 In the end, Seattle was not among the cities chosen to establish a team during the first season of MLS.In 1996, as Seattle Seahawks owner Paul Allen worked with the city to build a new football stadium for his team, the potential of an MLS expansion team that could be a co-tenant helped drive public support for the effort.Many of the state's voters supported the referendum to construct Seahawks Stadium because it was also expected to be a professional soccer venue.