Expansion of Major League Soccer
Encyclopedia
Major League Soccer
is the top level of soccer in the United States
and Canada
. 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, beginning in 2006, into Canada
. MLS has announced a further rise to 18 teams by the year 2011 and has signaled a long-term expansion goal of 20 teams by 2013. On February 14, 2011 at a Vancouver press conference, Commissioner Don Garber
, noted that he wants to see a 20th team, probably in New York, added by the 2013 or 2014 season. He sees 22 teams by the end of the decade.
was established in 1993, as part of an agreement with FIFA
that the United States set up a professional first division to gain the right to host the 1994 FIFA World Cup
. No successful professional outdoor soccer league existed since the North American Soccer League
folded in 1985. Due to rapid overexpansion and poor franchise placement, the NASL collapse led future MLS leaders to be extremely cautious of establishing new franchises.
Initially twelve new teams were to be placed in carefully selected cities where a strong soccer market was thought to exist. This was scaled back to ten after potential backers could not be found. Eventually 22 communities submitted formal bids to host an inaugural MLS franchise.
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. Using American football
stadiums, the new league kicked off in April 1996.
and Miami. The new teams were the Chicago Fire and Miami Fusion
.
and the Tampa Bay Mutiny
. 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 Both teams were withdrawn from the league and folded.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.
The surprise performance of the US national team
at the 2002 World Cup
, where they reached the quarter final, 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.
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.
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.
were put on hiatus because of a failure to secure a soccer specific stadium. The players and the coach were moved to an expansion team in Houston, Texas
where they became the Houston Dynamo
playing out of the Robertson Stadium
. The league insisted they had plans to return to San Jose
. After a two-year hiatus, the San Jose Earthquakes
were reactivated in 2007 and resumed play in the MLS the following season.
. This was confirmed on May 11, 2006 when the new team name Toronto FC
and logo were announced. 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.
or any plans to construct one. However, they would play at Qwest Field, now known as CenturyLink Field, which was built as a combined football/soccer stadium with an MLS team in mind, including soccer-specific features. They are sharing CenturyLink Field with the National Football League
's Seattle Seahawks
. Following a vote by supporters, the team chose the name Seattle Sounders FC
, because of its heritage in Seattle soccer.
.
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. The new team announced their intention to construct a 18,500 seat stadium in Chester, Pennsylvania
, which ultimately became PPL Park.
's bid was led by reclusive Vancouver businessman Greg Kerfoot, at that time owner of the existing Vancouver Whitecaps FC in USSF D2 Pro
. NBA
star Steve Nash
was also involved as a minority stakeholder; his younger brother Martin was captain of the D2 Pro Whitecaps before his retirement at the end of the 2010 season. 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.
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."
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 Kerfoot was in final negotiations with MLS for a franchise to start play in 2011.
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 continued to field the second-tier Whitecaps, first in the USL First Division
for 2009 and then in D2 Pro for the 2010 season, until the MLS team made its debut in 2011. The MLS Whitecaps began the 2011 season at the temporary Empire Field
, sharing it with the BC Lions
of the Canadian Football League
before both teams moved into the newly renovated BC Place Stadium
in October 2011.
announced that he would apply for an MLS franchise for Portland as an MLS continuation of the Portland Timbers
. Paulson further outlined his plan by launching a website on September 3. The MLS Timbers would play in a renovated PGE Park, which was renamed to Jeld-Wen Field by the time the team made its MLS debut in 2011, 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.
since the league's founding and planning stages in 1993. On May 7, 2010, Commissioner Don Garber
announced that Joey Saputo
and the Montreal Impact
would join the league as its 19th club for the 2012 season in the renovated 20,000-seat Saputo Stadium
.
, Atlanta, Detroit, Phoenix
, the San Francisco–Oakland
portion of the San Francisco Bay Area
, Minneapolis–Saint Paul, San Diego, St. Louis
, Tampa–St. Petersburg
and Baltimore
. In addition to these, the cities of Buffalo
, Charlotte
, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Indianapolis
, Milwaukee, Nashville
, New Orleans and Pittsburgh all have multiple major league franchises in other popular sports, but do not have MLS teams.
