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Expansion of Major League Soccer

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Major League Soccer is the top level of soccer in the United States. It was established in 1993 with ten initial teams. Since then it has expanded several times into new markets across the United States and for the first time into Canada in 2006. MLS has announced a further rise to 18 teams by the year 2011.

History

Foundation

Major League Soccer was first established in 1993. It was a requirement of FIFA that the United States set up a professional first division in order to gain the rights to host the 1994 FIFA World Cup.[1] The United States had not had a successful professional outdoor soccer league since the collapse of the North American Soccer League in 1985.

After being founded in 1968, the NASL successful beginning in the mid-1970s – particularly the New York Cosmos, who fielded a number of world-famous stars including Pele. As the sport grew in popularity, the number of teams rapidly grew reaching their peak in the early 1980s when there were twenty four teams - nineteen in the United States and five in Canada.

Since the NASL had collapsed in 1985, professional outdoor soccer teams had largely disappeared except in Canada where the Canadian Soccer League until that league also folded in 1992. There was some success with professional soccer in the United States in the mid-1980s at least indoor soccer. After the collapse of the NASL, the original Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) absorbed four NASL teams. However, it too folded by the early 1990s.

There were a number of reasons for the failure of NASL, but one explanation was the lack of brand loyalty and poor placement of teams. It was common for franchises to move around from city to city, and change names, which made it difficult to build a sustainable fan base. While teams placed in major urban centres such as New York had succeeded in drawing a large popular following, many other clubs in smaller cities struggled to attract crowds.

Initial teams (1996)

This experience led MLS to be extremely cautious in establishing new franchises, having identified the rapid overexpansion as being a major element in the collapse/failure of the NASL. It was decided to create twelve new teams, to be placed in carefully selected cities where there was believed to be a strong market for soccer.

Those chosen were largely done so on a fresh basis rather than cities that had hosted teams in the NASL era. It was intended to expand further, as circumstances permitted. A key aim was to create several popular and profitable franchises as the backbone of MLS, before moving into other markets. The MLS had initially planned on a twelve team league, but this was cut back to ten when potential backers couldn't be found.[2]

The initial ten teams created were the Columbus Crew, D.C. United, the New England Revolution, the NY/NJ MetroStars, the Tampa Bay Mutiny, the Colorado Rapids, the Dallas Burn, the Kansas City Wiz, the Los Angeles Galaxy and the San Jose Clash.

While New York and Los Angeles were awarded franchises, the next five largest American cities (Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia, San Diego and Detroit) were all without a team.[3]

Using American Football stadiums, the new league kicked off in April 1996.

First Expansion (1998)

Main articles: Chicago Fire S.C. and Miami Fusion

In 1998 the league expanded for the first time rising from ten teams to twelve. The two expansion teams were based in Chicago and Miami. The new teams were the Chicago Fire and Miami Fusion.

Problems (1998-2001)

After a promising start, attendances were falling and all clubs were losing money. In addition the teams were owned by a small number of owners - hindering further expansion. These problems led MLS Commissioner Doug Logan to be replaced by Don Garber who had experience in the NFL.

One of the methods of tackling these problems was an emphasis on the construction of soccer-specific stadiums for existing and potential future members. This was for many years seen as a de facto requirement for any potential expansion franchise.[4] In 1998, not one MLS team played in a SSS while by 2008 the majority did so with several other new stadiums in the pipeline.

Withdrawal from Florida (2002)

In January 2002, the league announced the end of its two Floridian teams: Miami Fusion and the Tampa Bay Mutiny.[5] This was for financial reasons. Both teams were withdrawn from the league and folded. No new expansion franchises were granted that year – so the number of teams fell to ten once more.[6]

The surprise performance of the US national team at the 2002 World Cup, where they reached the quarter final[7], sparked a recovery in the league’s fortunes, and attendances once again began to rise. MLS began looking to expand once more with a number of cities now interested in hosting new teams. The demand for an expansion team grew, which eventually allowed MLS to command an expansion fee of $40 million.

Second Los Angeles Franchise (2004)

Main article: Chivas USA

The league added two new teams in 2004. Los Angeles became the first city to host two MLS teams when Chivas USA was founded. They were linked to the Mexican powerhouse Club Deportivo Guadalajara and hoped to build a following amongst the Hispanic community. They share The Home Depot Center with the LA Galaxy, thus creating MLS’s first local derby game.

