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According to this email we just received that would be the case:
Hello,
I have some potential news regarding MLS' next round of
expansion. This isn't a lot of new information, per se, but maybe you can keep
it mind if you hear other stories. My sources are linked to the Atlanta and
Portland expansion bids, but I ask that you keep my name and e-mail out of this.
I will be sure to pass on any other information I come across.
My
sources are adamant that the expansion teams have already been determined.
Atlanta missed out. No word on Portland. What I have been able to learn is that
both cities chosen have USL1 franchises and that the existing USL clubs have
allegedly signed non-compete agreements that will see the existing teams dropped
to USL2 or lower, effective 2011. One of the cities is "a terrible choice."
In other words, it's two from Vancouver, Portland and Montreal. Sorry,
St. Louis and Ottawa.
And of course whatever he passes on to us we will pass onto you.
UPDATE: Here is what our source had to say regarding the comment his source made about one city being a "terrible choice":
Good morning,
Here's what I was able to learn about the 'terrible choice'
"It's not the choice of the city itself that is the problem but where allegedly it would be located in that city."
Not sure what that means and he wouldn't expand upon it. Sounds like it may be a team located in the suburbs, rather than in the city itself?
Hard to believe this. If it's true it has to be Montreal and Vancouver because Portland is still thick in the process. And why all this nonsense about an October 15th deadline?
A related rumor is that both Merritt Paulson and Garber are meeting or have met in China this week according to mlstopdx.com
WHy would Vancouver be over Portland they don't have the stadium deal approved yet. I would be surprised to see Vancouver for 2011 two Canadian teams to MLS would not be the best thing. MLS TO PDX
I can guarantee you that the USSF will be forced into having something to say about this. The whole situation has gone well beyond a mere Monaco thing.
Miami is one of the Cities.
One dark stormy night in NY, I walk into a bar....
Funny cause I've heard that St. Louis is definitely in.
miami and vancouver probably
Funny that someone with a PDX bent would complain about another city not having a stadium deal
Montreal no doubt... and probably Vancouver too what with Steve Nash pushing so damn hard, and GM place being reno'd...
Why are they making the USL teams drop to USL 2? Why can't they just pull a Seattle?
Whoever can replicate tfc is where expansion should be.. looks like vanc and montreal
need to avoid the soccer mom culture locations.. last thing MLS needs is another colorado/dallas/rsl
How could Montreal, Vancouver or Portland be "a terrible choice"? Unless Canadian teams are terrible because they're Canadian, I don't see how these 3 choices could be terrible.
No they can't allow two canadian cities in one year. My guess would be Portland and Vancouver. Portland has a stadium that will expand a few years and joining MLS. sucks for st. louis
All the teams are still thick in the process.
However,it will be Vancouver and Portland.
Go Portland Timbers FC
(or Portland Timbers United?!?!)
Dont mind them skipping over Atlanta but as a canadian i do think that St Louis should be on the radar. I can assure people (tho im sure its of little consolation) that Montreal and Vancouver will do well for the league. They do need to avoid Ottawa like the plague.
I really think Don needs to think about what putting another team in canada will do? TFC could only find 6 players from Canada and only 3 see any real playing time. If MLS is going to put another team up there, something will have to be done to the way players allocations are done.
Perhaps a move to declare all players from the US, Canada, and Mexico to be North American players. Something like NAFTA for soccer players.
Without a move like that another team in Canada will be allowed to stack their roster with international talent, which will put pressure on their salary caps, and could provide an unfair advantage. Imagine what would happen if a US based MLS side only had 6 US players on their roster?
I'm guessing that the italicization wasn't turned off and the last two lines are MLSRumors.
The terrible choice has to be Miami. No one thinks that, on their own, Montreal, Vancouver OR Portland are bad.
My money is on Vancouver and Miami. Which is not what I want, but its what I'm guessing.
It's only the xenophobes that don't want the Canadian cities in.
It's going to be Vancouver and Montreal.
Montreal has to be the outright leader. Vancouver and Portland seem very close in second. Miami is the wild card, no solid news but they have the resources to put something together fast.
I like the idea of having these teams moving up from USL. St. Louis has a great stadium plan and they should join USL and hope to move up. Maybeye MLS would even move KC down without a stadium. Relegation Promotion, American style.
I'm not a xenophobe. I'm a traditionalist and a soccer nationalist. Let Canada start its own league. And, by the way, it's against American labor law to favor one nationality over another. Garber better hope that Gulati gets reelected USSF president because a new man will be tempted to pull the plug on this idiocy.
You can't have one group of teams playing under one set of rules and another group of teams playing under another set. Well, you can...if you have separate LEAGUES.
Miami,Miami,Miami It is time.
Portland and St Louis have to be the two new American teams. I do not like the idea of FIFA sanctioning more cross border teams for MLS, but the way MLS has been acting lately they just want the money and want to run with it.
