MLS expansion Thread.

[dgreco]

By 2011 do you think we will see the two texas teams move east? Or will they have an unbalanced conference alignment?

I'm think they will go to a single table system.

I hope we would go to single table. It would make so much sense.

[EPJr]

I'm think they will go to a single table system.

I hope we would go to single table. It would make so much sense.

http://www.90soccer.com/cgi-bin/datacgi ... =9&&ar=806

[dgreco]

I hope we would go to single table. It would make so much sense.

http://www.90soccer.com/cgi-bin/datacgi ... =9&&ar=806

Thank you for that link. I agree pretty much 100% with the writer, now we need the MLS to stand up and make the announcement.

[EPJr]

The Gateway City Supporters Club (GCSC) has renamed themsleves The
Eads Brigade. They are the self acclaimed "First and Finest MLS Supporters Club". (http://www.eadsbrigade.org/).
They are so confident that they are going get a team in the next round of expansion that they are already creating a scarf.




BTW: local sports hero Albert Pujols has jumped on the St. Louis Soccer United bandwagon.

[slycat]

Good for St. Louis. The Sons of Ben in Philly showed that a strong supporters group can help get a team.

[EPJr]

Good for St. Louis. The Sons of Ben in Philly showed that a strong supporters group can help get a team.

I luv a group that can call themselves SoB's

[EPJr]

http://www.sonsofben.com/

The Sons of Ben (SoB) is an independent fan club for the Philadelphia Major League Soccer (MLS) team. The Sons of Ben group was created in January 2007 by soccer fans from Philadelphia and its greater metropolitan area, using such existing MLS fan clubs as the Screaming Eagles, Empire Supporters Club, La Barra Brava, Texian Army, and Section 8 Chicago as models. The name of the club alludes to Benjamin Franklin, who was one of the most well known Founding Fathers of the United States and a particularly iconic figure of Philadelphia.
Bryan James, Andrew Dillon, and Dave Flagler founded the Sons of Ben supporters club on January 17, 2007, Benjamin Franklin's birthday. Philadelphia soccer fan, Ethan Gomberg, suggested the name. SoB is the first Philly MLS supporters club. The club uses the colors blue and gold, from Philadelphia's city flag, but may assume the official team colors when they are announced.

The Sons of Ben began during a flurry of rumors regarding Major League Soccer's negotiations with investors regarding a team located in the Philadelphia region. The group has more than 2,500 members and ran a season ticket drive, attracting 2,800 requests. Both state and county governments have agreed to partially fund the Rivertown project along the banks of the Delaware River in Chester, Pennsylvania. This mixed-use development will be anchored by a 20,000-seat soccer-specific stadium (Chester Stadium) just south of the Commodore Barry Bridge. On February 28, 2008, Philadelphia was confirmed to be the league's 16th team, meaning that their initial goal has been accomplished. The Sons of Ben refocused their efforts on the most important mission of any supporters club: supporting the local team. The team will begin play in 2010.

At the "Meet the Owners" event held two days before the official MLS press conference in Chester, the Sons of Ben wore nametags with handwritten numbers intended to read 2010. The number was mistakenly interpreted as "ZOLO" by team co-owner Nick Sakiewicz. This led to the Philadelphia MLS team being referred to as the "Zolos" in a series of inside jokes by the group. The Philadelphia MLS team's ownership group, Keystone Sports & Entertainment LLC, designed a specific entrance and a 2,000-seat section of Chester Stadium for the Sons of Ben in recognition of their loyalty.

[dgreco]

Good for St. Louis. The Sons of Ben in Philly showed that a strong supporters group can help get a team.

From what I have read St. Louis is pretty much doing everything asked of them and just not getting the bid. It seems like they just do not want this management team for St. Louis.

[slycat]

Good for St. Louis. The Sons of Ben in Philly showed that a strong supporters group can help get a team.

From what I have read St. Louis is pretty much doing everything asked of them and just not getting the bid. It seems like they just do not want this management team for St. Louis.

Money became am issue for them in the recession. Once they got the financial backing fixed I think Portland and Vancouver were already show ins. Seattle's success really helped those two get teams.

[EPJr]

Montreal bids for a 2011 MLS expansion spot


Montreal Impact owner Joey Saputo is determined to get his club into Major League Soccer by 2011, and there are signs that MLS might be willing to accommodate his request, ESPNsoccernet has learned.

"I'm trying to push for 2011," Saputo said. "I feel very, very comfortable that we'll be ready. We've spoken about that with the [MLS] commissioner [Don Garber], and he understands that."

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/st ... ls&cc=5901

[DukeJack]

Montreal bids for a 2011 MLS expansion spot

Cripes, this guy is completely out of touch with reality, isn't he? Is Saputo still trying to get in for a reduced expansion fee or has he realized Garber will only take the full $40m?

This:

"There is some concern from the MLS that too much expansion too quickly might hurt the product," Saputo said. "But I try to prove the point to commissioner Garber that I wouldn't look at Montreal as an expansion franchise. I don't think that we're going to have to pick up 22 new players."

"With the core we have, we could add four or five key players that could really make a difference and be competitive in MLS right away," Saputo said.

The CCL success they had was the worst possible thing for Saputo's ego. Seattle only took six from the USL Sounders to the Sounders FC. They recognized there was a talent gap between USL and MLS, and despite being allowed to sign as many of their players as they wanted, only took a handful. MLS came to Saputo in the league's early days, when they only wanted $5-10m for the expansion fee. He laughed them off and now they want him back?

