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Looks like Vancouver beat Montreal to the punch. Here is what we know:
The Vancouver Whitecaps and Steve Nash, in a press conference to take place later today, will announce that they have formally applied to join MLS.
Most likely the MLS Board of Governors have already given tacit approval to their plan to play at BC Place until a soccer specific stadium is built. This is likely why they approved the addition of 2 more clubs by 2011.
The decision on what to do next most likely lies with league officials.
Vancouver joins St Louis atop the expansion list as a front runner, specifically if they have deep pocketed investors ready to back their plan. More details on that may emerge later today. If they have a solid plan and solid finances then they jump ahead of St Louis.
Official Site Here
Excerpts:
"Vancouver Whitecaps FC are expected to announce today that they are applying for a Major League Soccer franchise and that basketball superstar Steve Nash will be a partner in the bid.
The Whitecaps did not comment yesterday, but have scheduled a press conference for 11 this morning at the Pan Pacific Hotel in Vancouver."
Nothing against Vancouver, but MLS in a domed stadium that's shared with a CFL team would look terrible.
Don't understand how a city gets an expansion team based on a stadium plan, San Jose? I just think the stadium should come before the team.
I wonder if their stadium plan would have a retractable roof? Vancouver can be pretty cool in Oct/Nov like many other North American cities.
I guess Vancouver got a team because Seattle. Too bad Montreal didn't get a team because rivalry between Montreal and Toronto would be insane in MLS.
They actually have not received a team yet. They have only now formally applied to receive a team.
I wonder how this will affect the Vancouver Whitecaps Residency program and PDL side. If they make it into MLS and keep it running, will other clubs follow suit?
I like the idea, not sure about the BC Place.
On this issue, I think that the expansion teams are better if they're originals. I know that Chivas USA worked, but the MLS could lose its appeal if include more US versions of world clubs (America, Boca, etc.)
MLS, don't push your luck. Be original.
Great site by the way.
if vancouver gets it portland is probably done for the time being, the mls has to conquer the midwest, the southeast, and develop a montreal answer to toronto before they put a third team in the pacific nw.
i dont understand what st. louis's problem is... mls is practically begging to put a team there but they really havent moved past miami, let alone montreal and vancouver. or do they expect kc to move? when is kc's stadium supposed to open? have they broken ground yet? if not, sounds like an easy move to me.
i say give these two to montreal and vancouver, they are further along and seem more enthusiastic, and toronto has been great for the league... miami gets one a year after becks retires so they are on a different line than everyone else.
LOL, you guys realize that Vancouver's "domed" stadium is a regular stadium with a giant parachute on top, right?
If you remove the parachute, what do you get?
Maybe the last writer has a point about KC/St. Louis. According to Wikipedia, KC's stadium is still in the planning stages, and would be set to open in 2010.
However, I'm thinking that MLS might like a KC/St. Louis derby. But couldn't St. Louis/Chicago be considered a derby?
Onto VanCity, I think Montreal should be ahead because of the investment and passion from Saputo and Gillet, and the ALREADY BUILT and expandable SSS! Not to mention the TFC/Impact derby!
How about we put Vancouver, Montreal and St. Louis on the list as "cities with highest likelihood" of getting an MLS franchise?
Cities like Atlanta, Miami, Las Vegas and New York 2 need to wait until this gets sorted out with the teams above.
Jeez...there's a lot of misinformed people on here. BC Place is being completely refurbished on the exterior and interior with a retractable roof at the tune of $200-300m for the Olympics and future. WFC will play temporarily there until their $100m waterfront stadium is built, by their billionaire owner and Steve Nash's investment group.
BC Place will be football friendly in design or intimate, much more so than Qwest in Seattle. Who btw don't have any plans to build there own SSS.