The Seattle Sounders and Seattle Reign announced their first joint executive hire on Thursday, just weeks after formalizing their relationship. Courtney Carter will be the organization's new chief revenue officer, bringing extensive experience in the entertainment and sports media industries. Carter, a Portland, Oregon native, will oversee areas such as corporate sponsorships, ticket sales and revenue-generating opportunities at Longacres, including office space leasing, retail, housing and sports and entertainment events.
“Coming back to the Pacific Northwest feels like a full circle in some ways because it's where I fell in love with soccer and learned a lot of life lessons along the way,” said Carter, who played collegiate soccer at Oregon State University. “To say I'm a product of Pacific Northwest soccer is something I'm proud of because this is where some of the greatest players of all time were born and raised.”
“Seattle is a rich, vibrant market with history, tradition and soccer community, and I'm grateful to Hugh Webber and Adrian Hanauer for believing in the unique perspective I can bring to the table as we build a fresh, compelling story and create lasting memories for current Sounders and Reign players, fans, members, partners and associates.”
While details are still scarce, Carter's hiring is a clear indication of the intention to capitalize on the Sounders' footprint in Longacres. It has been aimed at a live-work-play development from the start, and there are already plans to build an indoor music venue. Hanauer and Weber have also openly discussed the possibility of building a soccer stadium at Longacres, and her experience with the NBA, WNBA, MLS, Soccer United Marketing and ESPN likely leans in favor of that possibility.
