MLS Expansion Ideas and News

[bedir than average]

So I gave my first try at using Google Maps to lay out my personal plan for MLS expansion with Regional Cups rather than the division format.

Google Maps

An idea for a 18 team MLS with supporters cups rather than divisions. All teams would face eachother in home-away, except for the three team sets of regional cup matches would be four matches. This would be a 34 match season. This idea would result in a broader North American appeal.

The regional cups' borders are drawn wide as the league should work to have at every one of the Regional Cups broadcast to every market within the borders. This way the league could capture a the footie fans in markets without teams.

Expansion past 18 with the Regional Cup format would require that the Regional Cups are only subsets of the regular season rather than the extra matches, or eventually the league would have to eliminate the playing of every team in the league.

The Regional Cup concept would highlight local matches, generally within driving distance, focus the TV coverage. I would NOT guaruntee that the Regional Cup winners advance to the playoffs, just give them a Cup for their performance in those games.

The playoffs should just be the top 8 overall performers facing off in home-away legs. I would not break them off into East/West, just straight seeding.

Overall the addition of the five teams would appeal to fans in the currently ignored SouthEast and NorthWest. There are nearly 15Million fans in the NorthWest getting ignored right now by the league and about 25Million fans in the SouthEast that don't have a team to follow right now.

[Cali Ed]

Well, the expansion franchise, if you missed it, was awarded back to San Jose. A new stadium will be built there, but they will be back in action (as the Quakes?) in 2008.

Thanks to Lew Wolff and partner John Fisher, Major League Soccer knows the way back to San Jose.

The highlight of MLS Commissioner Don Garber's press conference on Wednesday was the official announcement that the San Jose Earthquakes will become the 14th team in the MLS beginning in 2008, under the ownership of Wolff and Fisher. Due to stadium complications, San Jose had lost its team to Houston in 2005. But Wolff and Fisher are committed to reaching a deal that will bring the club a new soccer-specific stadium, preferably on city-owned land next to San Jose International Airport.

Major League Soccer: News: Article

[bedir than average]

I still don't think two teams in LA makes a lot of sense, but since that is reality I made some adjustments, well just a tiny one.

Garber recently recently stated that all three of the Cascadia cities are in line for expansion, but I'm betting only two get in in the near future.

Have you see the plans for the Whitecaps stadium in VancouverBC?

Whitecaps Waterfront Stadium



They've made a ton of progress and it seems like it will get done.

[bedir than average]

Garber talked expansion in an online chat

Jason from New Haven, Conn.
Can you give us the status on some other markets?
Don Garber
There's more interest in MLS expansion than at any other time in the history of the sport in the country. Without prioritizing any one market, here is a rundown of the cities: Vancouver, Portland, Seattle, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Antonio, St. Louis, Cleveland, Milwaukee, Rochester, New York City, Atlanta, Miami and Las Vegas.

It would seem that now with the league at 14 teams (counting the Quakes) and 18 being my favorite number for a truly national MLS, any ideas for expansion have to focus on the best distribution of four teams from those 14

Notable is that three are in the Pacific Northwest, two in Cali, two in Southwest, three in Midwest, two in NY state and two in the South. To truly get national coverage the PNW and South definately need teams.

There is also mention of Philly and it seems like that is almost a done deal.

[bedir than average]

Cities with remaining capacity for teams

Found some overall expansion related info there and according to bizjournals.com two of the best sports markets for expansion are Philly and Rochester for MLS.

I would say that any expansion must include those two sites to get from 14 to 16. Rochester already has an amazing stadium as well.

That would basically mean one in the PNW and one in the South are needed for a truly national league.

[bedir than average]

FOX Sports on MSN - USA - MLS consider Philadelphia expansion team

Philly seems a sure thing for MLS.

[bedir than average]

Garber visited Chester, PA basically saying that they will get an upcoming expansion team. He mentioned a 15th team in "the West" which could be Seattle or StLouis, but there seems to be a strong sentiment that it might be both and we will see 17 teams by 2010 (StL and Philly need to build stadia).

Which depending on pacing and whatnot might mean that an 18th site is out there for a nice single table with 34 matches.

If they keep it at two conferences at 18 teams there isn't a great option really, as the opposite conference gets 18 games (2 each team) and then a max of 20 games against 8 opponents within conference.

