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Seattle Sounders FC

Sounders FC and Regence BlueShield Launch "Behind the Shield," Exclusive Content Series Focused on Lives of Sounders Players

May 17, 2024 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Seattle Sounders FC News Release


RENTON, WASH. - Seattle Sounders FC and partner Regence BlueShield today announced the launch of "Behind the Shield," an exclusive new content series focused on the lives of Sounders FC's players, with a spotlight on their holistic well-being and unique personal journeys toward total health and wellness.

"In partnership with Regence, we are beyond excited to launch the Behind the Shield project, starting with today's first episode featuring Stefan Frei," said Sounders FC Chief Revenue & Marketing Officer Taylor Graham. "The Sounders and Regence are both people-focused organizations, and Behind the Shield is a storytelling platform that celebrates the humans responsible for bringing both our brands to life. Each Sounders and Regence employee has a unique story that combines their superhuman talents with the everyday obstacles of life. This series will unlock that deeper story and celebrate the full human in the process."

Behind the Shield was developed by the Rave Green and Regence to give the club's fans - whether passionate longtime supporters or those just starting to learn about the team - a uniquely personal look at the players they support every week. Athletes are sometimes viewed as superhumans whose lives start and end on the pitch, but Behind the Shield captures a deeper, rarely covered side to each featured player, showcasing the highs and lows of the human experience that exists behind someone's shield.

Recognizing that having greatness inside is not limited to athletes, Regence and Sounders FC are also partnering each player featured in Behind the Shield with Regence employees who are dedicated to improving the health and wellness of the communities they serve. This Community Spotlight selection celebrates the everyday heroes whose genuine efforts to make a positive impact may otherwise go unnoticed. These individuals will be featured on the club website and honored at a select Sounders FC home match, where they will be recognized pre-match, watch player warmups from field level and have an exclusive meet-and-greet with their Behind the Shield player after the game.

"Whether it be a Sounders player or a member of the community, we're happy to partner with Sounders FC to shine a spotlight on extraordinary people who are making the world a better place through health, wellness and helping others," said Claire Verity, Market President of Regence BlueShield.

In 2024, Behind the Shield features four Sounders FC players and their unique personal stories. The series' first episode launched today, focusing on goalkeeper Stefan Frei and a deep dive into how the veteran pro finds balance and mental harmony in his life amidst the high stakes he faces on the field.

New episodes of Behind the Shield are scheduled to air roughly every other month. In addition to the video content, each player and corresponding Community Spotlight member featured in Behind the Shield will share more depth and insight into their personal stories on the Sounders FC Pod-Cast, hosted by former Sounders Brad Evans and Steve Zakuani. Fans should be sure to follow Sounders FC on social media channels and through the Sounders FC app to stay up to date on all the latest offerings.

The Behind the Shield content series is a part of Regence and Sounders FC's overarching Behind the Shield community programming - the foundation of the partnership between the two organizations. These meaningful community-focused projects include Build Your Shield Youth Clinics, providing youth in underserved communities with free, high-quality soccer training with an emphasis on total wellness, and Behind the Shield Field Trips, where students are hosted at the Providence Swedish Performance Center & Clubhouse to take part in specially designed programming supporting total health and wellness.

To learn more about the Behind the Shield video content series and related work being done between Regence and Sounders FC, please visit SoundersFC.com/Behind-the-Shield.

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