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Another Seattle sports franchise on the move?

07:05 PM PDT on Thursday, August 14, 2008

By CHRIS DANIELS / KING 5 News

Video: Another Seattle sports franchise on the move?
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BREMERTON, Wash. - The longtime United Soccer League's Seattle Sounders could land across the Sound.

Sounder part-owner Robin Waite says he wants to move them to Kitsap County.

The USL Sounders will be homeless when the Sounders FC of Major League Soccer move into Qwest Field next year. But Waite believes the franchise could survive with games in Bremerton's Memorial Stadium.

"I think it's got good potential, 250,000 people in the greater Kitsap County area, 150,000 in surrounding counties," he said.

The stadium is owned by the Bremerton School District. And district leaders, who are looking for stadium improvements on their own, seem willing to listen.

"We want to find a way that's best for our community if that is something the community wants, that's fine," said Krista Carlson, spokesperson.

There is still a question of how much money it would take to renovate the aging stadium and bring it up to league standards, and who exactly would pay for it.

"It's got 3,500 seats or thereabout and could be expanded," Waite said.

Waite believes he could spend another $150,000 to pay for a new scoreboard and seats.

And says if he gets district and league approval, the team formerly known as the Sounders could be kickin' in Kitsap soon.

The Bremerton School District says it plans on holding a public forum to gauge interest in having a professional sports franchise.

The United Soccer League vice president says he's "very impressed" by the effort.

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