Eighteen years. That’s how long Sounder at Heart has been building a community smarter about soccer, through the good times and the bad, right here in the Emerald City. What started as a simple idea in the summer of 2008 has grown into an absolute powerhouse, making us all better fans and doing some serious good along the way.
From “Don’t Call Me” to Community Cornerstone
Can you believe this whole thing kicked off because Jason Churchill wanted to stop getting calls about the soon-to-be MLS Seattle Sounders? Seriously! He convinced the founder to start a blog instead, who admitted they probably came out ahead since Churchill had been trying to get them to write about the Mariners. The foundation was a killer mix: the sharp baseball blogosphere vibe from places like USS Mariner and Lookout Landing, a dash of Goal Seattle, some smart sports talk from Locked on Sports (where the founder was a producer), and that pure, fiery passion from Softy. On August 27, 2008, the blog went live. It wasn’t about access, it was about digging deep into what makes soccer so damn enjoyable. And man, did it change things. Every single job the founder has held since then? All because of this site. That’s massive.
Growing the Game, Growing the Good
While dozens of folks have joined the SaH team, the biggest partner ever was Jeremiah Oshan. He came on as co-editor and now he’s running the show! Our founder still pops in for a Ship’s Log or two weekly and some Pipeline content. But it’s not just them; the whole staff has been incredible, expanding coverage to Sounders Women, Reign, Defiance, Ballard, and all sorts of local soccer action. You know one former author even went on to win an MLS Cup as a coach? Talk about impact! But it’s not just about the game itself. Sounder at Heart has been a force for good, participating in charity drives for earthquake victims in Haiti and Japan, ExtraLife events across the Pacific Northwest, and tons of other efforts to make the world a better place. Our incredible community helped raise tens of tens of thousands because we trusted them to point us in the right direction.
Against All Odds, Building Something Real
In an era choked with click-bait and chasing virality, you, the community, helped Sounder at Heart go independent. You helped it thrive and grow, making us all smarter than the average fan. There was never a grand plan for this to get so big; no one intended to publish hundreds of stories a month or build a Discord with over a thousand members. They just wanted to tell the stories of soccer around the Sound we call home. Most blogs, podcasts, you name it, barely last three years. MatchFitUSA and The24thMinute, great as they were, didn’t even make it a decade. But Sounder at Heart? Thanks to you, it’s hit 18 years strong. August has been a special month for SaH, marking the birth of both its 1.0 and 3.0 iterations. For changing countless lives, including the founder’s, this thing exists because of us. Let’s keep that passion burning and keep supporting the site that supports us. Check out their affiliate links for merch and tickets, and sign up for those daily emails. Don’t miss a beat!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Sounder at Heart.
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