Sounders FC and the Puyallup Tribe of Indians’ Emerald Queen Casino Announce New Naming Rights Deal
September 7, 2022 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – Seattle Sounders FC News Release
SEATTLE, WASH. – Seattle Sounders FC today announced that it has entered into a multi-year pitch naming rights partnership with the Puyallup Tribe of Indians’ Emerald Queen Casino (EQC), as the team proudly unveils the Emerald Queen Casino Pitch at Lumen Field at this Saturday’s contest vs. Austin FC (5:00 p.m. PT / FOX 13+, Prime Video, Univision Seattle, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM).
To kick off the partnership, hundreds of members of the Puyallup Tribe are attending the match on Saturday, with Puyallup Tribe Cultural Director Connie McCloud performing a pitch blessing as part of the match’s opening ceremonies.
With the introduction of this new official matchday home of Sounders FC, EQC and Puyallup Tribe branding will be on display in notable ways throughout Lumen Field at Sounders FC matches, including the center circle, player tunnel, upper-level seating and more. In addition, building upon the shared community commitment of the club and Emerald Queen Casino, today’s deal further encompasses a comprehensive Sounders FC & Puyallup Tribe of Indians Career Development Program, focused on benefitting youth from Chief Leschi Schools.
“Sounders FC is honored to introduce the Emerald Queen Casino Pitch at Lumen Field to our fans and the greater community,” said Sounders FC President of Business Operations Peter Tomozawa. “We’ve enjoyed working alongside the Puyallup Tribe and EQC in an official capacity as our jersey sleeve patch and official replay sponsor since last year, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to grow that relationship even deeper as we move forward together in this new, expanded affiliation. As an organization, Sounders FC holds our home turf in high regard, with our 133-47-44 regular-season home record as a special point of distinction. Today’s naming rights agreement brings in a partner that complements the pride and success that we want those attending matches at Lumen Field to feel, and we’re happy to continue working with the Puyallup Tribe and EQC as they support soccer in our region.”
Tomozawa continued, “Deals like this find the most success when both parties not only have similar goals for the partnership itself, but when they are also aligned similarly with deeper core values, and we feel like we couldn’t have found a better match on that front. Sounders FC, the Puyallup Tribe and EQC all recognize the power that our respective organizations have to empower and provide for our region, and especially youth. We look forward to utilizing this partnership to actively better the community together through our co-designed Career Development Program.”
Today’s pitch naming rights deal expands an already successful partnership between the Rave Green and the Puyallup Tribe, with the two entities first joining together in 2021, when the Tribe and EQC became the Official Casino and Entertainment Partner of Sounders FC. The earlier deal included various integration, most visibly logo placement on the right sleeve of all Sounders FC kits, with the primary kit featuring the EQC logo and the secondary kit sleeve showcasing the Puyallup Tribe’s official salmon emblem.
Original stewards of the land stretching from the foothills of the mountain that was renamed Mount Rainier by European settlers – to the southern shores and islands of what is now known as the Puget Sound, the Puyallup Tribe has played a central role in Western Washington’s deep history and development. In the Lushootseed language the Puyallup Tribe’s name translates to “the people from the bend at the bottom of the river.” The name is a reflection of the villages that spanned outward from the mouth of the Puyallup River, Tacoma’s main tributary that feeds the southern end of the sound. This name has become closely associated with the Puyallup Tribe’s welcoming and generous history.
Today, the Puyallup Tribe has over 5,000 enrolled members, with a dedication to the health, prosperity and wellbeing of their rich community and culture.
“We are proud of this partnership with Sounders FC and honored to see our name and our salmon on the pitch at Lumen Field,” said the Puyallup Tribal Council. “Our impact in this region is positive and wide, from jobs to entertainment, and we want to ensure we team up with other community leaders that are also generous and welcoming to all people. The Sounders have been a joy to partner with and are committed to learning about and honoring our deep history and culture here as Puyallup people. We congratulate them for all their achievements.”
Modern ventures and partnerships have allowed the Puyallup Tribe to play a major role in both the local and regional economy, as the Tribe and its subsidiaries serve collectively as the fifth-largest employer in Pierce County. Of these ventures, the Puyallup Tribe’s Emerald Queen Casino has occupied a respected place in the gaming and entertainment industry since 1996, when it existed as a riverboat casino in the Port of Tacoma. Currently, EQC operates two venues: a location in Fife, Washington that opened in 2004, and a new $400 million facility in Tacoma that opened in summer 2020.
“I hope this partnership excites Sounders FC fans and EQC players everywhere,” said Emerald Queen Casino General Manager Frank Wright Jr. “Emerald Queen Casino and Sounders FC have long been a staple of the Pacific Northwest. We both share the ambition to push boundaries to create moments and deliver fans unique experiences. Whether watching a match live on the Emerald Queen Casino Pitch, at the EQC Sportsbook, or EQC Event Center, we are proud to support Sounders FC fans with the most engaging viewing environments!”
Along with name entitlement in all official home field acknowledgement as the Emerald Queen Casino Pitch at Lumen Field, Puyallup Tribe and EQC branding are being featured on northeast and northwest upper-level seat branding; Green Zone branding located in the north end of the stadium; player tunnel canopy, walls and carpet; the match ball podium; center circle art during the pre-match period; upper-level stadium LED and video board signage; player bench seats; and the front and back of player rain shelters when in use.
Continuing the commitment to community endeavors shared by both the Rave Green and the Puyallup Tribe, an additional component of today’s deal includes the implementation of a co-created Sounders FC & Puyallup Tribe of Indians Career Development Program, which is serving youth from Chief Leschi Schools.
Operated by the Puyallup Tribe, Chief Leschi is the largest Bureau of Indian Affairs School in the nation, providing a unique environment that prepares students to be productive members of today’s world while at the same time connecting students to their indigenous culture.
The new Career Development Program offers programming and opportunities for students of all ages. At Chief Leschi Elementary, three programs combining soccer and learning are being implemented. For first through fourth grade, students can take part in Soccer for Success, a soccer and wellness program. Students from fourth to eighth grade have the Science of Soccer, a professionally developed STEM program using soccer as a vehicle to teach and reinforce STEM concepts. All young students also have the chance to participate in Goals for Art, an arts program inspired by soccer that fosters social-emotional wellness and belonging. Art produced in the Chief Leschi Goals for Art program will be used to annually produce a limited-edition scarf that will be sold to benefit the Chief Leschi community.
For students in Chief Leschi Middle School and High School, several spots are being reserved annually for participation in the RAVE Foundation Sports Media Institute, a six-week summer writing and career workshop that gives students the opportunity to learn about careers in sports media and communications, including attending Sounders FC training sessions, matches and press conferences. A two-week job shadowing opportunity with Sounders FC is also being offered to rising ninth graders at Chief Leschi Schools following participation in the Sports Media Institute and aligning with Chief Leschi career and technical education pathways. In addition, Sounders FC is providing a transportation allowance for participating students.
For students graduating high school and entering post-secondary education or other professional paths, Sounders FC is annually providing the chance for several young professionals from the Puyallup Tribe to gain experience in either a paid part-time matchday role or internship. Internship opportunities are being developed, with plans to have them offered in a range of areas, including operations, communications, marketing, digital media, data and analytics, finance and more. Sounders FC will provide an hourly wage and transportation allowance for participating students.
The Career Development Program will continue to be developed and refined, with Sounders FC and the Puyallup Tribe dedicated to providing the unique opportunities for Chief Leschi youth as part of this partnership.
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