In a dramatic turn of events from what had been a mellow off-season, a bomb shell was dropped today by the (now formerly Seattle) Reign FC.
After five seasons at Seattle’s Memorial Stadium, the Reign are moving to Tacoma and partnering with the ownership groups of the former S2 and Tacoma Rainiers to immediately change venues and become part of a future soccer specific stadium project in the area.
An open letter to the fans and press announcement detail the reasons. Essentially, the ongoing issues with the pitch and future demolition at Memorial and no real viable mid-size venue in Seattle made a change inevitable. It has always been a question of when and where, not really if.
The posted letter detailed the chronology and process of what led to the decision on Tacoma. The three college soccer venues are great for college soccer in Seattle, but are not to professional standard. Memorial itself was untenable. The Sodo stadiums are two big and costly.
With the change come additional partnerships and minority ownership. From a stability and financial viability standpoint the move seems to guarantee a longer term future for club now known only as Reign FC.
