The Montreal publication La Presse is reporting that (soon to be former) Liverpool owner George Gillet is joining forces with the Saputo family, owners of the USL Montreal Impact, to push for an MLS expansion team in Montreal.
The story goes on to say the group believes it could land an expansion team by 2009, which seems extremely unlikely given the fact that Philadelphia is set to join in 2010. If Montreal is to move ahead of the likes of favorite St. Louis and contenders Atlanta and Miami, it would take a bid of record proportions, but even that may not allow a second Canadian team to join MLS in the immediate future.
Ultimately money does talk and having Gillet, who owns the NHL’s Montreal Canadians, join forces with the Saputos give the Montreal expansion bid major financial muscle. Will that be enough to allow Montreal to join the expansion line?
What do you think of this story? Think having a second Canadian team before so many other American markets is a good move? Is it a bad move? Do you just want an excuse to visit the Gentlemen’s clubs in Montreal? Share your thoughts below?
Just for the record, Kansas City isn’t going anywhere. On the same day that the Mitchell Report came out, KC announced a Billion dollar deal. It includes a stadium, practice fields, a hotel, office space, and retail.
Saputo was in Toronto today for the unveiling of the Canada Cup tournament and he stated that they’re ready to go for 2009 if they can get the green light. Makes sense. they’ve got the money and the organizational infrastructure. All it takes is adding 7000 seats to a stadium that already exists and that would not take long.
Ok it’s NPO, but how many other teams are charging the same price for tickets and still can’t fill the stadium and don’t have any community support behind the team?
Besides, if you simply used the USL as a barometer for MLS support, Toronto would of had like 5k attendance first year. So this is really just an added bonus. Montreal has the infrastrucuture, capital, and a stadium actually in the city they claim to represent (shocking).
It’s a good setup, but the process is starting to get more competitive. So we’ll have to see what places like Miami and St. Louis can bring to the table.
17 – St Louis
18 – Portland
19 – Montreal
20 – Vancouver/Atlanta
then comes mls-2
NO BIGGER THAN 20 PLEASE!
(but i’ll live with 22…not with 24 though)
They need to change their name if they come in. Olympique would be best.
They already have a better stadium situation right now then Kansas City or San Jose will have for a couple years. I see no reason why they shouldn’t be in the league. They are more ready then some current MLS teams.
Like it was said further up in the thread, GO TO WHERE THE PASSION IS!! Montreal has the MONEY, Montreal has the FANS, Montreal has the Stadium, Montreal has the hatred toward Toronto, Montreal has the sexy french-canadian women, Montreal has it ALL! Give them a franchise before anyone else, and watch the MLS fill its coffers with some much needed money and stability!! Sorry KC, Chivas, Columbus gotta go! Yeah baby here comes a strong and stable MONTREAL!!!
I’m from the Atlanta area (I went to the University of Georgia), so I can give you the following pros and cons of an Atlanta team:
Cons:
1) Atlanta Fans show average interest in the Falcons, Hawks, and Thrashers
2) Atlanta Fans show above-average interest in the Braves, their only true winning team
3) Atlanta Fans like Air Conditioning and all MLS stadiums are outdoor.
Pros:
1) Georgia has seen some of the highest numbers of Hispanic immigrants on the East Coast, which could assist in building a fan base.
2) Fans are in love with the Georgia Bulldogs football program, so they do love sports…they are just finicky
3) The use of Sanford Stadium (in Athens) for Olympic Soccer was a huge success in 1996. The stadium sold out, the fan frenzy was huge,
4) If you stick the stadium between Atlanta and Athens, GA (such as Gwinnett County along the Atlanta Highway) you will be able to capture the larger parts of the Atlanta area population growth, which has been largely Northbound and closer to the UGA sports fan base.
“what has Montreal done to deserve a team? Their support of the Canadiens, and their 26 Stanley Cup titles, or the it the 40,000 empty seats at Expos games?”
The Olympic Stadium was a disaster. Too far way from the Montreal City Center, the Expos were a terrible team, why would you want to go? Minaya boosted attendences to about 20K before they folded, and that’s when they still sucked!
I favor Portland after Montreal and St. Louis.
