Expansion.

[Highway Penguin]

Expansion In The MLS

Although the 2005 Major League Soccer soccer season has yet to begin, it's not too early to start thinking about the next round of expansion.

The addition of CD Chivas USA and Real Salt Lake for the upcoming campaign marks the beginning of an aggressive plan of growth by MLS, which could see the league reach as many as 20 clubs. It is all but certain that two more expansion sides will enter the league by the 2007 season, meaning that the announcement of the new cities could come by year's end.

And right now, there is no short supply of those expressing at least preliminary interest. Seattle, Cleveland, Rochester, Portland, Detroit, Houston, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Antonio, to name just a few, with the list seemingly growing by the month.

Yet there is one potential MLS city that currently stands out as ideal above all the rest, and beckons as the perfect choice for the league's next round of expansion. For starters, it would house the new club in a state-of-the-art 25,000-seat soccer-specific stadium, to be opened in 2007. Secondly, the ownership/investor group is an established, respected, and locally based multi-million dollar sports corporation, willing to make a long-term commitment. Thirdly, the city has a metro population of 5.3 million residents, and is renowned as hip, vibrant, and cosmopolitan.

And there's more. A history of soccer that dates back to the formative years of the NASL, as well as an active tradition of strongly supporting other major league professional sports. A diverse and growing ethnic population. A youth soccer registry of 363,000 active players in the region. A genuine desire to see MLS come to their city.

Sounds perfect, and I think it is for MLS. There's just one thing though; it's not located in the United States.

The city which I am advocating is Toronto, and rather than see its foreign location as a negative, I consider it as the final positive in this expansion equation. By placing a new franchise in Toronto, MLS is not just creating substantial interest in new city, they are in fact doing so in a new country. The Toronto MLS club would become "Canada's Team" for the country's legion of soccer fans.

While other cities continually discuss plans and express their desire to construct a soccer-specific stadium, Toronto is definitely going to have one in place and ready to house an MLS club. A 25,000 seat venue will be constructed as the centerpiece for Canada's hosting of the 2007 FIFA World Youth Championship, at a cost of $70 million Canadian (about $56.5 million in U.S. Dollars).

All times ET, subject to change.
Although the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League have already signed on as a tenant, make no mistake, this stadium is being built primarily for soccer. The plan is to create not only the main venue for Canada's international matches, but also to attract an expansion club in MLS.

Ownership has also been an issue that has rendered many cities interested in gaining an MLS franchise nothing more than dreamers. No such problem here, as Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, owners of the NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs and NBA's Toronto Raptors, is the group currently in discussions with the league to bring an expansion club to the city. Obviously, finances and reputation will not be a problem.

Now, I know that one issue that will be raised in objection to Toronto, is the fact that MLS is an American soccer league, and thus should include only American cities. Well, I reject that type of thinking outright as contrary to the global nature and inherent inclusiveness of the sport.

If Cardiff City were to be promoted to the Premiership, does that somehow make the league less English? Not a chance. MLS is the American First Division, and that will simply not change if a club is placed in Toronto, or Mexico City for that matter. The designation comes from where the league office and the vast majority of its clubs are based.

Then there is the issue of FIFA, and whether they will approve. I've spoken to top league officials about this very subject, and have been told the same thing: FIFA won't have a problem whatsoever. And really, why would they? A chance to further grow and enhance the sport in both the US and Canada; why would Sepp Blatter be anything but wholly supportive and utterly joyous? It's not like Canada has their own domestic first division that would be put at risk. Last time I looked, the CSL went out of business after the 1992 season.

And it's not like a precedent would have to be set. The NASL happily existed with as many as five Canadian clubs, and despite its name, was generally considered an American soccer league. Last year, the U.S. second division A-League had a total of 16 clubs, five of which were based in Canada. FIFA never raised an objection in either case.

Internationally, the precedent has long been set as well. Now, the U.N. may not recognize Wales as a separate nation, but FIFA certainly does. I've already cited the Cardiff City example, a side currently in the English Championship. There's also Wrexham in England's League 1 and Swansea in England's League 2. Australia's top flight, to be relaunched this year as the Hyundai A-League, will include Auckland Kingz, based of course in New Zealand. And then there is Lichtenstein's top club, FC Vaduz, who play in the Swiss second division.

So Toronto in MLS is not exactly going to create an idealogical quandary for FIFA.

Now, as for the 'citizen' classification, that won't be a problem either. Canadians on the Toronto franchise would almost certainly be afforded the same status given to Americans on the U.S. based MLS clubs. Any non-Canadian would then fall into the foreign player category, clearing the way for a large number of the country's internationals to join the club without restriction.

It would be in the best interest of both Major league Soccer and the expansion club in Toronto to create a de-facto National Team, which both the city and the country could get behind with patriotic zeal and pride. The Toronto matches would be shown on television nationally, not just locally or regionally, and likely in both English and French. Media coverage and merchandising would exist across Canada as well, obviously boosting the profile and expanding the support base of MLS.

