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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, May 9, 2010

Soccer: Sounders to give fans refund after L.A. loss


Associated Press

TUKWILA, Wash. — The Seattle Sounders FC announced Sunday they will offer a refund to season ticket holders for their poor performance in losing 4-0 to Los Angeles a day earlier.

The team announced that all season ticket holders who renew their season tickets for the 2011 season will receive a game credit. Seattle has about 32,000 season ticket holders.

General manager Adrian Hanauer said in a statement on the team's website that they don't intend on giving people their money back every time Seattle doesn't play well, but the owners felt the need to make this move.

Hanauer is also part of the Sounders' ownership group.

"We're in this for the long haul. We need them to be in it for the long haul. That wasn't Sounders soccer," Hanauer said in his statement. "And it was quite frankly embarrassing, humiliating, and they don't deserve that."

The Sounders were overwhelmed Saturday by the Western Conference leading Galaxy. Landon Donovan had three assists and his first goal of the season. It was Seattle's worst home loss.

Hanauer says the move by the team should be taken as a sign that the organization won't tolerate a performance like Saturday. He said the only part of Saturday that lived up to expectations were the fans.

"It's not a precedent," Hanauer said. "But as the owners of the club, we reserve the right to do whatever we think we need to do to treat our fans the way they've treated us."