Inside a voting stall adorned with all the usual trappings of the election process, Bill and Chris Schlittenhart looked at the touch screen and let their voices be heard.

The Schlittenharts spent their time before a recent Seattle Sounders home game helping decide the fate of general manager Adrian Hanauer, whose future employment as the man in charge is now in the hands of season-ticket holders and fan supporters.

As part of the bylaws the club instituted when the franchise started was a stipulation that every four years the performance of the general manager would be put to a vote of season ticket holders and members of the Sounders fan alliance.

For some franchises in other corners of the world, this is common practice. In North America, it's completely unheard of.