Finally, I know that some American fans are going to claim that placing an MLS club in Toronto is going to help the Canadian squad. Now I do agree that Canada will benefit from having many of its internationals playing together on a weekly basis, but I don't see this as a detriment to the success of the U.S. National Team.

The United States has achieved the status of the top nation in CONCACAF and emerging world power in the sport, and as supporters we should feel secure in these facts. For the American squad to keep improving and gaining more impressive results, it's vital that MLS becomes both bigger and better. If Canada or any other country benefits as a result, that's absolutely fine with me.

Major League Soccer is going to keep adding clubs over the next decade; this simply is not in question. It's paramount then that the right cities, possessing the right stadium, ownership group, and fans, be selected to ensure the continual growth and success of the league. As MLS enters its tenth season, the margin for error afforded to new leagues has now all but disappeared. Major League Soccer must choose wisely when determining where to place a new franchise. Toronto now looms as the perfect choice.

Next week in this column, I'll interview Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment President and CEO Richard Peddie, the man at the forefront of the Toronto MLS bid.

I'll post the same poll I saw, just to compare results.

[USAsoccerfan]

Maybe someday, but we need to get a foothold and be very careful not to expand too fast.

[SantosLaguna]

i didnt really read throught the article but plz tell me how you think a league can hope to become succesfull were all their teams go to playoffs(i think they had 10 teams, before this season i believe)

[USAsoccerfan]

Originally Posted by SantosLaguna

i didnt really read throught the article but plz tell me how you think a league can hope to become succesfull were all their teams go to playoffs(i think they had 10 teams, before this season i believe)

That definately needs to change...I think 6 teams should go to the playoffs with #s 1 and 2 getting 1st round byes.

[BigRedMapleLeaf]

Originally Posted by USAsoccerfan

Maybe someday, but we need to get a foothold and be very careful not to expand too fast.

I agree that expanding too fast is dangerous, but Toronto would be perfect for 2007 with the new stadium being built, although 2008 would be better for Toronto, with the city hosting the 2007 world youth soocer championships .

[Highway Penguin]

I think we should expand with two teams every two years.

Real and Chivas have been added, so maybe Phoenix and Toronto will be added in 2008 or so.

[roggie15]

Milwaukee or Madison, WI - 2008!!!

[JayeMTee88]

I personally think expanding the league will help the growth of the sport in the U.S. And no offense to Canada, but they don't have much of a national team and it would help them a lot to be part of the MLS. It would help our players and theirs. I'm, voting a definite YES!!

[Sgt.Miller]

Try this:

The Windsor-Detroit Gravy Trains...



We could play the matches in the Detroit River on the border between Michigan and Ontario, or the United States and Canada if you like.

Soccer in the river...Think about it...I would finally be able to go to a MLS match! Better yet, I would have my very own local MLS team!

[Ese_Guy]

Personally I wouldn't have a problem with Canada becoming a part of the MLS.
I think the danger lies in ensuring "who may participate outside of the U.S." If in the future another country would like to participate would they be allowed?

For example, the Chivas owner (FMF) started his own club here in the U.S. Could he or any other Mexican owner want to do the same thing the Canadiens are attempting? What would the international community think would be fair? Mexico has soccer stadiums galore, compared to the U.S. and Canada.

Anyway, again, I wouldn't mind having Canada as part of the MLS. But I also would like to give other U.S. cities an opportunity have their own teams.

A pair of teams every other year seems like a good pace to me. I don't think the MLS is trying to grow too fast. The league has been around for 10 years and is only now adding teams. Trust me, get the team and people will come.

[savannahfan]

Originally Posted by Highway Penguin

I think we should expand with two teams every two years.

Real and Chivas have been added, so maybe Phoenix and Toronto will be added in 2008 or so.

I agree, thoise two markets sound like the best for the near term, and after that I think a expansion of two Texas cities would be a great idea Houston and San Antonio, and then two other nearby teams in Detroit and Rochester.

Leads to some interesting sompetition/rivalry for say a "Tejas Cup" and so on.

My thinking is that as you create expansion teams nearby one another, their fan base can travel easier to up attendance at games, and lower team travel costs. The onlyissue that comes to mind with Rochester for example is that it would rob the USL of one of it's strongest teams

[Link]

I think it would be a great idea, It would add different skill to the league, and It would make the leagure more competative overall. More teams means more competition, and that could mean greater things for MLS.

[RevFan04]

I think MLS should go wherever there are fans and revenue to be made. If Toronto puts forth a good proposal, so be it. I think the Pacific Northwest of the U.S. needs to be involved in any expansion talks. Having transplanted to Portland, OR, I have to say the soccer awareness of the general public here is higher than most u.s. cities I've been to. Also, this area produces great talent: Kasey Keller; Conor Casey; Steven Cherundolo to name just a few. The local papers cover soccer even though there is no mls team out here. Hopefully expansion happens wisely and thoughtfully. I think things are looking better for MLS right now.

Oh and by the way revs rule!!

[Becks]

There aren't any teams in the southeast if I am correct.

[Ambis]

I would like to see Canada get some team especially Toronto and Montreal.