MLS Expansion by 2011

[TampaBayEverybodyLovesRays]

Today prior to the ASG in Toronto, the MLS announced plans to expand into two more cities (in addition to Seattle and Philadelphia).

http://web.mlsnet.com/news/mls_news.jsp?ym...s&fext=.jsp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUyNnwA8tpY...633&page=20

TORONTO -- Major League Soccer Board of Governors approved expanding by two teams by 2011, MLS Commissioner Don Garber announced following Thursday's Board of Governors meeting in Toronto.

At the meeting, Commissioner Garber provided updates on prospective expansion markets throughout the U.S. and Canada. Markets reviewed during today's meeting included (in alphabetical order) Atlanta, Las Vegas, Montreal, a second team in the New York area, Ottawa, Portland, St. Louis and Vancouver.

In conjunction with prospective Canadian expansion, MLS officials will work with Toronto FC owners Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, as well as potential expansion candidates, to develop national commercial revenue streams to support expansion into Canada.

MLS officials will issue specific details on the expansion application process within the next seven days.

I'm going to be hoping for Montreal and Vancouver to join, but I think it will end up as Montreal and St. Louis.

[OMMF]

Today prior to the ASG in Toronto, the MLS announced plans to expand into two more cities (in addition to Seattle and Philadelphia).

http://web.mlsnet.com/news/mls_news.jsp?ym...s&fext=.jsp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUyNnwA8tpY...633&page=20

TORONTO -- Major League Soccer Board of Governors approved expanding by two teams by 2011, MLS Commissioner Don Garber announced following Thursday's Board of Governors meeting in Toronto.

At the meeting, Commissioner Garber provided updates on prospective expansion markets throughout the U.S. and Canada. Markets reviewed during today's meeting included (in alphabetical order) Atlanta, Las Vegas, Montreal, a second team in the New York area, Ottawa, Portland, St. Louis and Vancouver.

In conjunction with prospective Canadian expansion, MLS officials will work with Toronto FC owners Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, as well as potential expansion candidates, to develop national commercial revenue streams to support expansion into Canada.

MLS officials will issue specific details on the expansion application process within the next seven days.

I'm going to be hoping for Montreal and Vancouver to join, but I think it will end up as Montreal and St. Louis.

I love the Rose City and that would make for an instant rivalry but I'm thinking that MLS would view PGE Park as a temporary stadium. No way they put a team in there if that's where they intend on playing.

[Seadragon76]

Well, two more teams added. I'll go ahead and say Vancouver and St. Louis

With Vancouver, you have to think that the current showing for Toronto FC would have a major impact on any other Canadian franchise entering MLS. What Toronto FC is doing would set a great example for other possible teams.

St. Louis helps in a sense that Kansas City finally gets a rival to play against and it would help create a strong regional area for the league.

So, what would MLS look like in 2011...

Eastern Conference - Atlantic Division

-New York Red Bulls

-New England Revolution

-D.C. United

-Toronto FC

-Philadelphia

Eastern Conference - Central Division

-Columbus Crew

-Chicago Fire

-Kansas City Wizards

-St. Louis

Western Conference - Southwest Division

-Houston Dynamo

-Colorado Rapids

-Real Salt Lake

-FC Dallas

Western Conference - Pacific Division

-Los Angeles Galaxy

-Chivas USA

-San Jose Earthquakes

-Seattle Sounders

-Vancouver

[maz]

No mention of Pittsburgh? Whatever happened to the Riverhounds trying to get in the MLS? (new stadium that could be easily expanded? ties with Everton?)

[TampaBayEverybodyLovesRays]

The Montreal Impact are supposedly trying to move up to MLS. The club is perfectly set up with great investors, ownership, and a new stadium. I think it's only a matter of time before they are the next MLS team.

[Ez Street]

I saw a game on FSC with Montreal, stadium looked good. I can see that happening.

Come on St. Louis!

[STL FANATIC]

If it's not St. Louis...ugh. I can't seem them passing us up this time.

We've had everything in place for a while now, including one of the strongest soccer fanbases in America (size of the city may mean it's not the biggest).

[WJMorris3]

Not going to steal your realignment, Seadragon, but with 18 (taking Vancouver and St. Louis), perhaps they might go like this?

EAST - Columbus Crew, D.C. United, New England Revolution, New York Red Bulls, Philadelphia, Toronto FC

CENTRAL - Chicago Fire, Colorado Rapids, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, Kansas City Wizards, St. Louis

WEST - Chivas USA, Los Angeles Galaxy, Real Salt Lake, San Jose Earthquakes, Seattle Sounders FC, Vancouver

Take for the playoffs the top two from each division, and the next best two regardless of record.

[Shane Does Art]

Ottawa doesn't stand a chance... Oh well.

[gosioux76]

Today prior to the ASG in Toronto, the MLS announced plans to expand into two more cities (in addition to Seattle and Philadelphia).

http://web.mlsnet.com/news/mls_news.jsp?ym...s&fext=.jsp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUyNnwA8tpY...633&page=20

TORONTO -- Major League Soccer Board of Governors approved expanding by two teams by 2011, MLS Commissioner Don Garber announced following Thursday's Board of Governors meeting in Toronto.

At the meeting, Commissioner Garber provided updates on prospective expansion markets throughout the U.S. and Canada. Markets reviewed during today's meeting included (in alphabetical order) Atlanta, Las Vegas, Montreal, a second team in the New York area, Ottawa, Portland, St. Louis and Vancouver.

In conjunction with prospective Canadian expansion, MLS officials will work with Toronto FC owners Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, as well as potential expansion candidates, to develop national commercial revenue streams to support expansion into Canada.

MLS officials will issue specific details on the expansion application process within the next seven days.

