In a move to expand the profile of their United Soccer League squad, the Sounders plan to move the Sounders 2 affiliate to Tacoma to play at a new 5,000-seat soccer specific stadium adjacent the Tacoma Rainiers Class AAA baseball team’s home venue. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was reached between the Sounders and the Rainiers to build the new venue on land near Cheney Stadium in downtown Tacoma.
After that, the USL franchise would be co-owned by the Sounders and Rainiers, have its business operations managed by the AAA team and be rebranded under a more Tacoma-specific name.