Wright: Our goal is to see that stadium like it was for Manchester United. Every single game. Every Single Week.

Last night, at the 77th annual Seattle Sports Commission Awards, Gary Wright collected the award for the Seattle Sports Executive of the Year.

As he walked onto the stage to collect it, the strains of Tears for Fears pop hit “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” were struck up.

Beauty and the Best. Jen Mueller interviewing Gary Wright with his award

It’s an interesting metaphor not so much for Wright who is near the end of a half century career in sports administration, but for the club that he has steered from expansion to flagship.

As he approached the stage, those attending from an array of sports rose as one to applaud, taking one last opportunity to thank the ‘Seahawk Gary Wright’ as well at the Sounder.

Before he even had a chance to put the award in safe keeping, Gary was interviewed behind the stage by Root Sport’s Jen Mueller and our reporter.

Jen Mueller: I heard you say in your speech about how this was an award for the fans. Some of those feelings again?

Gary Wright: The sport is a special sport in that it is really fan driven. So much of the atmosphere and everything that takes place in and around the stadium, is all fan driven. So we’re beholden to them for everything they have brought to us.

Jen Mueller: There are people who don’t consider Seattle a true sports town; people perhaps who live on the East Coast and haven’t been here. What would you say to them about the fan base?

Gary Wright:  What I’d like to say to them is come see it. I don’t think words can do it justice. You have to open your eyes. Walk into that stadium. See it feel it. Then you tell me what you think.

Jen Mueller:. The Seahawks have a very strong following but the Sounders, and across MLS, they’re stil working to get the same level of passion Sounders do. How can Sounders help the rest of MLS?

Gary Wright: Seattle helps. Portland helps. Vancouver helps and Toronto has helped. All the new franchises that come in with fresh ideas that help the sport to take off.

An encouraging thing for me today was this. I am watching one of the biggest matches in the world. I am watching Barcelona v Real Madrid. In the 83rd minute, they do a cut away shot into the stands and there’s a guy wearing a MLS Cup hat. And I thought,”you know what, we’re making ground.”

Jen Mueller: What’s left for you to do?

Gary Wright:  We set the bar high. We’ve found a lot more still to accomplish. We’re proud of where we’ve been and what we’ve done. But we’re not there yet. We have lofty goals. Our goal is to see that stadium like it was for Manchester United, like it was for Kasey Keller’s last game – Every single game, Every Single Week.

Prost Amerika:  It was always thought that after the first three years, the club would have a stock taking exercise before embarking on Stage 2. Have you accomplished everything you set out to in Stage 1?

Gary Wright:  You know what? You never accomplish everything you want to. You have to set goals that are hard tor each. We’re pleased. We keep on going. Ownership wants us to do better; to continue to keep our foot on the pedal. Let’s get better. This was good but let’s get better.

Prost Amerika: Is there a feeling that the birth pains are over, you move into another era and different targets now apply?

Gary Wright:  Oh yeah. Absolutely. Different targets for instance, we have to do better in the play-offs. We get to the play-offs, that’s great. We can’t take for granted we get to the play-offs. We have got to earn it, but now let’s take the next step.

Prost Amerika: Many fans are saying that for Year 4 to be a success, the club must go deep into the play-offs. But if you could swap that for winning the CONCACAF Cup, which would you take?

Gary Wright:  Well you know that’s interesting. You always want to domestically be the champion. Domestically, so I think that comes first. Certainly a CONCACAF Champions Cup is within our sights and something we want also.

Prost Amerika: The LA Galaxy have obtained a massive tv deal. Have they raised the bar commercially for MLS clubs?

Gary Wright:  Well sure. But every market is different. But we set out own bar high for them too in other areas.

Prost Amerika: Any player you’re looking forward to see?

Gary Wright: Well that’s Adrian (laughs) – I don’t get into Adrian’s business. But I admire what he’s done and have for a long time. I think one of the things that makes our club really special is the working relationship between the business side and the team side. It’s very very close and of course we are interested in it. But we don’t get in the way. We try not to hamper them at all. We encourage them to do what they need to do and Adrian knows how to put together a team.

Prost Amerika: What motivates you to go to work in the morning?

Gary Wright:  Oh, I love what I do. I’ve been in sports my whole life. I’m 67. I’ve worked in sports since I was 14. This is what I know.

MLS OR CONCACAF – VOTE IN OR POLL

What do you think on the Cup question? The CONCACAF Cup would take Sounders to the World Club Cup where the global exposure would be phenomenal. Or do you agree with Gary Wright and think that domestic honours come first?

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Kasey Keller wins Pro Athlete of the Year – Todd Dybas

Kasey Keller receives his award/Photography by Dan DeLong/Red Box Pictures