Starfire Sports and adidas unite around passion for delivering the ultimate soccer experience.

TUKWILA, Wash—May 3, 2012—Starfire Sports announced a partnership agreement with adidas and Sounders FC to celebrate the passion of the world’s game that permeates the Starfire campus.

“We’re all about delivering the ultimate soccer experience for every player, with an emphasis on creating opportunities for youth to play on a world-class stage regardless of their economic situation,” said Chris Slatt, Starfire Sports Founder and CEO. “We are very excited to partner with adidas – the most passionate and pre-eminent soccer brand in the world, and with their support we will be able to maintain and further enhance the world-class experience that is Starfire.”

Dedication to the sport and a shared commitment to excellence make for a perfect pairing in Starfire Sports and adidas. “With their world-class soccer campus, programs, and as the home of the Seattle Sounders FC, Starfire is the epicenter of soccer in the Seattle area,” said Antonio Zea, director of soccer for adidas America. “We are thrilled to be partnering with an organization that is as passionate about soccer as we are.”

The first phase in the partnership is the branding and launch of adidas Field on the Starfire campus. The field features a 44-yard long mural displaying six of soccer’s most passionate stars from across the globe—Nani, Kasey Keller, Lionel Messi, David Villa, Fredy Montero, and Kaká.

“As a partner to both Starfire Sports and adidas, the Sounders FC applaud their efforts to further enhance the campus and broaden programs to build the local soccer community, ” said Sounders FC owner and general manager Adrian Hanauer.  “We are truly proud to call Starfire home.”

Additional partnership details will be released later this summer.

ABOUT STARFIRE SPORTS:

Starfire Sports is a non-profit corporation delivering opportunities for every member of our community to enjoy the ultimate soccer experience. Starfire delivers diverse programming for youth and adults, knowledgeable and professional staff, and a safe and engaging environment for social interaction and community building. In addition, financial assistance programs, equipment donations and partnerships with other local and national non-profit organizations mean that all our community’s youth have access to world-class soccer facilities—regardless of economic background.

For additional information, visit www.starfiresports.com

ABOUT ADIDAS:

adidas is the global leader in soccer and partners with the world’s greatest soccer clubs and federations including Chelsea FC, Liverpool FC, AC Milan, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Spain, Mexico, Argentina, Germany and Japan.  adidas is an official partner of FIFA, UEFA, Major League Soccer and the Confederations of African Football.  adidas also sponsors world-class athletes like Lionel Messi, David Villa, Kaka, Steven Gerrard, Xavi, Frank Lampard, Andres Guardado, David Beckham, Jozy Altidore, Brek Shea, Fredy Montero, Juan Agudelo and Omar Gonzalez among others.

For additional information, visit www.Facebook.com/adidasSoccer

ABOUT SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC

The Seattle Sounders FC became Major League Soccer’s 15th franchise and began play in 2009.

The Sounders FC are the only club in league history to qualify for the playoffs in the first three seasons.  In addition, the Sounders FC became the first club in 42 years and the fourth altogether to win the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup three times in a row and broke the 98-year-old tournament’s single game attendance record with 35,615 for the final, a 2-0 win over Chicago.

For the third consecutive year, the Sounders FC shattered its own MLS regular season attendance record, averaging 38,496 in 2011; up from an average of 36,173 fans in 2010.

The team launched the first true “Democracy in Sports” in America, empowering the club’s members association, Sounders FC Alliance, to have a say in the direction of the franchise, including a vote on retention or lack of confidence for the general manager every four years.

For more information visit www.SoundersFC.com

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Media Contact:
Chanie Sandman
Director of Marketing, Starfire Sports
206.267.6411
email