On March 12, 2011 MLS Commissioner Don Garber cited several markets that are involved in discussions with the league office about future expansion: San Diego, Arizona
, Las Vegas
, Detroit, San Antonio, South Florida and Atlanta. Garber said. “I believe we will be larger than 20 teams,” and “I can’t say when that will be. But I can’t imagine that when this league is fully expanded that we don’t have teams in the Southeast, that we don’t have another team in the Midwest, that we’re not even expanding to the southern part of California."http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/garber-expansion-conversation-goes-beyond-ny
won a bid to purchase the Pontiac Silverdome
in Pontiac, Michigan
. According to the Detroit Free Press
, the firm plans to use the facility for a MLS team and women's professional team.
On June 8, 2011, Triple Sports & Entertainment has taken the formal step toward acquiring an MLS expansion franchise to play at the Silverdome in Detroit by submitting an application to the league.
owner Fred Wilpon
was 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. However, this interest has waned in recent years; with the Wilpon family having lost a lot of money in the Madoff investment scandal
, their financial backing for a soccer team is seen as unfeasible.
is being touted recently instead. Since the sale of the Cosmos name and image rights to Paul Kemsley
, the new Cosmos stated intentions are to eventually join MLS.
On November 6, 2011 it was reported that the New York Cosmos was changing ownership. Sela Sport of Saudi Arabia, a Saudi Arabian company, bought out the shares of former owner, chairman and CEO Paul Kemsley. A statement from Sela Sport said, "It is unequivocally the goal of this ownership group to become an MLS team in the most expedient manner possible, and decisions for the club will be made with this in mind."
, ex-NFL player Curtis Martin
, and ex-Cosmos goalkeeper Shep Messing
were teaming up to form an ownership group that would take the reins of a 20th MLS franchise in New York City to rival the New York Cosmos bid.
On February 28, 2011, Orlando City S.C. announced they held a meeting with commissioner Don Garber and league officials concerning expansion. Topics covered included a review of the demographics of the Orlando
marketplace, the level of potential corporate and fan support for soccer in Central Florida, and a detailed discussion on developing a roadmap for a successful future MLS franchise in Orlando.
The USL Professional Division club, formerly known as Austin Aztex, are believed to be gaining consideration from MLS officials to enter the league in 2013. With some slight drama surrounding the reformation of New York Cosmos, reports suggest that Orlando are in the running to follow Montreal Impact into North America’s domestic competition.
On November 10, 2011, Orlando City team officals met with Commissioner Don Graber for further discussions about joining the MLS as its 20th club in 2013.
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
is the top level of soccer in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It was established in 1993 with ten initial teams. Since then it has expanded several times into new markets across the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and for the first time, beginning in 2006, into Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. MLS has announced a further rise to 18 teams by the year 2011 and has signaled a long-term expansion goal of 20 teams by 2013. On February 14, 2011 at a Vancouver press conference, Commissioner Don Garber
Don Garber
Donald Garber is the commissioner of Major League Soccer, CEO of Soccer United Marketing, and a member of the United States Soccer Federation board of directors. Garber has spent his entire career in the sports industry, working in a variety of capacities in marketing, television and league...
, noted that he wants to see a 20th team, probably in New York, added by the 2013 or 2014 season. He sees 22 teams by the end of the decade.
Foundation (1993–1996)
Major League SoccerMajor League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
was established in 1993, as part of an agreement with FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
that the United States set up a professional first division to gain the right to host the 1994 FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
. No successful professional outdoor soccer league existed since the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
folded in 1985. Due to rapid overexpansion and poor franchise placement, the NASL collapse led future MLS leaders to be extremely cautious of establishing new franchises.
Initially twelve new teams were to be placed in carefully selected cities where a strong soccer market was thought to exist. This was scaled back to ten after potential backers could not be found. Eventually 22 communities submitted formal bids to host an inaugural MLS franchise.
The initial ten teams created were the Columbus Crew
Columbus Crew
The Columbus Crew is an American professional soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
, D.C. United
D.C. United
D.C. United is an American professional soccer club based in Washington, D.C. which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league since its inception, in 1996.Over the...
, the New England Revolution
New England Revolution
The New England Revolution is an American professional association football club based in Foxborough, Massachusetts which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
, the NY/NJ MetroStars, the Tampa Bay Mutiny
Tampa Bay Mutiny
The Tampa Bay Mutiny was a charter franchise of Major League Soccer active from 1996 - 2001. They initially played in Tampa Stadium and were immediately successful, winning the first MLS Supporters' Shield behind MLS MVP Carlos Valderrama and high-scoring forward Roy Lassiter, whose 27 goals in...
, the Colorado Rapids
Colorado Rapids
The Colorado Rapids are an American professional soccer club based in the Denver suburb of Commerce City, Colorado which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league...
