As you probably know by now, Sounder at Heart became an independent media company earlier this year. Primarily, we're funding the operation through reader support in the form of subscriptions. You’re already here so we won’t try to sell you on a subscription, but there are other ways that you can help us keep this thing humming.
With crunch time for the holiday shopping season upon us, and in the spirit of giving we figured we could help each other! We've assembled a gift guide for the Seattle Sounder or OL Reign fan on your list. The guide includes some of our favorite Seattle soccer stuff, along with some of the best deals on that same stuff.
If you use the links provided, all or part of the proceeds will go toward funding our editorial efforts:
Gift a Sounder at Heart subscription
We're going to go ahead and assume you already are a subscriber. But there's probably someone close to you that would appreciate their own and we've now come up with a way to help make that happen.
The process is a bit different from buying one for yourself, and it has to be done outside of the normal process, but just follow this link to gift a Backer subscription ($19) or this link for a Supporter subscription ($74). Fill out your contact info for billing purposes but send us an email with the name and email address for the person you want to give the subscription to. We’ll then set them up with a one-year “complimentary” subscription that won’t be tied to your payment info.
Gift a Backer subscription
They’ll get access to all our written and podcast content for $19/year.
Gift a Supporter Membership
They’ll get access to all our written and podcast content, while also gaining access to our private Discord server and discounts on merch for $74/year.
Other stuff
These are some of our favorite items.
Sounders Gazelles
One of the coolest pieces of merchandise the Sounders have put out since unveiling their new visual identity are these Gazelles from adidas. You can read our review of them here and can by a pair here ($99).
Orca gear
If you want to get a jump on sporting the Sounders' new look, there’s already a fair amount of stuff on the market. I’m a big fan of this simple but very wearable shirt ($35).
Bruce Lee-inspired track suit
I don't know if I can pull off a bright yellow track suit, but I sure wish I could. These Bruce Lee-inspired jackets are 50% off right now ($38), albeit in limited sizes. You can complete the look with the pants ($25)
The Sounders aren’t the only local team that’s likely to have a new crest soon. The sale of the Reign from Olympique Lyon is nearing completion, at which point a rebrand of some sort will commence. As a result, there’s a 50% off sitewide sale going on over at OLReignShop.com.
Bruce Lee “throwback” kit
OK, maybe a bit early to call these "throwbacks" ($95) but there is a decent sale going on for all the current jerseys that have the current/old crest on them and if you wait, you can probably get an even better deal.
With both the Sounders and the Reign changing logos, there’s a bit of added incentive to hold off on buying a new jersey. New kits will be released early next year for both clubs, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that your loved one who will certainly want that new kit when it comes out can’t at least get something right now. A gift card might not feel like the most thoughtful gift, but one from Nike or the MLS Store is just as much a guarantee of a jersey in the future. It’s all in how you tell the story! (You can even get a physical gift card from the MLS Store if you want something you can put under the tree or in a stocking.)
Ballard FC Champions Hat
Ballard FC won their first title in the club’s short history. There’s plenty of fun merch available to celebrate, but likely none better than this hat ($39.99).
Cristian Roldan Talisman Cap
Talisman Caps are something of a cult favorite among American soccer sickos. Their unstructured cotton hats are emblazoned with embroidered images of soccer icons, and this one features Cristian Roldan ($38). They also have Reign stars Megan Rapinoe and Rose Lavelle among their USWNT offerings.
Maybe the special person you’re shopping for loves Seattle’s soccer teams, but frustratingly for you they keep buying the Sounders and Reign gear you would otherwise gift them. They might have even beaten you to the punch on a Sounder at Heart subscription (you have to stop reading now if you’re the giftee in this situation; come on, be cool). They probably also have a nearly crippling coffee problem, and the good news is that there are plenty of coffee options with Seattle soccer ties.
You could give the gift of a signed bag from Alex Roldan’s collaboration with Caffe Vita, Roldan Legacy. Fredy Montero’s Roosevelt shop Santo offers excellent, carefully sourced coffee that’s available with a subscription as well. Sounder at Heart supporters Watson’s Counter offers fantastic coffee that they roast in house, as well as classes for a more experiential gift, among a number of other excellent gifts!
Give the gift of our merch
All of our shirts are available for as little as $12.50. We’ve also got sweatshirts, hoodies and just about anything else you’d want.