Salt Lake City (2004)

Main article: Real Salt Lake

Real Salt Lake were created in 2004, owned by Dave Checketts. They initially played out of Rice-Eccles Stadium at the University of Utah before moving to the Rio Tinto Stadium in October 2008.

Houston (2005) and San Jose (2008)

Main article: Houston Dynamo

In 2005, the San Jose Earthquakes were put on hiatus because of a failure to secure a soccer specific stadium. The players and the coach were moved to Houston, Texas where they became the Houston Dynamo playing out of the Robertson Stadium.

This was the first time a franchise had been relocated in MLS though it had been common in its predecessor the NASL, and the league insisted they had plans to return to San Jose. After a two year hiatus, the San Jose Earthquakes were reformed in 2007[8] and resumed play in the MLS the following season.

Toronto (2007)

Main article: Toronto FC

In 2005, the league announced the creation of a Canadian franchise to be based in Toronto.[9] This was confirmed on May 11, 2006 when the new team name Toronto FC and logo were announced.[10] The club played their first season in MLS in 2007, finishing at the bottom of the table.

The introduction of the MLS into Canada took MLS into a separate country for the first time mirroring the set-up in MLB, the NHL, and the NBA, which involve teams from both nations. MLS had announced their intentions to move into the Canadian market and there had been strong support from the Canadian Soccer Association, which believed it would be good for the Canadian game after previous attempts at trying to create a separate Canadian professional league had failed.

In Europe the governing body UEFA has had a tendency to block any potential new leagues across national borders, but there were no serious objections to the move into Canada from the North American Federation CONCACAF.

In 2008, a Canadian Championship was set-up as the highest form of soccer in Canada and to determine Canada’s qualifier for the CONCACAF Champions League. One of the founders was Toronto FC. However, it is intended to be complementary to MLS rather than in competition with it.

Seattle (2009)

Main article: Seattle Sounders FC

Seattle was awarded a franchise in 2007 in spite of the fact that the city did not have a Soccer-specific stadium or any plans to construct one.[11] Instead they announced their intentions to play matches at Qwest Field[12] which was built as a football/soccer stadium. [13] Following a vote by supporters, the team chose the name Seattle Sounders FC, because of its heritage in Seattle soccer.[14]

Philadelphia (2010)

Main article: Philadelphia Union

On February 28, 2008, MLS announced that the sixteenth franchise would be awarded to Philadelphia.[15] There had been a strong campaign to bring a team to the city with intense lobbying by supporters groups such as the Sons of Ben.

Philadelphia had remained one of the largest Metropolitan areas in the US without an MLS franchise. On May 11, 2009 it was announced that the team name would be Philadelphia Union.[16] The new team announced their intention to construct a 20,000 seat stadium in Chester, Pennsylvania.

Vancouver (2011)

Main article: Vancouver MLS 2011

One of three Canadian cities in the running for 2011 MLS expansion, Vancouver's bid has been led by reclusive Vancouver businessman and current owner of the existing United Soccer Leagues side the Vancouver Whitecaps Greg Kerfoot. NBA star Steve Nash is also involved as a minority stakeholder; his younger brother Martin currently plays for the USL Whitecaps. The city's bid for a franchise would be boosted by the proposed construction of the Whitecaps Waterfront Stadium, with an initial capacity of 20,000 and the potential for further expansion.[17]

Don Garber, who was previously involved in expansion with the National Football League called the bid presentation by Vancouver representatives Greg Kerfoot and Jeff Mallett, "one of the best I've ever seen."[18]

On March 7, 2009 the Globe and Mail reported that Vancouver's successful candidacy would be announced by the end of the month, and that Whitecaps owner Greg Kerfoot was in final negotiations with MLS for a franchise to start play in 2011.[19]

On March 18, 2009, in an official press conference MLS commissioner Don Garber announced that Vancouver had been awarded one of two remaining 2011 expansion team spots. Vancouver will continue to field the USL-1 Division Whitecaps for the 2009 and 2010 seasons until the team makes its move formally into MLS in 2011 and into a newly renovated BC Place Stadium.[20]

Portland (2011)

Main article: Portland Timbers (MLS)

On July 31, 2008, Merritt Paulson announced that he would apply for an MLS franchise for Portland as a MLS continuation of the Portland Timbers.[21] Paulson further outlined his plan by launching a website on September 3rd.[22] The MLS Timbers would play in a renovated PGE Park sharing with the Portland State University football team.