[EPJr]

Announcement of 19th team within the year...

That's what the Commish told the Fox Soccer Channel last night in LA. He was there for the Chivas V. LA Galaxy Match. He actually volunteered the info w/o being asked. The tease would not hint though as to who it would be

[T-Dog]

I think something that should be taken into consideration is having a local derby/rivalry. Portland and Vancouver each have two with each other and Seattle, which I've heard was really heated in USL-1. It'd be like Newcastle, Sunderland and Middlesbrough, who are in NE England by themselves.

Montreal would be perfect with Toronto and they'd easily hate each other.

St Louis has Kansas City and Chicago so they are both ideal.

If Miami wants in, they'll need another Florida team, probably in Tampa, Orlando or Jacksonville to jump in with them.

Eventually, it looks like a promotion/relegation system will come into place once MLS reaches 20 teams and more will want in.

[dbackjon]

I just don't see promotion/relegation working in the United States.

The United States and Canada, geographically, is far larger than Europe with each small country having their own major league. The 20-table limit with relegation will not work in the United States. MLS, if it wants to expand, will have to break tradition and be a 28-30 team table.

[polsongrizz]

I just don't see promotion/relegation working in the United States.

The United States and Canada, geographically, is far larger than Europe with each small country having their own major league. The 20-table limit with relegation will not work in the United States. MLS, if it wants to expand, will have to break tradition and be a 28-30 team table.

I would have to agree, although 30 teams might be a little high.

[dbackjon]

I just don't see promotion/relegation working in the United States.

The United States and Canada, geographically, is far larger than Europe with each small country having their own major league. The 20-table limit with relegation will not work in the United States. MLS, if it wants to expand, will have to break tradition and be a 28-30 team table.

I would have to agree, although 30 teams might be a little high.

At this point, but who know 20-30 years down the road.

Phoenix would be a great market, if the RIGHT owner stepped up. Montreal, St. Louis, a couple eventually in Florida would be good soccer markets as well.

[polsongrizz]

I would have to agree, although 30 teams might be a little high.

At this point, but who know 20-30 years down the road.

Phoenix would be a great market, if the RIGHT owner stepped up. Montreal, St. Louis, a couple eventually in Florida would be good soccer markets as well.

Oh 20-30 years from now, I was thinking in my life time.

[EPJr]

MTL Impact owner very confident during halftime interview

http://www.mls-rumors.net/2009/06/expan ... treal.html

[EPJr]

Montreal joining MLS will be on the agenda when commissioner Don Garber heads meetings in Salt Lake City next week before the league's annual All-Star Game in Salt Lake City.

http://www.montrealgazette.com/sports/s ... story.html

[EPJr]

Activity on the Chester waterfront is kicking into high gear as the home of the Philadelphia Union rises ever-higher each day.

“Years of hard work from many people have gone into making this stadium project a reality and it’s a spectacular site to see the building rapidly taking shape,” said Philadelphia Union CEO & Operating Partner Nick Sakiewicz. “Our construction partners are working relentlessly, with about 150 workers on site every day, and we’re extremely appreciative of their commitment. We’re very proud to be revitalizing the Chester waterfront into a special place where people can come work, live and play.”

http://philadelphiaunion.com/Content1.aspx?cid=2.0

[EPJr]

Interesting to note that the 2 following internet domain names were registered on August 11th by LES FROMAGES SAPUTO S.E.N.C./SAPUTO CHEESE G.P. :

http://www.montrealmls2011.com
http://www.montrealmls2012.com

Those domain names match the format currently being used by Portland(portlandmls2011.com) and Vancouver (vancouvermls2011.com).

http://www.24thminute.com/2009/08/montr ... tered.html

[EPJr]

REBIRTH OF THE NY COSMOS???

Former Tottenham director Paul Kemsley, who is working in the United States following the collapse of his British property business, is attempting to revive the fortunes of America's most famous football club - New York Cosmos.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/articl ... osmos.html

[DukeJack]

REBIRTH OF THE NY COSMOS???

Former Tottenham director Paul Kemsley, who is working in the United States following the collapse of his British property business, is attempting to revive the fortunes of America's most famous football club - New York Cosmos.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/articl ... osmos.html

Yeah, I have a hard time believing this when the article:

It is believed they will be built up as an all-star touring team before attempting to gain an MSL franchise.

fucks up something so basic so badly.

[EPJr]

Garber visits Montreal to discuss future expansion

NEW YORK -- Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber visited Montreal Wednesday to meet with Montreal Impact President Joey Saputo and government officials to discuss possible MLS expansion into Canada's second-largest market.

Commissioner Garber, who was joined by MLS President Mark Abbott for the meetings, met with Joey Saputo last night and then traveled this morning with the Impact president to meet with Quebec Minister of Finance Raymond Bachand and Montreal Mayor Gerald Tremblay.

"We continued our discussions with the Saputo family about a future MLS expansion team in Montreal and had very productive meetings with Minister Bachand about securing funding for the expansion of Saputo Stadium," Garber said following his morning meetings. "We've stated many times that Montreal would be a great market for MLS and we look forward to continuing our discussions."

"We are very happy with the visit of the MLS executives in Montreal," declared Impact President Joey Saputo. "The meetings this morning with Minister Bachand and Mayor Tremblay were very positive. It's clear for us, and now more than ever, that the arrival of MLS in Montreal is only a question of time. We are hoping to have news in the first quarter of 2010."

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