Major League Soccer has granted an expansion franchise to Seattle that will be owned in part by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen and Hollywood producer Joe Roth.

The ownership group also includes A-League outfit Seattle Sounders managing partner Adrian Hanauer.

League commissioner Don Garber will be in the Emerald City on Tuesday to make the decision official, with the teamset to begin play for the 2009 season.

The expansion franchise will be the first top flight club in Seattle since the original Sounders played in the NASL from 1974-1983.