Tk,
Saputo was part of a group of owners in the old APSL that applied for Division 1 status to the USSF (circa 1992/1993) pre-World Cup 1994. At the time Saputo was a newish owner and of course the APSL bid eventually failed to the group headed by Alan Rothenberg – MLS. As far as I can tell Saputo is the last of the APSL owners still active in professional soccer. Think of it this way he had the opportunity to buy an MLS franchise $5million and then again @ $10 million. There was no way Saputo was going to buy in at $30 million and spend money on a stadium. Gillett though knows a bargain and with Saputo one of the large corporate sponsors of the Canadiens of the NHL – its a match made in heaven.
Ives — would it be a nice change of pace for you if Benny did end up staying with Derby for next year.
I know myself for one, would be forced to ask you how he is doing, any word on him, etc… Its a possibility at that point he might take over for Jon O’Brien.
If he stays at Derby he could do a reality show with JOB “Remember Us”
Ives, have you any idea what John O’Brien is up to these days?
Also, what do you think about the idea of promotion/relegation between MLS and USL?
Please answer these very important topics immediately.
Lawrence Brophy, Secaucus.
US will eventually get to 24 Franchises and should force them to go 12 1st Division and 12 2nd Division with relegation!
Once this is acheived, expansion teams can come into the 2nd division (2 at a time) and allow another to bump up. 14-14, 15-15, 16-16 etc… until 20-20.
Thus enabling the league to eventually hit 40.
TK,
Considering Toronto drew about 500 people to Lynx games at similarly cheap prices before TFC came along, I’d say your argument doesn’t hold much weight whatsoever.
Miami doesnt deserve to get team, If MLS smartened up they would put a team in Habana. My glorious people would have a sellout stadium each game. My only stipulation I gave to Garber was that all the games must be home, because if we ever went on a road trip we wouldnt have any players left to field.
TK- i cant see Montreal still being that cheap as a MLS team… i wouldnt be surprised if the prices match TFC’s…. b/c once they are in the MLS they wont be a “non-profit” anymore… ive yet to see someone invest money into something they dont expect to see anything in return (as far as businesses go)
MLS should build on proven strength of soccer support. Portland and Vancouver.
I don’t have time to read that article.
17K to be profitable.
Interesting.
As I stated earlier.
Montreal is non profit, tix cost almost nothing, youth players go for free and tons of comps.
I wouldn’t be shocked if that 12,500 average crowd was only 6,7 or 8 paying, and at low, low prices at that – 5-10 bucks.
This is why MLS wants deep pockets and TV markets first. No guarantee fans will come out in droves at much higher prices.
There is more safety and money in a bigger TV market that can get more $$$ for the next deal – around 2014.
No shoe in here. Learn about the team fist folks…and the city.
I don’t have time to read that article.
17K to be profitable.
Interesting.
As I stated earlier.
Montreal is non profit, tix cost almost nothing, youth players go for free and tons of comps.
I wouldn’t be shocked if that 12,500 average crowd was only 6,7 or 8 paying, and at low, low prices at that – 5-10 bucks.
This is why MLS wants deep pockets and TV markets first. No guarantee fans will come out in droves at much higher prices.
There is more safety and money in a bigger TV market that can get more $$$ for the next deal – around 2014.
No shoe in here. Learn about the team fist folks…and the city.
ST. LOUIS IS NEXT!
http://www.rds.ca/impact/chroniques/248633.html
Another link in french: Saputo confirms talks; team would begin play in 09; Montreal FC; Saputo/Gillet have TFC’s full backing (mention 09 CAN exclusivity clause); team would need to average 17k to be profitable (?)
MLS HASN’T accepted the Vegas offer. sorry about the typo.
>
According to this tidbit from the article, the team would be called Montreal FC…ugh
That would bring the MLS FC tally to 4. Unless, that is, Alliance pulls off the upset in Seattle 🙂
Allez Olympique Montréalais!
MLS needs to take care of their US fans before anything else goes to Canada. It’s great that toronto has worked out, but MLS should focus on the US. I grew up in Seattle, and was without an MLS team, then I moved to Boston, and was stuck with the team I hate most in the league. I then left the hell hole called Boston and live in Tampa, a few years after the Mutiny folded. For everyone who says that rivalries are more improtant than a national footprint, you are all spoiled. I have not had a home town team to call my own for 13 seasons. The closest teams to me ar DC, KC & Houston. It is ludicris that there is no team in the Southeast and it is ludicris that it took so long to put a team on the Northwest. And for everyone who says that Miami shouldn’t have a team, the USL Miami side was ablt to bring in Romario fresh off leading the brasilian league in scoring. I’m sure there would be plenty of stars that would love to play in Miami (since NY wastes their DP spots on reyna). As far as the heat, I would rather play in Miami in August than New England in November (and I’ve only been in Florida 2 years). Also, the Las Vegas bid had major money behind it, and MLS has accepted that offer. I would much rather take a trip to Vegas to see a game than montreal. But I guess we could just give another one of our precious few spots to Canada, then we can grant US citizenship to all of the illegal imigrants and ship all of our jobs off to india. That sounds like a wonderful plan, doesn’t it.
