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Montreal bows out of MLS expansion race

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The race to secure one of Major League Soccer's two expansion slots in 2011 has been cleared up dramatically after commissioner Don Garber revealed on Friday that Montreal has removed itself from consideration.

Montreal's exit leaves Miami and St. Louis as the front-runners in a six-city race to be one of the two expansion cities added in 2011. Portland is also a contender, with Ottawa, Vancouver and Atlanta also in the mix.

What do you think of the news? Stunned that Montreal has bowed out? Do you see anybody beating out St. Louis and Miami?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Once St. louis ownership is revealed it should clear up concerns. St. Louis Post Dispatch reported that the ownership still has at least two individuals to be announced. One from Europe and one with a net worth over $500 million.

    SSS already in place pending announcement. Everything is ready to go!

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  2. Miami should be a no brainer, in spite of historical failings and potential attendance issues. Big Market, Barca connection will seal the deal – end of story.

    The other franchise will most likely go to Vancouver. Strong ownership, stadium renovation, and a history of success (past and present). Provides a rivalary with Seattle and captures one more of the top 3 markets in Canada.

    Miami and Vancouver in 2011, unless Miami comes in 2010.

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  3. This will be a big surprise.

    I predict that Ottawa and St.Louis will be the 2011 expansion clubs. Both are soccer youth hotbeds, and neither of them will hurt the USL if the MLS goes there.

    Ottawa is the most underrated market. Per capita the city is doing very well in Canada and with over a million people has no professional football, baseball or other summer sports to compete with.

    Ottawa will do like in 1992 when they came up from nowhere and won an NHL expansion team (amongst the top drawing teams in the NHL).

    St.Louis should have been in the MLS already. So they are going to get their due.

    Vancouver and portland are already in the USL (Vancouver has no plans for a soccer specific stadium). Miami has had and failed at the MLS level and their USL team isn’t drawing very much. Atlanta… Other than being in a good geographical area this bid has very little going for it.

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  4. According to the CBC, “Saputo is scheduled to meet with the media on Monday morning to further address the issue.”

    I’m looking forward to hearing his side of the story. If the Montreal group, as Garber has suggested, had money problems, it could spell trouble for other bids with reportedly sketchy funding like St. Louis.

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  5. While it might be unfortunate for some that Montreal has pulled out, for most, this could be seen like a canary in a coal mine.

    Montreal would’ve certainly pulled off a similar experience as TFC and, would’ve had it translate into a viable MLS franchise. The city has shown unconditional support for the Impact, a USL team that outsells several MLS clubs (consistently).

    If Montreal truly gave it a look-see and decided that the USL was just fine for them at the moment, it should be taken as a clear indication of where the MLS stands in the hierarchy and, particularly, its perceived worth. A little over two years ago, TFC paid 10 mill for their franchise. Since, the economy has done nothing but ”crater”… The MLS is kidding themselves thinking they are worth 40 mill per.

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  6. OurSports Central reported:

    “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 [sic] 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.”

    Interesting if it’s true, more interesting if the fireworks continue in the press next week.

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  7. hands down ATL, located in the center of the south not FL. its not a bad drive from other southern cities. it takes a day to to travel all the way to FL, plus it is so hot down there. And VW is coming to Chattanooga, TN wouldn’t we have a team where the VW is. there is the ga dome georgia tech stadium and build up the silverbacks.

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  8. Well, well, well…I cant help but be happy! Miami is a spectacular sports city to play and watch. We grow beautiful grass pitches, and the bulk of the mls are AT NIGHT, not too hot. Some of you are clearly uninformed and just jealous of our beloved Fusion. MLS owes us, due to their knee jerk reaction to 9.11 trust me it will be dynamic once again. Viva Miami 2010!

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  9. BlueWhiteLion:

    The only fact you have me on is the exact attendance figures of Miami and K.C., but when I said “Their attendance made K.C. look well supported.”, I was really only making the point that Miami’s attendance was not really any better than that of K.C. who overall has the lowest average attendance in league history. Not that K.C. was much better. I guess I could have worded it better but you’re distorting the truth here because making a case for Miami by saying they ever so slightly edged the worst attended team in MLS history (322 fans per game) in attendance just makes my point for me and does nothing to support yours.

    You also did not provide ANY numbers for the “great crowds” for games in Miami. If you were there and a part of great crowds you must know the attendance. Could it be your idea of great attendance is similar to your “facts” about Miami not having poor attendance, which you seemed to be implying in your response, otherwise there would have been no reason to make a case for Miami’s attendance by saying it was a hair better than the worst attended team.

    I hope you are not including me in your “drive by posters” comment. I am far from a “drive by poster”. Also, this is insulting nonsense. Someone who is knowledgeable on soccer but hasn’t posted here on soccer before is invalid? This is just typical nonsense you hear from posters who think they are superior because they post more often. An idiot posting a million times is still an idiot.

    I get that you’re a would be Miami fan and understand that, but you should really get your facts a little more straight before you mock others. If this was a court case you would never even have made it to trial based on your “case” for Miami not being a bad choice. You have done nothing to show that people are wrong about Miami’s past failures. The only reason Miami is under consideration at all is because it’s a market MLS feels it needs to break into, and maybe because of a potential owner with big pockets, but even that isn’t too significant since other potential locations have that and much more.

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  10. Garber, I think, is going to keep the 2 conference system for just a bit longer. So, in light of that, there will be one eastern-ish and one western-ish team selected.

    Having said that, it will be:

    East: St. Louis or Miami

    West: Portland or Vancouver.

