Supporters, MLS reach agreement on Cascadia Cup trademark

The Cascadia Cup trademark is safely in the hands of supporters groups. After a landmark agreement between the Cascadia Cup Council and MLS, it was decided that supporters "will own the name, logo and likeness of the trophy and no party may sell, trade, nor barter any sponsorship to the Cascadia Cup without the unanimous approval of all parties (i.e., CCC, Portland Timbers, Seattle Sounders, Vancouver Whitecaps and MLS)."

Although the final details are pending legal approval, this has to be seen as a massive victory for supporters. ECS, Timbers Army and the Southsiders jointly created the Cascadia Cup Council with the with the express purpose of acquiring the trademark before MLS could.

The supporters seemed to have history on their side all along, as they conceived and managed the Cascadia Cup for several years before any of the involved teams had even joined the league. To the league's credit, they eventually backed off some of their initial claims and this type of agreement seemed to be the direction the situation was heading in.

"The Cascadia Cup Council is pleased with the agreement in principle with Major League Soccer and is encouraged by the fact that Major League Soccer recognizes the importance of the supporter-owned Cascadia Cup for the growth of soccer in the Cascadia Region," the release said. "The CCC believes this agreement in principle ensures that the Cascadia Cup will remain a supporter-created and supporter-owned cup."