soccer

Why U.S. soccer star DeAndre Yedlin invested in this ‘intelligent workout’ sports tech startup

by Taylor Soper on June 20, 2017June 23, 2017 at 11:50 amComment

At just 23 years of age, DeAndre Yedlin has built quite the resume. The Seattle native was the first “homegrown” player to sign with Sounders FC; he made his first… Read More

Video

How Microsoft is helping top Spanish soccer league LaLiga track fan behavior and expand globally

by Taylor Soper on May 4, 2017May 4, 2017 at 3:42 pmComment

LaLiga wants to learn more about its fans and expand its footprint around the globe — and it’s getting help from Microsoft to make that happen. Spain’s premier soccer league is… Read More

As Sounders FC looks to defend MLS Cup title, use of sports science remains a ‘competitive advantage’

by Taylor Soper on March 19, 2017March 19, 2017 at 3:57 pm 2 Comments

For the Seattle Sounders, sports analytics remains an important part of winning matches and keeping players healthy. The defending MLS Cup champions will make their 2017 home debut today at 4… Read More

MLS Commissioner Don Garber talks Facebook streaming deal, video-assisted refs, sports betting

by Taylor Soper on March 11, 2017March 11, 2017 at 3:29 pm 3 Comments

AUSTIN, TX. — Count Don Garber among the folks who are looking forward to video assistant referee technology being used during Major League Soccer matches. The MLS commissioner was in Austin,… Read More

Sounders FC revamps smartphone app to make mobile ticketing easier for soccer fans

by Taylor Soper on February 24, 2017February 24, 2017 at 11:33 amComment

Mobile ticketing continues to be a big focus for the Seattle Sounders. The MLS club just revamped its iOS and Android app with a redesign and a host of updated features.… Read More

Here are the ‘missed opportunities’ soccer legend Landon Donovan sees with sports technology

by Taylor Soper on January 17, 2017January 17, 2017 at 6:18 pmComment

LAS VEGAS — Major League Soccer clubs, like many other pro sports franchises, are using data analytics and technology more than ever to help players prepare and perform at higher… Read More

How sports analytics helped the Seattle Sounders make it to their first-ever MLS Cup

by Taylor Soper on December 9, 2016December 9, 2016 at 12:13 pmComment

Data and analytics surely aren’t the only reason for the Seattle Sounders’ remarkable late-season run that’s resulted in a chance to play for an MLS Cup title on Saturday. But… Read More

‘Mr. Sounder’ Zach Scott reflects on 15-year pro soccer career and prepares for sales analyst job

by Taylor Soper on October 23, 2016October 24, 2016 at 4:45 pm 4 Comments

Growing up in Hawaii and working in pineapple fields, Zach Scott probably didn’t think he’d spend the first 15 years of his professional career playing soccer. But with perseverance, determination, a little… Read More

Seattle Sounders are battle ready with Xbox ‘Gears of War 4’ jerseys for regular season finale

by Kurt Schlosser on October 19, 2016October 19, 2016 at 10:26 am 3 Comments

Seattle Sounders FC fans will watch their team do battle in jerseys that have a little extra fighting spirit designed into them on Sunday. In celebration of the release of… Read More

LA Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena: Analytics in soccer ‘doesn’t mean a whole lot’

by Taylor Soper on July 25, 2016July 25, 2016 at 10:59 am 4 Comments

Embed from Getty Images Bruce Arena isn’t the biggest believer in analytics. The Los Angeles Galaxy head coach bashed the use of data analytics in soccer after his team’s 2-1… Read More

Technology ‘part of the DNA’ for Major League Soccer, commissioner says on eve of GeekWire Sports Tech Summit

by Taylor Soper on July 12, 2016July 13, 2016 at 7:54 am1 Comment

When Major League Soccer agreed upon its collective bargaining agreement in 2011, the number one issue discussed between the league and its players union revolved around drug testing rules. The number one… Read More

Apple’s newest ‘Shot on iPhone’ ad showcases ‘the beautiful game’ with beautiful images

by Kurt Schlosser on June 9, 2016June 9, 2016 at 1:59 pm 3 Comments

Apple’s “Shot on iPhone” ad campaign relies on imagery created by users to convey the simplest message possible: it’s pretty easy to make something pretty compelling. Or, when it comes to… Read More

Microsoft inks deal with Seattle Reign soccer team for jersey sponsorship

by Taylor Soper on April 7, 2016April 7, 2016 at 6:40 pmComment

Microsoft is becoming the de-facto jersey sponsor for professional soccer teams based in Seattle. Seattle Reign FC today announced that Microsoft will serve as its presenting partner for the 2016 season,… Read More