    It won’t be St. Louis AND Miami or Portland AND Vancouver.

    One more thing: to those that are shooting Miami down for the climate, among other reasons, should look at Houston’s success. There is no doubt Houston is brutal in the summer but they’ve had great success on the field and in the stands. The Miami ownership is there. And, as in Houston, the support will be there, too.

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  11. Said it before, will say it again… George Gillett doesn’t have the money.

    He was worth $126MM before the markets crashed. The guy is totally leveraged.

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  12. Financial strain due to the recession cannot be the reason here. Everyone, including the potential ownership groups in other cities, lost a lot of money if they had it in the stock market.

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  13. Not speaking to the validity of the bids, just clearing up a bit of misinformation here:

    To everyone who is questioning if Albert Pujols is the big money that is joining Jeff Cooper’s St. Louis bid, he is not.

    It had been reported back in August that Jeff Cooper had added three additional investors: one from St Louis as a minor partner (who has since been named–Pujols), one other American from outside of St Louis, and one European. One of the last two reportedly is worth “well over $500 million.” So while Pujols strengthens the bid, he’s not the big investor Cooper added.

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  14. As somebody living in St. Louis, I’m pulling for the Gateway City to get it’s well deserved franchise. I’m obviously not blind to the inherent problems with St. Louis’ bid (ownership issues, money), but if they pass muster by Don Garber’s standards, then they should be at the forefront for expansion.

    As for the other cities, I had Montreal as one of the other teams I wanted to see win an MLS franchise. With them out, I lean toward either Portland or Vancouver for the 18th spot in the league. Either one would provide a close rival for Seattle.

    With St. Louis, you’ve got two rivals within driving distance (Kansas City and Chicago).

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  15. A couple posters have touched on some key ideas. One is the exchange rate, which has always been an issue with Canadian NHL teams. Two, financing – does George Gillett actually have any of this money? Because as far as I can tell, him and Tom Hicks financed the whole Liverpool venture. That wasn’t out of their pockets, it’s coming from present and future revenues. And that, ladies and gents, is how you operate as a rich person. Use your credit and clout to get financing, use someone else’s money not yours.

    I’d like to see Miami based on the ownership and the potential appeal to Latin American talent. They put a team right in Miami with money behind it, you’ll have a lot of players from places like Argentina and Brazil lining up to play there. It’s almost something of a Latin American city but it’s not as volatile a living since it’s in the US. Beyond that, St. Louis or Portland have good qualities. Atlanta has good backing but I don’t know if they’re ready as a market yet. No more Canadian teams.

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  16. I’m sure Pujols has joined in because MLS said, “You need a better ownership group. Go find some money.”

    ——–

    I was wondering if Pujols had been on board for a while but delayed announcing his participation until after the MVP award to maximize the publicity. (This is pure speculation on my part).

    Regardless of why/when he joined in, I hope he helps the STL bid.

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  17. northzax – Unless the economy changes things, I think the next round of expansion will be before 2015, probably 2013. (I sort of remember hearing something to that effect) At that point, I really don’t think the league will look that much different than it does today.

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  18. Pretty shocked and bummed about it. Its most definitely a result of finances. Ottawa moves up the list (but is still incredibly unlikely). Would love to see Vancouver (dont think we will). So im rooting for St Louis (highly doubtful) and Portland.

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  19. JustinO: This is supposed to be the last round of expansion until 2015, right? seven years away? if MLS exists in any thriving form at that point, US markets will take precedence. Why? money.

    if you want a comparison, ask yourself: when’s the last time a Canadian Team won the Stanley Cup? head to head, financially, Canadian teams have been unable to compete with US-based teams. right now the CA$ is at $.785 to the US$. that’s a 22% penalty on salaries, travel, staff, etc. or do you think that most players would gladly take a 22% pay cut to live in Montreal instead of say, New York or LA? in order to spend the same amount of money from top to bottom, the team needs to generate more money than a US-based franchise.

    Let’s imagine what MLS might look like in 2015. everyone is in a SSS. the league is profitable, at least operating income wise. the salary cap (yes, there will still be a cap, it’s the American way) is at 7-8 million, plus two DPs. ESPN whatever covers several national games a week (plus the playoffs, yes there will still be playoffs, it’s the American way) so MLS goes to ESPN/ABC/ and says “hey guys, we’re adding some teams, people are lining up to spend $75 million! Of course, you are going to have to pay more for coverage next year, since there are more games. who do you prefer, pick two: Portland (yes, I am assuming PDX is out), San Diego, San Antonio, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Jacksonville, Atlanta, Montreal.” you think ESPN will pay more for games in Montreal?

    think of the last Canadian Stanley Cup winner yet? the Canadiens. 1993. it’s been 15 years since a Canadian team lifted the closest thing to a national trophy Canada has. since then, well known hockey hotbeds such as Anaheim, Tampa, North Carolina and Dallas have lifted the cup, probably with multiple Canadians on each team, just playing abroad for more money.

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  20. Atlanta and St.Louis. St. Louis could start a natural rivalry between KC and also Chicago. MLS needs a team down South to disperse the league around the country, and Miami had their shot and blew it.

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  21. Montreal failing surprises me, but honestly, I don’t know a thing about their bid other than what I read, so i really can’t assess why they dropped out.

    I still think Miami is a front runner IF there is a SSS in the works. (I don’t think Garber would fudge much on that even for might Barca; but who knows). If they don’t, I would go for St. Louis (but ownership q’s linger) and Portland. Canada will get expansion the next time around, now that Montreal is out.

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