It says that Gillett and Saputo are committed to spending the 12 million dollars to expand the stadium to 20,000. Seems a no-brainer to me. The Saputo family is worth 8 billion and Gillett is no slouch either. This will be hard for Garber to say no to.
Alright first off about expansion. Raise the salary cap, it is a must for the league to succeed. That will increase the level of play because we can keep our good players and also import great players in.
Start weeding out the weak franchises. Chivas, Kansas and Colombus sorr your out. If you can’t average over 14k a game on Saturday and Sundays please leave. I understand low attendance on week days there’s a reason why most sports try to avoid week days.
We will have to have over 20 teams, we are the biggest soccer country population wise. The teams I’d like to see get a team. San Antonio a 3rd Texas team would support a team very strong they are dying for another team to support there. Phoenix, Portland, Miami, Atlanta, Montreal, St. Louis, Baltimore and maybe even San Diego. Of course there isn’t an order to my selection, other than i’d like to see San Antonio get one sooner than later.
Atlanta would be nice to have for the fans in the south. but what about nashville? i was at the u23 semis last week, and there was a pretty good turnout for a thursday game. the attendance was MUCH better than in tampa for the group games. i’d be all over an atl team just because it would be the closest team, but nashville would be great as well
I love the idea of Montreal for all the reasons stated above, but if St. Louis doesn’t get in before anybody else something is just not right. Having lived in Seattle I guess I’m sensitive to being told we were getting a team for years and years with no results.
Team name idea for Montreal’s MLS side: Olympique de Montreal.
Doesn’t Toronto have rights to be an exclusive Canadian team for a certain period of years? Five perhaps?
im down for montreal 2009 it only makes the league beeter…. but 2010 looks more likly
Great discussion as always, I’d have to agree with McD its down to money, Seattle gets a team with no soccer specific stadium, Philadelphia jump ahead of St Louis due to money.
If Montreal have a good financial package they will jump ahead of St Louis. St Louis will become number #18 and then I think you have to stop the expansion of the league for a minimum of 5 years.
In saying that if St Louis don’t get their financing in line the could miss out in the league of 18.
Miami, Atlanta, NYC2 just don’t make sense to me.
I’d personally love it – I live in Albany and it’s ‘about the same’ distance from here to New Jersey or Montreal and ..well, I’ll put it this way, I love Montreal!
Ives,
AC at Sideline Views is reporting a sighting of JOB! Apparently he’s leading a team in a beach soccer tournament.
http://www.beachsoccerusa.org/beachSoccer/index.cfm?do=page.home&pageId=12&id=42
#17 will go to the city that produces a stadium and wealthy ownership group first. If MLS put a team in Salt Lake City, it clearly doesn’t care about the quality of the marketplace.
#18 will go to David Beckham and Simon Fuller, and it will be their choice of market. Let’s be clear, Beckham/Fuller’s option is to purchase a MLS (expansion) club, not the Galaxy.
It’s extraordinarily doubtful that MLS goes beyond 18 clubs before 2020. They have a number of clubs that are struggling, and more relocations will be on the way after the successful migration of San Jose-Houston.
Montreal would be a great addition to MLS, they have the fan support, owners, and natural rivalry with Toronto. Like Vancouver should also be added to provide a rivalry with Seattle. Even though enthusiasm is there in Canada, Canadian soccer is not as well developed yet than american soccer. Toronto FC learned the hard way that a team of a number of ex-USL players is not sufficient for a winning MLS team. There are problems with finding good American talent in MLS, too but MLS has had a headstart over Canada. So, another MLS team in Canada will happen but it is a few years away. Also, I think with the tradition Montreal Impact has as a team it would be foolish and suicidal to change the team to anything else, with the fan support Montreal has the reaction against hand-picked names by MLS will be even worse than it is in Seattle. Impact is a creative, unique name than anything MLS has right now and it should be left that way.