I think it will go back to three conferences with 18 teams with only a single match outside of conference and four within for 32 games.

[bedir than average]

Allen signs on with MLS effort

Paul Allen is confirmed as third owner for MLS Seattle (whatever name is chosen)

Quite notable as well is the public celebration of the Sounders win of the USL - 1 Championship at Qwest Field during a Seahawks game. That will give Seattle soccer more publicity in one weekend than it has recieved since the NASL days.

I don't know how many big 4 sports clubs have raised banners for a minor league team which they don't own during a game.

Since the MLS Seattle announcement is likely going to be late next week, I'm wondering if it has now been pushed to Oct 14th and will occur during the ceremony. Also having a championship banner hanging all year in Qwest will help the sport with local credibility as every Sunday tens of thousands will see it.

[Wiggen]

Bedir - do you think that Quest Field will be the long term home of the Seattle MLS team, or do you envision a soccer-only stadium at some point in the near future?

It occurs to me that if the city wants to make the Seattle Center viable again after the departure of the Sonics, there might be room for some type of facility that would accomodate the soccer team and yet have the capacity to be used for concerts and other activities. I fear the Colliseum is doomed. Snce Mr. Allen is already an owner of a significant chunk of real estate down there, it makes some sort of logical sense.

Quest Field is a great football stadium, but I have some concern about a crowd of 20,000 getting lost in there.

[bedir than average]

I had a great impression of it when it had around 10,000 for two US Open Cup matches. The noise is good. If they can get the lower bowl full regularly it will be a great experience.

As for another location, it can't happen using ANY public funding so I doubt it will happen in the Seattle city limits.

[Wiggen]

Originally Posted by bedir than average

I had a great impression of it when it had around 10,000 for two US Open Cup matches. The noise is good. If they can get the lower bowl full regularly it will be a great experience.

As for another location, it can't happen using ANY public funding so I doubt it will happen in the Seattle city limits.

No, it won't be public funds. However, as we all know, Mr. Allen built the Experience Music Project with his own funds and he might be tempted to do something similar. I agree it's unlikely.

I am also a little concerned about the Field Turf. I would be happer if FIFA would accept it as a legitimate playing surface for International matches. Of course that could happen. I seem to remember reading about England maybe playing Russia on a Field Turf type of surface.

[bedir than average]

Field Turf is allowed by FIFA for everything but the World Cup Finals. Totally acceptable by them really.

If Field Turf means that they will repaint the lines everytime I would prefer it over grass with the other football lines.

[bedir than average]

Search Results | Seattle Times Newspaper

EASTERN CONFERENCE
Team City Stadium Capacity
Chicago Fire Bridgeview, Ill. Toyota Park 20,000
Columbus Crew Columbus, Ohio Columbus Crew Stadium 22,555
D.C. United Washington, D.C. RFK Stadium 56,692
Kansas City Wizards Kansas City, Mo CommunityAmerica Ballpark 10,000
New England Revolution Foxborough, Mass. Gillette Stadium 68,756
New York Red Bulls East Rutherford, N.J. Giants Stadium 80,242
Toronto FC Toronto BMO Field 20,000

WESTERN CONFERENCE
Team City Stadium Capacity
CD ChivasUSA Carson, Calif. The Home Depot Center 27,000
Colorado Rapids Commerce City, Colo. Dick's Sporting Goods Park 18,000
FC Dallas Frisco, Texas Pizza Hut Park 20,500
Houston Dynamo Houston Robertson Stadium 32,000
LA Galaxy Carson, Calif. The Home Depot Center 27,000
Real Salt Lake Salt Lake City Rice-Eccles Stadium 45,017
*San Jose Earthquakes Santa Clara, Calif. Buck Shaw Stadium 12,000
** Seattle Qwest Field 67,000

[Wiggen]

I absolutely HATE watching soccer on a field that also still has the football lines marked on it. It actually spoils the game for me, so I would agree with you.

Do we know of any other teams to be announced other than Seattle for 2009?

[bedir than average]

Still to be determined is whether it is StLouis or Philly for '09

The WhiteCaps owner has been denied permission to build the above pictured stadium with his own money on his own land.

The Timbers owner won't pay for rennovations of PGE (about 80M$) for it to be soccer only.