I'm going to be hoping for Montreal and Vancouver to join, but I think it will end up as Montreal and St. Louis.

I love the Rose City and that would make for an instant rivalry but I'm thinking that MLS would view PGE Park as a temporary stadium. No way they put a team in there if that's where they intend on playing.

Timbers owner Merritt Paulson (son of U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson) has a grand scheme to rebuild PGE Park into a soccer-specific stadium, while building a separate, stand-alone stadium elsewhere in Portland for the AAA Portland Beavers, which he also owns.

Of course, this would need the support of taxpayers, which could be an uphill battle. But if MLS commits to Portland, there's some support among city leaders for Paulson's plan. I'm not sure if it's enough support, but at least he has advocates among the powers-that-be.

[OMMF]

Today prior to the ASG in Toronto, the MLS announced plans to expand into two more cities (in addition to Seattle and Philadelphia).

http://web.mlsnet.com/news/mls_news.jsp?ym...s&fext=.jsp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUyNnwA8tpY...633&page=20

TORONTO -- Major League Soccer Board of Governors approved expanding by two teams by 2011, MLS Commissioner Don Garber announced following Thursday's Board of Governors meeting in Toronto.

At the meeting, Commissioner Garber provided updates on prospective expansion markets throughout the U.S. and Canada. Markets reviewed during today's meeting included (in alphabetical order) Atlanta, Las Vegas, Montreal, a second team in the New York area, Ottawa, Portland, St. Louis and Vancouver.

In conjunction with prospective Canadian expansion, MLS officials will work with Toronto FC owners Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, as well as potential expansion candidates, to develop national commercial revenue streams to support expansion into Canada.

MLS officials will issue specific details on the expansion application process within the next seven days.

I'm going to be hoping for Montreal and Vancouver to join, but I think it will end up as Montreal and St. Louis.

I love the Rose City and that would make for an instant rivalry but I'm thinking that MLS would view PGE Park as a temporary stadium. No way they put a team in there if that's where they intend on playing.

Timbers owner Merritt Paulson (son of U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson) has a grand scheme to rebuild PGE Park into a soccer-specific stadium, while building a separate, stand-alone stadium elsewhere in Portland for the AAA Portland Beavers, which he also owns.

Of course, this would need the support of taxpayers, which could be an uphill battle. But if MLS commits to Portland, there's some support among city leaders for Paulson's plan. I'm not sure if it's enough support, but at least he has advocates among the powers-that-be.

Any chance he can also buy the Winter Hawks (two words) and save them from their current situation?

[Mac the Knife]

Looks like MLS owners are trying to recoup some of their losses by getting expansion fees. I'm not sure if that's a good sign or not to be honest.

[gosioux76]

Looks like MLS owners are trying to recoup some of their losses by getting expansion fees. I'm not sure if that's a good sign or not to be honest.

That would seem more likely if this expansion were unexpected. But it's been widely expected the league would expand by two more teams. It's not like they just hatched this plan up to make good on some dodgy investments.

[HedleyLamarr]

Looks like MLS owners are trying to recoup some of their losses by getting expansion fees. I'm not sure if that's a good sign or not to be honest.

Kinda like the NHL in the past 20 years, eh?

[cyandlux]

St Louis is the NO brainer (Belgian owned Bud buys a team?). It gets interesting for the #2, which could go to Vancouver very easily with their new field and FIFA approved turf.

When does Chivas move or are they comfortable where they are?

[FiddySicks]

If it's not St. Louis...ugh. I can't seem them passing us up this time.

We've had everything in place for a while now, including one of the strongest soccer fanbases in America (size of the city may mean it's not the biggest).

And I don't know if it's the same now as it was YEARS ago, but isn't St. Louis University soccer always very competitive and popular?

[FrankCostanza]

Not going to steal your realignment, Seadragon, but with 18 (taking Vancouver and St. Louis), perhaps they might go like this?

EAST - Columbus Crew, D.C. United, New England Revolution, New York Red Bulls, Philadelphia, Toronto FC

CENTRAL - Chicago Fire, Colorado Rapids, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, Kansas City Wizards, St. Louis

WEST - Chivas USA, Los Angeles Galaxy, Real Salt Lake, San Jose Earthquakes, Seattle Sounders FC, Vancouver

Take for the playoffs the top two from each division, and the next best two regardless of record.

It wouldn't surprise me if the MLS goes to a single table (like major European leagues do) and have every team play home and homes against the other 17 teams in the league once they hit 18 teams.

[Luigi74]

Looks like MLS owners are trying to recoup some of their losses by getting expansion fees. I'm not sure if that's a good sign or not to be honest.

Wasn't that one of the things Lamar Hunt kept the league from doing.

[Mac the Knife]

Looks like MLS owners are trying to recoup some of their losses by getting expansion fees. I'm not sure if that's a good sign or not to be honest.

That would seem more likely if this expansion were unexpected. But it's been widely expected the league would expand by two more teams. It's not like they just hatched this plan up to make good on some dodgy investments.

Perhaps, but what's an MLS expansion franchise going for nowadays? Quickly contrived or not, the business model they have is still losing money (though not as badly as 10 years ago) and adding expansion franchises while the TV shares aren't a significant source of their overall revenue (and thus a point of contention for those who might oppose expansion) is a nice way to bolster the bottom line.

[Sodboy13]

Perhaps, but what's an MLS expansion franchise going for nowadays? Quickly contrived or not, the business model they have is still losing money (though not as badly as 10 years ago) and adding expansion franchises while the TV shares aren't a significant source of their overall revenue (and thus a point of contention for those who might oppose expansion) is a nice way to bolster the bottom line.

And we're starting to see how that approach works in the long-term. See also: AFL Franchises, Over-valuation of; Firebirds, Indiana; Wranglers, Austin.

Tread lightly here, MLS.