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Things may previously have been testy between Montreal and MLS with Montreal boss, Joey Saputo going so far as to question the league's expansion fee on two previous occasions in 2007 and again earlier this year.
According to this report things could get quite tasty after the final whistle Sunday....
Following MLS Commissioner Don Garber's statements regarding Montreal's bid, the Montreal partnership group would like to bring one important rectification: Montreal did not withdrew its bid from Major League Soccer but was informed that the league did not retain its bid.
Out of respect for the Grey Cup festivities, the partnership group will not make any additional statements over the weekend.
REPORT: Montreal Expansion Group Accuses Don Garber of Lying About Bid Withdrawal
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Pretty low of Montreal to do that. What would MLS have to gain by lying? Nothing. On the other hand Montreal can save face with fans by saying their bid was rejected.
MLS stands to gain nothing. If they didn't want Montreal.... all they had to do was weather the bidding process and say sorry you didn't make it. I'm sure they withdrew and are now trying to save face.
Keep in mind, these are the same assclowns who started the rumor about Philadelphia being in dire straits. MLS has too much class for these jokers.
SHOTS FIRED!!!
The Philly rumour was started by a whitecaps fan from vancouver
No, the rumour was NOT started by a Vancouver fan, that's complete BS.
The fan simply posted a link to an online article by Gerry Dobson of Sportsnet in Toronto. It was Dobson who reported the rumors without citing a source.
See for yourself:
http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/blogs/2008/10/21/dobson_tfc_offseason/
Dobson got the rumour from here: http://www.canadian-soccer.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=17950&whichpage=1
The poster brownbear is a whitecaps fan from Vancouver. His post was printed word for word by mls rumors later that day. Only the next day did Dobson write anything.
Saputo has been a long-standing (and often VERY valid) critic of MLS and its organisation.
Perhaps this is a kick in the ass from the league for his past comments?
Rumours can go both ways, really.
whatever happened it's sad that a team with guaranteed 90-100% sellouts, potentially very profitable TV deal (due to the CBC wanting rights for both TFC and Impact) is not coming to the MLS. If Portland doesn't get a team than it's obvious the suits at MLS no NOTHING about the game. Stop going for markets that haven't proven a thing when it comes to soccer. Portland and Montreal are turn key franchises. built in support and quite frankly it's getting sad to see so many empty seats in so many stadiums.
Portland Tinbers FC 2011!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love the title, "Group accuses don garber of lying"
.....c'mon guys, just when I was starting to like MLSR.
all this means is that if montreal ever gets a team, its not gonna be owned by the saputos due to the bad blood. in any case, canadian football just took a big step backwards with the failure of the montreal bid.
Lol to the last poster...as if Canadian soccer's only chance to succeed is MLS...thanks, we're having fun in the Champions' League Quarterfinals.
MLS has been lying all over the place to the first poster and I for one am glad the Saputos called their bluff. Enjoy the MLS offseason while the Impact and the Islanders enjoy the CONCACAF knock out stages.
This is a shocker. I just hope that this isn't a burned bridge between the two parties. Montreal would be a great market for MLS. As mentioned above, the contract with CBC or potentially another Canadian network could get a lot bigger, plus a bidding war between RDS and French CBC for French language tv rights. That's a completely new market and revenue gone.
Montreal, Vancouver, and Portland could just bring their teams to MLS as soon as stadiums are ready! No Expansion Draft, none of the BS. These teams have the infrastructure in place, and the rosters that are good enough to at least compete in MLS right away.
Common MLS let the clubs in that deserve it.
to the anonymous guy who keeps posting "Portland Tinbers FC 2011!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" in every article Get a life!! Have fun in your baseball stadium!!!
Good. Now all we need is for someone to tell Vancouver to fuck off.
Montreal does not sell out, they give away something like 70% of their tickets. That is not a sellout.
If people had to pay, would they really come? If you talk with anyone in MLS that is not a commish they would have told you the same thing, Montreal did not have the money to come in.
First off, Saputo has a fortune worth $8 billion. He's just a cheapskate.
Second, Montreal's PAYING season ticket base was 4500 this year which is better than most of MLS. Yes they are still giving some tickets away but nowhere near as much as they did at the old stadium.
Anonymous November 23, 2008 11:02 AM
Fuck off! Go fluff your chivis!