MLS Seattle Sounders FC

Sounders FC and the Puyallup Tribe of Indians' Emerald Queen Casino Announce New Multi-Year Partnership

Published on March 23, 2021 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Seattle Sounders FC News Release


SEATTLE, WASH. - Seattle Sounders FC today announced that it has entered into a new partnership with the Puyallup Tribe of Indians' Emerald Queen Casino (EQC) to make EQC the club's Official Casino and Entertainment Partner through 2027. Comprised of multiple elements, the partnership is highlighted by logo placement on the right sleeves of both Sounders FC's primary and secondary jerseys, and also includes a strong community-based component, with the Rave Green and Puyallup Tribe collaborating through the lens of Sounders FC's Social Justice Framework on projects ranging from sustainability to defending the right to play.

"Sounders FC is proud to deepen the club's relationship with the Puyallup Tribe and its Emerald Queen Casino, and we are honored to have both in our club's family of partners," said Sounders FC President of Business Operations Peter Tomozawa. "The Puyallup people have been an integral part of the Puget Sound region since the very beginning, and as a leading Coast Salish tribe, their proud history and dedication to the area continues to this day. In partnering with the tribe and EQC, Sounders FC is continuing its commitment to aligning with partners that share our core values, including furthering equity across Puget Sound."

Tomozawa continued, "We are perhaps most excited about working side by side on efforts in the community, leveraging the power of both the Rave Green and the Puyallup Tribe to empower and provide for our youth, removing barriers to play and strengthening soccer and lifelong wellness habits in the Pacific Northwest."

Original stewards of the land stretching from the foothills of Tahoma - renamed Mount Rainier by European settlers - to the southern shores and islands of what is now known as the Puget Sound, the Puyallup Tribe has played a central role in Western Washington's deep history and development. A staple of the South Sound, in the Lushootseed language the Puyallup Tribe's name translates to "the people from the bend at the bottom of the river." Their moniker is a reflection of the many dispersed villages that spanned outward from the mouth of the Puyallup River, Tacoma's main tributary that feeds the southern end of the sound. This name has become closely associated with the Puyallup peoples' welcoming and generous history.

Today, the Puyallups have over 5,000 active members, with a dedication to the health, prosperity and wellbeing of their rich tribal community and culture.

Modern ventures and partnerships have allowed the Puyallup Tribe to play a major role in both the local and regional economy, as the Tribe and its subsidiaries generate nearly $700 million in revenue each year and serve collectively as the fifth-largest employer in Pierce County. Of these ventures, the Puyallup Tribe's Emerald Queen Casino has occupied a respected place in the gaming and entertainment industry since 1996, when it existed as a riverboat casino in the Port of Tacoma. Currently, EQC operates two venues: a location in Fife, Washington that opened in 2004, and a new $400 million facility in Tacoma that opened in summer 2020.

"We are thrilled that Emerald Queen Casino is now Sounders FC's Official Casino and Entertainment Partner," said Frank Wright, Emerald Queen Casino General Manager. "This partnership is one based on mutual values and goals, particularly relating to bettering the communities that we live, work and play in. One of our most important cultural principles as a tribe is that of being welcoming and inclusive, and we know that the Sounders also live this belief. We're looking forward to utilizing EQC's new relationship with the team to deepen our roots within sports entertainment, strengthening soccer across the region and creating opportunities to give back."

As the Rave Green's Official Casino and Entertainment Partner, the Puyallup Tribe and EQC will receive increased exposure through integration with the club on matchdays, television broadcasts and social media channels. Most visibly, Sounders FC's jerseys are set to feature new logo patches on the right sleeves. The team's primary kit will feature the EQC logo, while the secondary kit sleeve will showcase the Puyallup Tribe's official emblem, a nod to the tribe's impactful Coast Salish traditions. The secondary jersey patch and Sounders FC's new secondary kit are set to be revealed in the days ahead.

Additionally, Sounders FC's charitable arm, RAVE Foundation, is working closely with the Puyallup Tribe and EQC on initiatives designed to strengthen and improve life for underserved communities in the region. These projects include multiple mini-pitch courts in the South Sound, which remove barriers to play by providing safe, accessible places for outdoor recreation and support healthy activity in marginalized spaces, giving youth an opportunity to be inclusive stakeholders in their environment. This advances the missions of Sounders FC and the Puyallup Tribe, both of which are dedicated to investing in the greater Puget Sound community.

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