That is why while these four teams bring us to 20, do not be surprised if Barcalona and Beckham are being both courted for Miami and a NYC team that could start play whenever they feel like, pushing the league to 22 teams and running afoul of FIFA. I'm telling you for a fact I know MLS wants a second team in the New York area and also wants a team in Miami again. If investors were already in place those would be the first two new teams. So they are as someone said above wild cards and both will eventually have teams if this league does not kill itself with over expansion first.
ULS Miami will go to MLS
With the update on the rumor suggesting that the stadium location of the "bad choice" city is in the burbs, this would rule out several cities. Assuming Montreal is in, here's a breakdown of which candidate cities are disqualified based on assumption 1 that it is a usl market and 2 that the stadium is in the burbs:
1) Vacouver (out-BC place is downtonwn)
2) Portland (out-PGE park is downtown
3) St. Louis (out-not USL)
4) Ottawa (out-not USL)
5) Vegas (out-not USL)
6) New York (out-not USL))
So this rumor would have us believe that it will either be Montreal and Atlanta or Montreal and Miami.
I really don't see that happening at this point. This entire rumor is crap.
I am a Canadian and I would agree that Canada should create its own league.
However, since I don't believe that will happen in my lifetime, I do believe that MLS will follow the money and choose cities who've got the right ownership and the best stadium deals.
If I was a betting man, I'd guess that the 2 groups that will get "promoted" to MLS in 2011 will be Montreal and Portland. Both have pre-existing stadiums that only need modest investment to make them MLS ready (Montreal's stadium requires even less than Portland's). Both have good fan support (Portland's fan support is among the top 5 in all of North America). Plus, and I think this is important, both cities would have automatic rivalries (Montreal v Toronto; Portland v Seattle).
To me, Miami is the least ready of all the rumoured bids and its a loudy sports town (other than maybe the Dolphins).
Toronto should get 1 more team
The terrible choice is Vancouver.
Simply because they plan on playing in the horrible BC Place. It's cavernous and boring. The other might be Portland as it's unlikely that 2 Canadian teams will get in at the same time. The talent base in Canada would be stretched much to far and thus the Canadian teams would struggle badly in order to meet the domestic player allocations.
since atlanta is out the terrible choice has to be miami. its the only city that makes sense. fiu, in south west miami, is expanding their football stadium and recently offered an mls team free rent to play there. the problem is, fiu is in a horrible location for a team... way out west. and, they have field turf i believe. fortunately, it would probably be a temporary solution because a new sss is planned to be built sometime next decade at the orange bowl next to the new marlins stadium.
look:
vancouver- would either play at the bc dome downtown or in a new stadium on the water... no problem with location
montreal- would play at stade saputo, good location
portland- is downtown as well
atlanta- maybe, i could see them playing in gwinnett county or something but the email said they are out so its not them
st louis- is building their own stadium and nobody complained about the location before... and they arent a usl team
ny2- not a usl team either and would build the stadium in queens, not the greatest location but the mls would not put another ny team in a bad location when they already have a ny team in a bad location.
so its gotta be miami, its the only one that makes sense if this rumor is to be believed.
so in 2011, we will probably be welcoming miami becksbarca fc and another canadian team, my guess is vancouver whitecaps.
My bet's on Portland and Montreal, if it does indeed happen. 1 east, 1 west, with great (damn you, Impact!!!) rivalries already in-place.
In the end, though, who knows where the next teams will be located. I watch the whitecaps/silverbacks game on Sunday, and man, the 'caps could probably hold there own v. most MLS clubs. Really fun team to watch, and that organization really deserves to be at the top level, too.
We will see...
The "terrible choice" is Vancouver, the location is the fact that the Whitecaps will be playing in BC Place, unless something miraculous happens with their stadium plan.
The other team maybe Portland. Not completely sure on it, as Montreal was almost a lock, but Portland has gained allies in MLS, with Seattle spearheading the campaign.
If other talk is true, look for Cue to sell, and Cooper to buy Chivas... Chivas St. Louis anyone?
Miami would be a great choice.
St. Louis has to be one city. I would prefer portland be the other, but if not portland then the best city otherwise would be Vancouver.
Now that St. Louis has a steady ownership group, and a stadium plan in place (a good one at that). 20 minutes from downtown and looks to be a whole community center. It would be hard to believe they won't be one of the expansion teams.
American cities first, but if there isn't any good investments there then go canadian.
You can't have two expansion teams that are right next to each other. The MLS likes to even out the teams near each coast.
vancouver has more potential natural rivalries than portland. what about:
vancouver vs toronto
vancouver vs seattle
vancouver vs montreal.
it's a good thing.
Also playing in BC Place is only a temporary measure until a new stadium is built.
Also, two separate bids from two rich guys is alot better one. Some bids have none.