Actually, considering the lack of depth across the league, I’d consider less expansion a good thing until teams can show they can have a decent first XI plus some subs.
I am going to have to pull for an Atlanta team because the south has no MLS team what so ever. Plus i think the draw would not come just from people in Atlanta you have to look in other surrounding areas of Atlanta, such as the rest of Georgia, southern Tennessee, and Alabama which all are having strong youth movements in the game. And I believe more people like me, in there early 20’s and live in southern TN would make the trip every chance they had.
PCFC, if you want to bash Miami and Atlanta for lack of support for baseball, don’t bring Montreal up.
Let’s face it, there are many cities with major positives and negatives, fighting for just a few future expansion teams.
Give St.Louis the 17th team in 2011 and Montreal the 18th team in 2012. And reward the 19th and 20th teams to Miami and New York in 2015. Then stop the expansion and work on USL 1st Division
Absolutely a great idea…why in the world would we commit to markets that can barely support America’s pastime (Both the Marlins and the Braves could not sell out playoff games and they had years of success). We know Montreal and Vancouver are good soccer markets and provide good rivalries for TFC and Seattle (for Vancouver specifically). Americanizing hockey ruined the NHL and will ruin the MLS. Go to where the passion is. Most places can be found in the US but I don’t believe Atlanta should be ahead of Montreal or Vancouver. Miami has some potential.
“Miami and Atlanta? Too hot to watch a game and the play on the field suffers for it.”
Paul have you ever been to Houston in the summer?
PORTLAND!!!!!
Haig- had no idea the attendance was that small O.o
RK- point taken about the battery, just pointing out that finding locations with already solid fan base would be ideal… and your point about ATL fans only strengthens my opinion of no team in ATL…
“The better thing is to move into markets that tie in best with our current teams. Much like Philly will draw away fans from NYC and DC (and visa-versa).”
You want to broaden the appeal, not saturate it and prop it up as a regional league. Do you want teams in Baltimore, Atlantic City, and Providence next?
Moibus- euopean and south american stars?? id much rather settle for quality players playing in front of sold out crowds….
its not completely the location that draws players… its also the money and quality of play…. no star is going to come to the mls while the play is lack… for now, look for teams to go where the fans are… constantly developing the play, and then worry about bringing over stars O.o
If there has to be a new canadian team, the better choice is actually Vancouver. That way Seattle has a natural rival, and it solidifies MLS in the NW. That might lead to a Portland franchise in the distant future as well. Montreal is a promising option as well.
But as someone that lives in the South, and close to Atlanta, I can tell you that trying to “force” a southern franchise just to even out the map is stupid. The better thing is to move into markets that tie in best with our current teams. Much like Philly will draw away fans from NYC and DC (and visa-versa).
That being the case, it would be better to bring MLS to places that will help the most, not spread things out just for the sake of having teams in every corner of the US.
What about moving a team to Montreal instead? Someone who has rediculous attendance, like I dont know, Chivas? Then you have a team that wins and plays a decent attacking style to help win over fans, and they are in market that has better potential than being the number 2 franchise in a city. I think that is better for the league.
Ryan, you think they never tried to do that!? Oh wait! Gazidis JUST said how they tried to do that for Toronto but they couldn’t get around governmental law.
Brett, 500k IS the metropolitan area of Charleston. It is the 90th largest in the US — it isn’t big enough. While I’d love to see it happen because I’d rather live there than anywhere else in the US, it just can’t support it.
Atlanta’s problem is that it is a transient population, as stated before. Even if a team came here to Atlanta, I couldn’t root for it as much as I would DC (where I’m a transplant from).
How would this help securing a larger American TV deal? Oh… it wouldn’t? Then it’s just an afterthought.
Montreal will probably get a team, but not until other strategic locations are brought into the fold first.
MLS has no plans to stop at 20 teams, or to go to pro/rel. Does no one else see what they’re planning to do?
MLS will keep conferences and EVENTUALLY go to 32 teams. Why 32? 2 16 team conferences where the team plays a home and home with every other team (30 games) in the conference. And much like the old AL/NL only in Cup competitions shall the two meet.
the MLS should count a domestic player as any player from a country that has a MLS team. the fact that Toronto has different rules on domestic players is absurd.