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MLSNet.comThis?
Or This?
That might be the question one might ask after reading this:
"… The MLS commissioner will hold a press conference Wednesday afternoon on the Exhibition grounds, and judging from the smiles seen from the league dignitaries on Tuesday, expect some positive news over adding a second Canadian franchise at some point."
So perhaps we will know more this afternoon. Traditionally the All Star Game and MLS Cup weeks have been used for the league to announce or hint at expansion plans.
Couple that with this story as well as our earlier rumor along the same lines and perhaps we will hear some news about Vancouver.
Great news for Canadian soccer fans! Both cities have solid investors and fanbases, but to me Montreal should have the edge with an already constructed (and easily expandable) SSS, and the potential for a French-language tv contract.
I think Montreal has the inside track. An expandable stadium, a good fan base (11,000 avg att.), an established Supporters Group (UM02), and last but not least, a CONCACAF Champions League berth.
It seems obivious to me that this article is more about Montreal. Though I feel there are US cities that deserve more consideration,
the economics just don't add up at this moment. The Canadian cities currently have a big advantage due to the exchange rate. Anyway.
I don't know of any real stadium proposal in Vancouver, and this article leads one to believe MLS will play in a dome? Insane. Montreal has the stadium done just needs to be expanded, that's better than San Jose got in with. What I wonder is what year Montreal will be in MLS, 2009?
how does any of this improve soccer in the United States...
Not likely.
See here .
FC Montreal v. Toronto FC
WHAT A DERBY!!. WOW!!
Ok, so press conference over and no announcement?
Actually, Vancouver has a good stadium plan, with City and Province approval, unfortunately the Port Authority is blocking. I have a feeling that if they got an MLS franchise the PA would back off, and the stadium would be built.
Still, Montreal looks like a safer bet.
The league seemed to be courting Vancouver at one point, even releasing a statement when they said they were going to improve BCE place. Mabe they want one team in Western Canada to try and bring in fans across the country.
Much like the states, MLS hasn't hit the mainstream here, even if it's popular in Toronto.
Conference over...no announcement made...They said something about later this year at the MLS cup. Combined with the article quoting MLS officals, rather than the look on Canadian officals face, I think Canada is out for the next few years....
Toronto has exclusive Canadian rights until 2010.
Does this mean that St. Louis is once again being brushed off? I don't get it, cool owner, sss stadium to be built ASAP, and traditional soccer city. WTF?
Could it be that this is just a press conference to talk about the state of the league. There are reports that some of the players will be available at a press conference this afternoon. No one else seems to have picked up on the mysterious body language of the Canadian dignitaries.
If all these Canadian cities want teams, how come they don't start their own league? I thought the argument last year was that it wasn't possible. It seems a lot more so now.
Canada can't start a league because they only have 3 cities that could definitely sustain a club (Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal) beyond that it's a crap shoot.
Yea..... as much a Canadians would love to see our own league (maybe 20-30 years down the road) the fact remains that the league would collapse. Look at the CFL, 31000 fans per game avg yet they still barely keep afloat.
Sounders FC VS Vancouver. Great rivalry
As for the argument over a Canadian league, it is in fact not possible. Only Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal could support a team. Other cities like Ottawa, Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg, Hamilton, Regina, Victoria, Quebec, and Halifax are just too small or the interest isn't there.
Canada can't start a league of it's own for the reasons just mentioned.. only 3 viable markets.
Canada needs the US... But ironically the US needs Canada as well.. Because TFC is amazing and is the only team that truly replicates a European atmosphere as opposed to those crappy family outing atmospheres you get with many of the American teams.
I think that either one would bring with it a good Derby situation, Van vs. Sounders, Mont v. TFC. I think that could really help the league. So would NY2 or St. L vs. KC. Derbies are one of the best things in football. Personally, as a Gers fan, the Old Firm Derby has made me care 10x more about my club because I f***ing hate Celtic and their f***ing fans.
There's also talk of Ottawa as well now. I'm not against a Canadian league but it would be nothing more than a feeder league which would get little support. But I do understand Americans' resentment that we are poaching club openings. Is there really no way relegation/promotion can't work on this continent??