] Div Pld W L D[d] GF GA GD Pts Pct Finish Overall Competition Result Player(s) Pts
1974 NASL — Western 20 10 7 3 37 17 +20 101 .575 3rd 5th DNQ — — 13,454 John Rowlands 28[27]
1975 NASL — Pacific 22 15 7 — 42 28 +14 129 .682 2nd 3rd QF — — 16,826 John Rowlands 23[28]
1976 NASL Pacific Western 24 14 10 — 40 31 +9 123 .583 2nd 8th QF — — 23,828 Gordon Wallace 28[29]
1977 NASL Pacific Western 26 14 12 — 43 34 +9 123 .538 3rd 8th RU — — 24,228 Micky Cave 30[30]
1978 NASL National Western 30 15 15 — 50 45 +5 138 .500 3rd 12th R1 — — 22,578 Micky Cave 32[31]
1979 NASL National Western 30 13 17 — 58 52 +6 125 .433 3rd 17th DNQ — — 18,997 John Ryan 32[32]
1980 NASL National Western 32 25 7 — 74 31 +43 207 .781 1st 2nd QF — — 24,246 Roger Davies 61[33]
1981 NASL — Western 32 15 17 — 60 62 −2 137 .469 3rd 15th R1 Trans-Atlantic Challenge Cup W 18,224 Kevin Bond 36[34]
1982 NASL — Western 32 18 14 — 72 48 +24 166 .563 1st 2nd RU — — 12,539 Peter Ward 49[35]
1983 NASL — Western 30 12 18 — 62 61 +1 119 .400 3rd 9th R1 Trans-Atlantic Challenge Cup 3rd 8,317 Peter Ward 34[36]
Total 278 151 124 3 538 409 +129 1,368 .549 W (2) RU (2) RU (2) — — 18,324 Mark Peterson 49 goals[37]

Indoor seasons

Results of the Seattle Sounders by indoor NASL season
Season League[11] Position Playoffs[11] Average
attendance[11] 		Top goalscorer(s)[b]
League Div Pld W L GF GA GD Pts Pct Player(s) Pts
1975 NASL Region IV[38] 2 0 2 8 23 –15 0 .000 4th DNQ —[e] Tjeerd van't Land 4[39]
1980–81 NASL Western 18 9 9 106 98 +8 0 .500 4th DNQ 6,751 Jeff Bourne 60[34]
1981–82 NASL Northwest 18 9 9 95 97 –2 0 .500 3rd QF 6,456 Alan Hudson 67[35]
Total 38 18 20 209 218 –9 0 .474 — — 6,604 — —

Notes

  1. ^ The Western Division was renamed to the Pacific Division for the 1975 season before reverting to its original name.[11]
  2. ^ a b Top goalscorer(s) are determined by the number of points, with two awarded for goals and one for assists, in regular season matches.
  3. ^ NASL conferences were established for the 1976 season[25] and abolished in 1981.[11][26]
  4. ^ Beginning in the 1975 season, all draws were decided in a 35-yard penalty shootout.[6]
  5. ^ The Region IV matches during the 1975 indoor season were played in Daly City, California.[38]

