Building the Empire: Meet Seth Burum

Building the Empire: Meet Seth Burum

Empire Strykers fans—have you ever wondered who it is behind the scenes making all these great things happen for the Strykers?

• Creating a fabulous game-day experience.
• Helping put a highly competitive team on the field while keeping the club engaged with the community.
• Encouraging kids and families to live fit and healthy lifestyles.
• Teaching soccer skills to the next generation through youth camps and clinics.

Well, that's your Empire Strykers front office staff, and we're excited to help you get to know them through a series of interviews about their role with the club, their passion for sports, and what it's like working behind the scenes for the Empire Strykers.

Getting to Know Seth Burum

If you've spent time around the Empire Strykers over the past few seasons, you've likely seen the club evolve both on and off the field. Much of that growth has been driven by a team committed to building something bigger than soccer, and Seth Burum has been right in the middle of that effort.

Since joining the organization in May 2022, Seth has worn many hats, helping lead the club's marketing initiatives, apparel program, front office operations, and first-team operations. His role stretches across nearly every department, helping ensure the organization continues moving forward while supporting both staff and players along the way.

For Seth, however, this journey began long before he officially joined the front office.

Soccer has been a part of his life for as long as he can remember, and his connection to the club started as a fan.

"I played soccer my entire life," Seth said. "When I first attended an Ontario Fury game around 2016, I never missed another home game. My family fell in love with the sport and the team."

When the opportunity arose to help keep professional indoor soccer alive in the Inland Empire, it became much more than simply attending games.

"I was grateful that my dad stepped in to help keep the club alive. At first, it meant I could keep coming to games, but by the time I graduated college, it felt natural to become part of the family business and work in a sport and community that I've always loved."

No two days look the same for Seth.

"A typical day is best described as a scramble," he laughed.

Whether he's planning marketing campaigns, supporting projects across departments, overseeing the media team, checking in with players, or building systems that help the organization operate more efficiently, Seth's focus is always on helping the club continue growing.

"Beyond the daily tasks and emails, a lot of my time is spent brainstorming new ideas and building systems that allow the organization to become more efficient and consistent."

What motivates him most is the opportunity that still lies ahead.

"My favorite part is that there is no ceiling to what this club can become," he said. "The organization feels like a blank canvas where I have the opportunity to help shape the future."

Seth believes the Empire Strykers have the potential to become one of the premier organizations in indoor soccer while continuing to make a lasting impact throughout the Inland Empire.

Looking back, one moment continues to fuel that vision.

For Seth, nothing compares to the emotion of the 2021 MASL Finals.

"I remember watching Abdul Mansaray race down the right side, beat his defender with his speed, and finish at the back post to help force the deciding knockout game," he recalled. "The excitement in that moment was overwhelming."

He remembers climbing onto the boards with thousands of fans celebrating, convinced a championship was within reach.

"While the ending wasn't what we hoped for, that moment has stayed with me. Ever since then, we've been working to recreate that feeling and bring a championship to the Inland Empire."

As both a lifelong fan and now a member of the front office, Seth understands exactly what the club means to its supporters.

"I believe the Empire deserves a championship," he said. "I truly believe we have the people, the resources, and the determination to make it happen."

Inside the organization, Seth believes one value stands above all others.

"Our culture is centered around giving back."

That commitment to community is especially meaningful because the Inland Empire has always been home.

"I'm from this area, and I understand the impact professional athletes can have on young people," he said. "I've seen firsthand how my younger cousins have fallen in love with the team and connected with our players. Those relationships matter, and I know many more kids can be inspired through the work we do."

While fans see exciting matches, community clinics, and special events, Seth says they're only scratching the surface of everything happening behind the scenes.

"There has been a tremendous amount of work over the past few years to build an organization that is not only successful on the field but also deeply connected to the community," he explained. "In many ways, fans have only seen a portion of what is being built."

Looking toward the future, Seth's vision is simple.

"What excites me most is the opportunity to show the world who we are."

And as preparations continue for another season, he has one message for every Empire Strykers supporter.

"Get ready for the best season you've ever seen and felt."

So now you've gotten to know Seth Burum a little better. The next time you see him at a clinic, community event, or an Empire Strykers game, be sure to say hello!

For everything Empire Strykers—including season tickets, single-game tickets, official fan gear, the latest Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) news, and everything related to indoor soccer in the Inland Empire—visit www.theempirestrykers.com.

And don't forget to tune in to Soccer in 60 every Thursday afternoon on KMET 1490 ABC News & Sports Radio Inland Empire, where hosts J.R. and Tim bring you the latest news and stories from around the soccer world.