05/17/2008

Associated Press

Drew Carey has part of his wallet invested in Seattle's expansion Major League Soccer team that will begin play in 2009.

But "The Price is Right" host made it clear Friday that he also has his heart invested in fans of the new team, which has signed just one player and doesn't yet have a coach.

With about 150 of those fans gathered in the sweltering upstairs room of a downtown Seattle pub, Carey — a minority owner in the group whose majority stakeholder is film producer Joe Roth — said those fans will have something special: the clout to fire the general manager.

Carey announced the formation of the Sounders FC Members Association. Beyond the usual pin, membership card and merchandise discounts, this group, with Carey as its chairman, will have a powerful perk: a binding vote to retain or fire the team's general manager once every four years.

"I never wanted to be a part of MLS unless I could bring this membership aspect," Carey said. "This is going to work and it's going to be exciting. Other franchises are going to see what it means, giving the fans a voice.

"This is going to be your team, for sure," Carey told the crowd.

Sounders FC season-ticket holders — about 14,000 have put down deposits so far — will have automatic membership in the association. Others can buy in annually for $125, he said.

The team said a minimum of 10,000 members must participate in a simple majority vote for it to be valid and noted that team owners reserve the right to fire the general manager for cause or to call for a lack of confidence vote at any time.

Fans can demand a vote prior to the end of any four-year period if they can get 20 percent of the membership to sign a petition.

The first general manager vote would take place in November 2012 following the conclusion of the MLS season.

Carey said he was in Barcelona, Spain, three years ago, filming a segment for the Travel Channel, when that city's FC Barcelona soccer club was approaching an election for club president.

When Carey got together with Roth to discuss pursuing an MLS team, he mentioned the idea of the fans having a say in club leadership. He also remembers how he ultimately sold Roth on it.

"I said, 'The fans will do all the dirty work for you,' " said Carey, who now is a member of the FC Barcelona fans group

Carey does not intend to be involved with the day-to-day soccer aspects of the team, readily admitting that he doesn't understand the finer points of player acquisitions, salary caps and such.

In large part, that will fall to general manager Adrian Hanauer, the person who ultimately could be on the hot seat should the club's fortunes falter.

"It keeps people on their toes and makes people pay attention to the team," Carey said. "I hope it becomes bigger than when Seattle elects a mayor."