, the Dallas Burn
FC Dallas
FC Dallas is an American professional soccer club based in the Dallas suburb of Frisco, Texas which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
, the Kansas City Wiz, the Los Angeles Galaxy
Los Angeles Galaxy
The Los Angeles Galaxy are an American professional soccer team, based in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, California, which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, and the league's second...
and the San Jose Clash
San Jose Earthquakes
The San Jose Earthquakes professional soccer team is located in the San Jose, California, United States suburb of Santa Clara, and participates in Major League Soccer , the top level soccer league in the United States and Canada....
. While New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
were awarded franchises, the next five largest American cities—Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Houston, Philadelphia, San Diego, and Detroit—were all without a team. Using American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
stadiums, the new league kicked off in April 1996.
First expansion (1998)
In 1998 the league expanded for the first time rising from ten teams to twelve. The two expansion teams were based in ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and Miami. The new teams were the Chicago Fire and Miami Fusion
Miami Fusion
Miami Fusion F.C. was a professional soccer club located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida that participated in Major League Soccer from 1998 to 2001. The club played in Lockhart Stadium, which was a former high school stadium converted into a soccer-specific stadium...
.
Contraction from Florida (2002)
In January 2002, the league announced the end of its two Floridian teams: Miami FusionMiami Fusion
Miami Fusion F.C. was a professional soccer club located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida that participated in Major League Soccer from 1998 to 2001. The club played in Lockhart Stadium, which was a former high school stadium converted into a soccer-specific stadium...
and the Tampa Bay Mutiny
Tampa Bay Mutiny
The Tampa Bay Mutiny was a charter franchise of Major League Soccer active from 1996 - 2001. They initially played in Tampa Stadium and were immediately successful, winning the first MLS Supporters' Shield behind MLS MVP Carlos Valderrama and high-scoring forward Roy Lassiter, whose 27 goals in...
. 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.
The surprise performance of the US national team
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
at the 2002 World Cup
2002 FIFA World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...
, where they reached the quarter final, 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)
In 2004, Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
became the first city to host two MLS teams when Chivas USA
C.D. Chivas USA
Club Deportivo Chivas USA is an American professional soccer club based in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, California that competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada....
was founded. They were linked to the Mexican powerhouse Club Deportivo Guadalajara
C.D. Guadalajara
Club Deportivo Guadalajara , is a Mexican professional football club based in Guadalajara, Jalisco. Guadalajara plays in the Primera División de México and is the most successful club in Mexican football, having won 11 First Division titles, 7 Campeón de Campeones and 2 Copa México...
and hoped to build a following amongst the Hispanic
Hispanic and Latino Americans
Hispanic or Latino Americans are Americans with origins in the Hispanic countries of Latin America or in Spain, and in general all persons in the United States who self-identify as Hispanic or Latino.1990 Census of Population and Housing: A self-designated classification for people whose origins...
community. They share The Home Depot Center
The Home Depot Center
The Home Depot Center is a multiple-use sports complex located on the campus of California State University, Dominguez Hills in Carson, California. It is located approximately 10 miles south of Downtown Los Angeles. Its title sponsor is hardware retailer The Home Depot. The $150 million complex was...
with the LA Galaxy, thus creating MLS’s first local derby
Local derby
In many countries the term local derby, or simply just derby means a sporting fixture between two, generally local, rivals, particularly in association football...
game.
Salt Lake City (2004)
Real Salt LakeReal Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake is an American professional soccer club based in Sandy, Utah, a suburb of Salt Lake City. The team competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. They currently play their home games at Rio Tinto Stadium. Real Salt Lake won...
were created in 2004, owned by Dave Checketts
Dave Checketts
David W. Checketts is an American businessman, founder and chairman SCP Worldwide, sits on the board of JetBlue Airways, and is the owner of the soccer club Real Salt Lake.- Career :...
. They initially played out of Rice-Eccles Stadium
Rice-Eccles Stadium
Rice-Eccles Stadium is an outdoor college football stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah, on the campus of the University of Utah. It is the home field of the Utah Utes of the Pacific-12 Conference...
at the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
before moving to the Rio Tinto Stadium in October 2008.