On March 20, 2009, commissioner Don Garber confirmed in a news conference that Portland would receive the 18th franchise.[23]

Future

MLS has announced its intentions to expand to twenty teams by 2012. Seattle was awarded an expansion team for 2009, Philadelphia for 2010, and Vancouver and Portland for 2011. Competition for the two spots in 2012 is expected to be between the other seven candidate cities that did not receive an 2011 expansion team but made the MLS' candidate city list in July 2008. Early indications for 2012 point to St. Louis and Montreal with Atlanta and Ottawa on the outside but looking in.

Atlanta

Atlanta was identified by MLS as one of the cities it was interested in expanding into by saying "tremendous potential market that would expand the league's footprint into the Southeast". Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank was interested in bringing a team to Georgia.[24] Blank's management and investment company, AMB Group, officially announced that Blank had submitted his expansion franchise application to the league on October 14, 2008. However, recently Arthur Blank could not find a partner in time to secure the funds to build a stadium, especially since the buy-in fee of $40 million is non-negotiable. The Atlanta Falcons owner will now have to wait until MLS is accepting applications for expansion teams sometime after 2011. [25][26]

Miami

Miami has recently crept back into the expansion picture as FC Barcelona and Marcelo Claure, President of Club Bolívar are in discussions with Florida International University about the possibility of bringing a Major League Soccer expansion franchise to the FIU Stadium. The stadium finished initial renovations, giving it a capacity of 20,000 and a FIFA-grade pitch, in 2008, and will further expand its seating to 45,000 in 2015.[27]

Barcelona would be involved in the management of the team and would provide at least one well-known player to kick off the inaugural season. The team name would be some combination of Barcelona or Barça and Miami. Marcelo Claure, the Bolivian founder of Miami-based Brightstar, said he is confident this team would draw better than the Fusion did (the Miami Fusion F.C. drew 11,400 in its final season) because FIU Stadium is closer to the core of the city's soccer fans and MLS is a stronger league than it was 10 years ago. As Claure said, "Back then, most owners paid $5 million for a team, and now it's $40 million, so that shows you how the league has matured." Claure has asked for a special concession to begin play in 2010 rather than 2011, which is when the next round of expansion was scheduled.[28]

Miami launched their web site in late October 2008, and have plans for a sophisticated web presence as well as a contest to name the team.[29]

Any future Miami franchise likely will not inherit the history of the defunct Miami Fusion franchise. Claure stated in an interview with MiamiSoccerFan, the homepage of the Miami Ultras supporters group for USL First Division team Miami FC, that there are "legal and marketing concerns" about resurrecting the Fusion name.[30]

Miami is in pole position due to backing from high-profile European FC Barcelona and the dropping of many cities from the race for a team. [31]

However, on March 3, 2009, MLS and FC Barcelona announced that Miami is no longer a candidate for the 2011 expansion. Citing poor economic conditions, the group "determined it was not feasible to launch a Major League Soccer team in South Florida in 2010 due to adverse market conditions."[32] Another issue that scuttled the Barça/Miami proposal was sponsorship considerations—Adidas has an exclusive contract to supply uniforms to all MLS teams that runs through 2014, while Barça is locked into a Nike sponsorship through its 2012–13 season.[33]

Milwaukee

Milwaukee was briefly mentioned to receive an expansion franchise in 2009, but plans ultimately fell through. Now the city of Milwaukee is looking into bringing a team to Miller Park by 2012. Rumor has it the team would be associated with the Milwaukee Wave indoor soccer team.[citation needed]

Montreal

Montreal was one of the favorites for expansion after the teams were announced but dropped out of the running as said by commissioner Don Garber in his 2008 State of the League address[34]. However, on May 16, 2009, the Montreal Gazette reported that Garber and potential owner Joey Saputo have resumed talks for an expansion team to begin play in 2011, with a franchise possibly granted by the end of May if all goes well. [35] The Montreal Impact of the United Soccer League is one of the most profitable and successful teams outside of MLS who opened the 14,000 capacity Saputo Stadium in 2008. Both owner Joey Saputo and George Gillett, co-owner of Liverpool FC of the English Premier League, have expressed interest in the Impact joining the MLS. There are plans to expand the Saputo Stadium to 20,000 should the city be awarded an expansion franchise.[36]

