Get uncorked, Seattle

Don Garber expects it.

(Matt Gaschk, Seattle P-I)

The excitement about expansion to Seattle extended beyond the Emerald City over the weekend. While in Salt Lake City to tour Real Salt Lake's stadium that is set to open later this season, MLS commissioner Don Garber expressed excitement for the over 14,700 season ticket deposits sold by the Sounders FC.

"We're very excited about Seattle. (Sounders part owner) Joe Roth is very passionate about the game, he's very engaged in the team. He's got great ideas and he's deeply involved in strategic areas of the league. I'm anxiously awaiting '09," Garber said.

In 2007, the expansion Toronto FC averaged 20,127 fans in its 20,522-seat stadium. This season, the league returned to San Jose, where the Earthquakes opened to a crowd of 20,038, though they had only 10,515 at their second home game.

Garber thinks Seattle will follow Toronto's lead.

"I think we got lightning in a bottle in the Pacific Northwest," Garber said. "I'm looking forward to the cork coming out of that bottle and the magic coming out."