References

  1. ^ a b c Allaway, Roger; Jose, Colin; Litterer, David (2001). The Encyclopedia of American Soccer History. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press. pp. 262–263, 360–363. ISBN 9780810839809. OCLC 45283085. Retrieved July 18, 2025 – via The Internet Archive.
  2. ^ Bayless, Skip (August 11, 1976). "Seattle Hopes for a Steady Reign in Its Kingdome". Los Angeles Times. sec. III, pp. 1, 7, 8. Retrieved July 18, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Parietti, Walt (February 1, 1977). "Sounder slate 'best' in '77". The Seattle Times. p. C4.
  4. ^ Lief, Fred (August 15, 1981). "NASL playoffs: No mini-game". The News. Paterson, New Jersey. United Press International. p. 13. Retrieved July 18, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ a b c d Plenderleith, Ian (2014). Rock 'n' Roll Soccer: The Short Life and Fast Times of the North American Soccer League. New York City: Thomas Dunne Books. pp. 230, 242–244. ISBN 9781250072382. OCLC 909777246. Retrieved July 18, 2025 – via The Internet Archive.
  6. ^ Holt, Gordy (April 28, 1978). "Daley Tells FIFA: Phooey!". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. p. C2.
  7. ^ Meyers, Georg N. (August 23, 1981). "Rule-tampering proposals betray concern over crisis in N.A.S.L.". The Seattle Times. p. B1.
  8. ^ Dure, Beau (2010). Long-Range Goals: The Success Story of Major League Soccer. Washington, D.C.: Potomac Books. p. 21. ISBN 9781597975094. OCLC 500783910.
  9. ^ Maurer, Pablo (May 7, 2020). "The rise and fall of MLS's 35-yard shootout — and why it should be brought back". The Athletic. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Litterer, David A. (October 11, 2018). "North American Soccer League". RSSSF. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  11. ^ Zimmerman, Hy (December 11, 1973). "Seattle business elite back pro soccer team". The Seattle Times. p. E1.
  12. ^ Lowenberger, William (April 28, 1974). "15-team pro soccer league opens ambitiously". The Baltimore Sun. p. B10. Retrieved July 18, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ Massey, Matt (May 6, 2004). "Seattle Sounders: Kicking through the memories". The Seattle Times. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  14. ^ Anderson, Lenny (December 3, 1981). "Sounders dig in for the Winter". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. p. B1.
  15. ^ Sepich, Scott (December 10, 2021). "Before the 2021 MLS Cup hits Portland, a look back at Soccer Bowl '77 at Civic Stadium". The Oregonian. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  16. ^ Pentz, Matt (November 15, 2018). "Sounders' Soccer Bowl '82 loss was last top-flight title shot for decades". The Athletic. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  17. ^ Mayers, Joshua (September 21, 2010). "1980 Sounders helped build winning soccer tradition in Seattle". The Seattle Times. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  18. ^ Yannis, Alex (July 20, 1981). "Sounders Win Trans-Atlantic Cup". The New York Times. p. C3. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  19. ^ Parchman, Will (June 12, 2015). "USOC & Seattle: Part I - Sounders FC legends of the tournament". Seattle Sounders FC. Retrieved August 9, 2025.
  20. ^ Smith, Craig (September 6, 1983). "Sounders call it quits". The Seattle Times. p. D1.
  21. ^ Peoples, John (September 29, 1993). "Kicking back in Seattle". The Seattle Times. p. C1.
  22. ^ Lewis, Michael (October 20, 2018). "How the birth and death of the NASL changed soccer in America forever". The Guardian. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  23. ^ Courtney, Barrie (July 14, 2002). "Trans-Atlantic Challenge Tournament". RSSSF. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  24. ^ "NASL shakes up leagues, expands title playoff format". The Oregonian. January 14, 1976. p. C1. Retrieved July 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ Varner, Bill (March 28, 1981). "NASL opens with new names, no TV; Alignments changed, too". The Journal News. White Plains, New York. p. C5. Retrieved July 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ Litterer, David (October 4, 2003). "The Year in American Soccer – 1974". Society for American Soccer History. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  27. ^ Litterer, David (January 31, 2010). "The Year in American Soccer – 1975". Society for American Soccer History. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  28. ^ Litterer, David (February 20, 2007). "The Year in American Soccer – 1976". Society for American Soccer History. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  29. ^ Litterer, David (October 21, 2003). "The Year in American Soccer – 1977". Society for American Soccer History. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  30. ^ Litterer, David (October 27, 2003). "The Year in American Soccer – 1978". Society for American Soccer History. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  31. ^ Litterer, David (May 30, 2010). "The Year in American Soccer – 1979". Society for American Soccer History. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  32. ^ Litterer, David (January 31, 2010). "The Year in American Soccer – 1980". Society for American Soccer History. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  33. ^ a b Litterer, David (June 6, 2004). "The Year in American Soccer – 1981". Society for American Soccer History. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  34. ^ a b Litterer, David (August 15, 2012). "The Year in American Soccer – 1982". Society for American Soccer History. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  35. ^ Litterer, David (August 17, 2011). "The Year in American Soccer – 1983". Society for American Soccer History. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  36. ^ Litterer, David A. (September 2, 2010). "USA – All-Time Leading Goalscorers in US Professional Soccer". RSSSF. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  37. ^ a b "Earthquake buries Sounders, 14 to 4". The Seattle Times. February 22, 1975. p. B1.
  38. ^ "Indoors is not the place for Sounders". The Seattle Times. February 24, 1975. p. B3.
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