New York

New York Mets owner Fred Wilpon is looking to bring a team in to the borough of Queens. According to reports, the team would play in a newly constructed stadium near Citi Field. It has also been reported that Peppe Pinton will make the New York Cosmos name available if it means expansion into MLS.[37]

Ottawa

Ottawa has increasingly campaigned for an expansion franchise.[38] The campaign is being driven by Eugene Melnyk, the owner of the Ottawa Senators, who has announced plans to build a 30,000 seat stadium in the Canadian capital.[39] The city was one of the nine identified by the MLS as a candidate for the 2011 expansion, and MLS has indicated a desire to expand further in Canada though Ottawa is likely to have to compete with Montreal for future Canadian expansion places. On February 10th 2009, Garber stated if Ottawa city council could build a pitch, it would be very unlikely that Ottawa would not be awarded a MLS frachise. The owner of SS&E the group planning the bid for the franchise would build the stadium in Kanata a suburb to the west of the city. The stadium has not yet been approved by City Council. [40] On January 28, 2009 The Vancouver Sun reported MLS commissioner Don Garber's comments expressing doubt about Ottawa's chances for a team due to stadium approval complications.[41]

St. Louis

In November 2007, St. Louis was identified by Commissioner Don Garber as one of the most likely spots for expansion alongside Philadelphia, which was subsequently awarded a franchise. St. Louis has historically been an epicentre of American soccer as early as the late nineteenth century.[42] There are plans to build a new stadium in Collinsville, Illinois.

In November 2008, two-time National League MVP Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals announced that he is working with St. Louis Soccer United to bring a team to the city.[43]

Recently, St. Louis has said that money is an issue for the bid. Jeff Cooper, however, is remaining optimistic. He thinks he can bring in the financial backing to circumnavigate any financial pressures. [44]

Finalists for 2011 Expansion

On October 15, 2008, the league announced a list of seven cities that had formally submitted franchise applications. The cities officially in the running for the next two MLS franchises are: Atlanta, Miami, Montreal, Ottawa, Portland, St. Louis, and Vancouver. An announcement regarding the success of these applications will be made by early 2009.[45]

It was announced on Friday, November 21st by MLS commissioner Don Garber that the city of Montreal had withdrawn its candidacy for the 2011 bid for expansion.[1] It was also announced on January 15, 2009 that Atlanta did not get a spot in the MLS for 2011, but they are in the running for 2013.[2] As of March 3, 2009, Miami is no longer a candidate for 2011.[3]

On January 28, 2009 The Vancouver Sun reported that four teams remain in the running for a 2011 expansion spot: Vancouver, Ottawa, St. Louis, and Portland.[4] The Sun highlighted Garber's comments expressing doubt about Ottawa's chances for a team due to stadium approval complications.[46]

On March 18, 2009, in an official press conference MLS commissioner Don Garber announced that Vancouver had been awarded one of two remaining 2011 expansion team spots. Vancouver will continue to field the USL-1 Division Whitecaps for the 2009 and 2010 seasons until the team makes its move formally into MLS in 2011 and into a newly renovated BC Place Stadium.[47]

On March 20, 2009, MLS commissioner Don Garber announced that Portland had been awarded the second 2011 expansion spot.

On May 16, 2009, the Montreal Gazette reported that MLS commissioner Don Garber and Montreal Impact president Joey Saputo have resumed talks for an expansion team to begin play in 2011, with a franchise possibly granted by the end of May if all goes well. [48]

Bibliography

  • Goldblatt, David. The Ball is Round:A Global History of Football. Penguin Books (2007).
  • Tossell, David. Playing for Uncle Sam: The Brits' Story of the North American Soccer League. Mainstream Publishing (2003).
  • Wangerin, David. Soccer in a Football World:The Story of America's Forgotten Game. WSC Books (2006).

