White cites atmosphere and supporters as key in his transatlantic move.

As was first rumored here on MLSR almost a month ago and updated with further details here about when he’d be announced, Arlo White officially has become the new voice of Seattle Sounders FC. Part of his decision, according to Jose Romero at the Seattle Times, was based in part, on the atmosphere he experienced when he did a mock broadcast of Seattle’s inaugural game vs Red bull New York as well as at this Houston vs Seattle game he called (Click here for Video):

-White said he was “blown away” by the atmosphere for Sounders FC games at Qwest Field when he came to Seattle to do a mock broadcast of the inaugural game and when he returned in July to handle the Seattle-Houston match.

Read more at the Seattle Times…

In  an interview with the The News Tribune white said the following:

On whether he’ll treat the Seattle listeners differently than BBC listeners:

“I don’t think so. One of the challenges I’m going to face is do I call it soccer or football. I think it’s a sophisticated football audience here – in Washington and in Seattle – so I don’t think I will be. I think I’ve got to call the game as I see it and as I would any game in the U.K. I think the people watching it and they enjoy it, in a way it’s down to them to go and find out. I don’t think you hold people’s hand through a 90-minute game.”

On knowing EPL better than MLS:

“I think that’s a fair comment, but I think I displayed in the Houston game that you do your homework. That’s part and parcel of the job, isn’t it?”

White is replacing both Kevin Calabro the play by play announcer and former MLS defender Greg Vanney who did the color commentary replacing them both for radio and TV broadcasts.

Many Sounders supporters cited Calabro’s perceived “lack of passion” as one reason that he needed to be replaced. The quote below from Arlo White removes any such concern that he’ll be “boring” or the “bog standard” of MLS local commentators heard many times on the MLS Direct Kick package:

Don’t take this the wrong way, but this is not a Soccer Mum audience, this is a crowd, this is a proper football crowd – what I consider to be one – standing up chanting, — cleaner than some of the chanting I’ve heard at home frankly. But the passion of it is there.”

EDITOR’s UPDATE: The Sounders have issued this press release which doesn’t name Arlo White directly but at this point the mystery is pretty much over:


February 9, 2010

**MEDIA ADVISORY**

Sounders FC to Introduce Match Day Voice to Fans

WHO: Sounders FC fans and media

WHAT: An opportunity for Sounders FC fans to meet the new “voice of team”

DATE: Wednesday, February 10 at 11:30 a.m.

WHEN: Prior to the Arsenal v Liverpool and Aston Villa v Manchester United matches

WHERE: George & Dragon Pub
206 North 36th Street
Seattle WA 98103
206.545.6864

What do you think, Sounders supporters? And how about other supporters around the league who watch MLS Direct Kick or MLS Live for your team’s away games? Step in the right direction?