Sports

Sounders honored as pro sports team of the year

The Seattle Sounders FC was named the Professional Sports Team of the Year on Thursday at the third annual Sports Business Awards ceremony in New York.

The awards, which recognize excellence and outstanding achievement in the sports industry for 2009, were presented by Street &Smith’s SportsBusiness Journal and the SportsBusiness Daily.

The Sounders, who completed their first season in Major League Soccer in 2009, were nominated for pro sports team of the year along with the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers, the NFL’s New Orleans Saints and Major League Baseball’s Philadelphia Phillies.

Other winners included:

Sports Executive of the Year

Jerry Jones, Owner, Dallas Cowboys

Athletic Director of the Year

Gene Smith, Ohio State University

Professional Sports League of the Year

National Football League

Sports Event of the Year

Super Bowl XLIV

Best in Sports Media

ESPN

Best in Sports Television

CBS Sports

Best in Digital Sports Media

MLB Advanced Media

Best in Talent Representation and Management

CAA Sports

Best in Corporate Consulting, Marketing and Client Services

IMG

Best in Property Consulting, Sales and Client Services

Premier Partnerships

Sports Event Marketing Firm of the Year

Vivid Marketing

Sports Sponsor of the Year

Visa

Sports Facility of the Year

Cowboys Stadium

Best in Sports Technology

Mitsubishi Electric – Diamond Vision

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