References

  1. ^ http://web.mlsnet.com/about/
  2. ^ Wangerin p.272
  3. ^ Wangerin p.272
  4. ^ http://www.nationalpost.com/rss/story.html?id=794697
  5. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/us_sport/1750024.stm
  6. ^ http://www.sptimes.com/2002/01/09/news_pf/Sports/MLS_folds_Mutiny.shtml
  7. ^ http://german.about.com/library/weekly/aa020614a.htm
  8. ^ http://web.mlsnet.com/news/mls_news.jsp?ymd=20070718&content_id=106314&vkey=pr_mls&fext=.jsp
  9. ^ Name Toronto's MLS team?
  10. ^ http://www.cbc.ca/sports/indepth/mls_toronto/index.html
  11. ^ http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/2007-11-09-3226911324_x.htm
  12. ^ http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/11/10/sports/NA-SPT-SOC-Seattle-MLS-Franchise.php
  13. ^ http://www.qwestfield.com/venue/stadiumFacts.aspx
  14. ^ http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=soccer&id=3334786
  15. ^ http://web.mlsnet.com/news/mls_news.jsp?ymd=20080228&content_id=140965&vkey=pr_mls&fext=.jsp
  16. ^ http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/articles/16620/cover-story
  17. ^ "Vancouver MLS bid hits NYC". Vancouver: The Canadian Press/Toronto Sun. 2008-10-08.
  18. ^ Ian Walker (2008-10-25). "MLS expansion fee won't scare away Whitecaps". Vancouver Sun.
  19. ^ Matthew Sekeres (2009-03-07). "Vancouver Whitecaps owner likely to be awarded MLS franchise expansion". The Globe and Mail.
  20. ^ "MLS awards Vancouver team for 2011". MLSnet.com. 2009-03-18.
  21. ^ http://blog.oregonlive.com/sportsupdates/2008/07/portland_paulson_to_submit_app.html
  22. ^ http://www.mlstoportland.com
  23. ^ http://web.mlsnet.com/news/mls_news.jsp?ymd=20090320&content_id=228140&vkey=pr_mls&fext=.jsp
  24. ^ Tucker, Tim (2008-06-20). "Blank interested in bringing pro soccer to town". Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
  25. ^ "NFL's Blank bids for MLS franchise". Sports Illustrated. Associated Press. 2008-10-14. Retrieved 2008-10-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  26. ^ http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/1110/major-league-soccer/2009/01/17/1064643/atlanta-st-louis-may-not-see-mls-clubs-by-2011
  27. ^ Big expectations for FIU football stadium - Miami Herald, September 18, 2008
  28. ^ http://www.miamiherald.com/588/story/727684.html
  29. ^ http://www.MiamiFCB.com
  30. ^ http://www.miamisoccerfan.com/Soccer/Home.html
  31. ^ http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/1110/major-league-soccer/2009/01/17/1064643/atlanta-st-louis-may-not-see-mls-clubs-by-2011
  32. ^ http://web.mlsnet.com/news/mls_news.jsp?ymd=20090303&content_id=221343&vkey=pr_mls&fext=.jsp
  33. ^ Mahoney, Ridge, Soccer America (2009-03-04). "Barça out of Miami — now what?". SI.com. Retrieved 2009-03-04. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  34. ^ http://web.mlsnet.com/mls/events/mls_cup/2008/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081121&content_id=205893&vkey=mlscup2008&fext=.jsp
  35. ^ Phillips, Randy (May 16, 2009). "New coach, same old problem". Montreal Gazette. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessdatee= ignored (help)
  36. ^ "Gillett, Impact seek MLS team in Montreal". TSN. Toronto.
  37. ^ The Cosmos, for Free! - This is American Soccer, 04/05/09
  38. ^ "Melnyk Launches Ottawa MLS Expansion Bid". TSN. Ottawa: The Canadian Press. 2008-09-16.
  39. ^ "Ottawa launches MLS franchise plan". FIFA. Reuters. 2008-09-17.
  40. ^ Butler, Dylan (2008-09-12). "Ottawa to announce MLS expansion bid". MLS.
  41. ^ "Whitecaps chances for MLS expansion continue to improve". VancouverSun.com. 2009-01-28. Retrieved 2009-03-15.
  42. ^ Wangerin p.29
  43. ^ Baseball star Pujols backing St. Louis bid for MLS
  44. ^ http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/1110/major-league-soccer/2009/01/17/1064643/atlanta-st-louis-may-not-see-mls-clubs-by-2011
  45. ^ "Seven submit applications for expansion". MLSnet.com. 2008-10-15. Retrieved 2008-10-15.
  46. ^ "Whitecaps chances for MLS expansion continue to improve". VancouverSun.com. 2009-01-28. Retrieved 2009-03-15.
  47. ^ "MLS awards Vancouver team for 2011". MLSnet.com. 2009-03-18.
  48. ^ Phillips, Randy (May 16, 2009). "New coach, same old problem". Montreal Gazette. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessdatee= ignored (help)

See also

External links

Future Expansion Team Sites

Potential Expansion Team Sites

MLSnet.com News Expansion Announcements

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