RENTON — The Sounders announced Friday that Providence Swedish will be the official health care partner for the club and marquee jersey sponsor while unveiling the new threads. The branding will replace Zulily across the players’ chest.
The new look received an iconic reveal at Renton High School. Sounders players in Xavier Arreaga, Nico Lodeiro, Nouhou, Albert Rusnak, Jordan Morris, Alex Roldan, Kelyn Rowe, Heber, Yeimar Gomez Andrade, Fredy Montero, Obed Vargas marched out to cheers with the logo on their Legacy jerseys with blue sweatpants.
The player tossed shirts to the students and teachers Rowe and Roldan spoke to the audience.
The secondary jersey is part of MLS and adidas’ “Community Kit” line where clubs create designs with meaning unique to each team. The Sounders tapped Jimi Hendrix for inspiration in 2021 and the jersey was praised globally.
There’s also depth of meaning for the Sounders threaded into the partnership with Providence. The organizations are going to center youth mental health and wellness in their outreach, according to a news release.
Friday’s assembly highlighted the “thoughtful relationship” with the Renton School District. The Sounders stated research that identifies schools “as one of the most effective forums for providing consistent and accessible behavioral health services to children and adolescents.”
Providence is the third jersey partner for the Sounders. The club stated Oak View Group helped coordinated the union.
“From our earliest conversations with Providence, this partnership was always about shared values, especially our combined organizational commitment to our region’s youth and making communities healthier places to live,” Sounders majority owner Adrian Hanauer said in a news release. “Today’s announcement is less about the mark that our players will wear across their chests on gameday and more about the deep community investment that Providence and Sounders FC are coming together to fulfill. Mental health — especially for young people — is a critical part of a healthy society, and we’re looking forward to employing the resources and reach of our two organizations to focus on these outcomes.”
Groups set for Leagues Cup
The Sounders summer plans are taking shape as the 15 groups for the revamped Leagues Cup were announced Friday. The monthlong tournament pits Mexico’s top-flight Liga MX against MLS.
Grouping was based on geography, competitive balance and 2022 Supporters’ Shields standings, where the Sounders were 21st in the then 29-team MLS. Seattle will play Group Stage matches against Western Conference rival Real Salt Lake and CF Monterrey of Liga MX.
Specifics, including dates and times, will be announced later. The World Cup-style event will run July 21 through Aug. 19 and the winner will receive an automatic berth to the CONCACAF Champions League plus a monetary prize.
The Sounders advanced to the finals in the 2021 Leagues Cup, which was a smaller scale of the tournament. Seattle lost 3-2 to Mexico’s Club Leon at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
This story will be updated.