How the Sounders learned from Delta and Starbucks for club’s mobile ticketing rollout

by Taylor Soper on February 23, 2016February 23, 2016 at 3:59 pm 4 Comments

The Sounders will sport a new look in more ways than one when the soccer club kicks off its 2016 campaign on Tuesday evening in Seattle. For one, star striker Obafemi… Read More

Sensoria partners with Microsoft on new soccer data dashboard, using sensors in players’ shoes

by James Risley on January 6, 2016January 6, 2016 at 7:52 am 3 Comments

In recent years, the clearest way to improve a sports team’s performance has been to gather more data about each player, using stats and numbers to provide a more complete picture… Read More

Soccer and tech: How the Sounders separate noise from signal with wearable tracking data

by Taylor Soper on September 19, 2015September 24, 2015 at 7:56 amComment

While many soccer clubs now use wearable trackers to gain additional insight into player performance, the Seattle Sounders FC was largely ahead of the curve, utilizing new gadgets and software to gain… Read More

EA Sports removes athletes from FIFA 16 over NCAA eligibility concerns

by Simone de Rochefort on September 18, 2015September 18, 2015 at 10:16 amComment

Due to conflicts between EA Sports and the NCAA, 13 players have been removed from the upcoming game FIFA 16. The problem arose when the NCAA said that the women… Read More

From Microsoft to the MLS: Ravi Ramineni crunches data to help the Sounders win

by Taylor Soper on August 20, 2015August 20, 2015 at 11:45 am 2 Comments

Having worked at Microsoft for seven years on projects like Bing and fraud management, Ravi Ramineni understands how to extract relevant information from massive datasets. He also happens to be a huge soccer fan… Read More

Sounders exec Adrian Hanauer: ‘We want to be the most innovative franchise in North America’

by Taylor Soper on July 22, 2015July 22, 2015 at 9:12 amComment

Whether it’s using wearable devices to track fitness performance or hiring an in-house developer to whip up custom mobile apps, the Seattle Sounders are placing a priority on technology. That… Read More

GeekWire Sounders Day: Get your tickets for the best rooftop deck party in soccer

by John Cook on July 6, 2015July 6, 2015 at 1:28 pmComment

We’re still flying high after the dominant performance by the U.S. Women’s National Team on Sunday — a soccer match that will forever be etched in our minds. And, guess… Read More

After concussion, U.S. women’s soccer player turns to military-grade protective headband

by Taylor Soper on June 8, 2015June 8, 2015 at 11:51 am 4 Comments

View image | gettyimages.com After suffering a concussion during a game in April, U.S. women’s soccer player Ali Kreiger is using a protective headband as her team competes in this month’s… Read More

How technology is transforming Real Madrid, with help from Microsoft

by Taylor Soper on May 4, 2015May 4, 2015 at 3:49 pm 3 Comments

When asked about how technology is changing his organization, Real Madrid CEO José Ángel Sánchez recalls a key moment more than six decades ago. Back in 1943, the soccer club… Read More

These wearable trackers help the Sounders dominate professional soccer in the U.S.

by Taylor Soper on April 16, 2015April 16, 2015 at 2:54 pm1 Comment

The Seattle Sounders FC has consistently been one of the most dominant MLS soccer squads in its six years of existence. While the team has yet to win an MLS Cup, it has qualified for… Read More

How cameras, sensors and analytics will change live sports broadcasts

by Taylor Soper on January 9, 2015February 8, 2015 at 4:00 pmComment

LAS VEGAS — Watching a live sporting event on TV several years from now might look and feel a bit different. At Panasonic’s big CES booth in Las Vegas this week,… Read More

How the German national soccer team used wearable technology to win the World Cup

by Taylor Soper on January 7, 2015February 8, 2015 at 4:00 pm 13 Comments

View image | gettyimages.com LAS VEGAS — It was the 88th minute of the World Cup final this past July, with Germany and Argentina locked in a scoreless draw. Time was running… Read More

Microsoft Xbox extends Sounders jersey sponsorship through 2016

by Taylor Soper on December 18, 2014February 8, 2015 at 4:01 pmComment

Microsoft will sponsor the Seattle Sounders FC jerseys for at least two more seasons. The MLS team confirmed with GeekWire that Xbox will continue to print its logo on the Sounders… Read More

Online banking company Simple inks sponsorship contract with Portland Timbers

by Taylor Soper on December 15, 2014February 8, 2015 at 4:01 pm 2 Comments

Simple, the Portland-based banking startup that was acquired by BBVA for $117 million in February, has signed a unique multi-year sponsorship deal with the Portland Timbers MLS club. Simple’s logo… Read More

Photos