Houston (2006) and San Jose (2008)
In 2005, the San Jose EarthquakesSan Jose Earthquakes
The San Jose Earthquakes professional soccer team is located in the San Jose, California, United States suburb of Santa Clara, and participates in Major League Soccer , the top level soccer league in the United States and Canada....
were put on hiatus because of a failure to secure a soccer specific stadium. The players and the coach were moved to an expansion team in Houston, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
where they became the Houston Dynamo
Houston Dynamo
The Houston Dynamo is an American professional soccer club, based in Houston, Texas, that plays in Major League Soccer, the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. Founded in 2005 as Houston 1836, the team name was renamed to Houston Dynamo following protests from Hispanic...
playing out of the Robertson Stadium
Robertson Stadium
John O'Quinn Field at Corbin J. Robertson Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Houston, located on the campus of the University of Houston. It is the home of the Houston Cougars football and women's soccer teams...
. The league insisted they had plans to return to San Jose
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
. After a two-year hiatus, the San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose Earthquakes
The San Jose Earthquakes professional soccer team is located in the San Jose, California, United States suburb of Santa Clara, and participates in Major League Soccer , the top level soccer league in the United States and Canada....
were reactivated in 2007 and resumed play in the MLS the following season.
Toronto (2007)
In 2005, the league announced the creation of a Canadian franchise to be based in TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. This was confirmed on May 11, 2006 when the new team name Toronto FC
Toronto FC
Toronto FC is a Canadian professional soccer club based in Toronto, Ontario which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada....
and logo were announced. 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
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
, the NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
, and the NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
, which involve teams from both nations.
Seattle (2009)
Seattle was awarded a franchise in 2007 in spite of the fact that the city did not have a Soccer-specific stadiumSoccer-specific stadium
Soccer-specific stadium is a term used mainly in the United States, Canada, Australia and South Korea coined by Lamar Hunt, to refer to a sports stadium either purpose built or fundamentally redesigned for soccer and whose primary function is to host soccer matches, as opposed to a multipurpose...
or any plans to construct one. However, they would play at Qwest Field, now known as CenturyLink Field, which was built as a combined football/soccer stadium with an MLS team in mind, including soccer-specific features. They are sharing CenturyLink Field with the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
's Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
. Following a vote by supporters, the team chose the name Seattle Sounders FC
Seattle Sounders FC
Seattle Sounders FC is an American professional soccer club based in Seattle, Washington. The club competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. Sounders FC was established in November 2007 as a MLS expansion team, making it the 15th team in...
, because of its heritage in Seattle soccer.
Philadelphia (2010)
On February 28, 2008, MLS announced that the sixteenth franchise would be awarded to Philadelphia. There had been a strong campaign to bring a team to the city with intense lobbying by supporters groups such as the Sons of BenSons of Ben (MLS supporters association)
The Sons of Ben is an independent supporters group for Philadelphia Union of Major League Soccer. The group was created in January 2007 by soccer fans from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and its greater metropolitan area, using such existing Major League Soccer fan clubs as the Screaming Eagles, La...
.
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. The new team announced their intention to construct a 18,500 seat stadium in Chester, Pennsylvania
Chester, Pennsylvania
Chester is a city in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States, with a population of 33,972 at the 2010 census. Chester is situated on the Delaware River, between the cities of Philadelphia and Wilmington, Delaware.- History :...
, which ultimately became PPL Park.
Vancouver (2011)
One of three Canadian cities in the running for 2011 MLS expansion, VancouverVancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
's bid was led by reclusive Vancouver businessman Greg Kerfoot, at that time owner of the existing Vancouver Whitecaps FC in USSF D2 Pro
USSF Division 2 Professional League
USSF Division 2 Professional League was a temporary professional soccer league created by the United States Soccer Federation in 2010 to last just one season. The twelve-team league was formed as a compromise between the feuding United Soccer Leagues and the North American Soccer League...
. NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
star Steve Nash
Steve Nash
Stephen John "Steve" Nash, OC, OBC is a South African-born Canadian professional basketball player who plays point guard for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association . Nash enjoyed a successful high-school basketball career, and he was eventually given a scholarship by Santa Clara...
was also involved as a minority stakeholder; his younger brother Martin was captain of the D2 Pro Whitecaps before his retirement at the end of the 2010 season. The city's bid for a franchise would be boosted by the proposed construction of the Whitecaps Waterfront Stadium
Whitecaps Waterfront Stadium
The Whitecaps Waterfront Stadium is a proposed open-air soccer facility in Vancouver, British Columbia that would be privately funded and developed by the Vancouver Whitecaps FC. The proposed location is north of Gastown on the central waterfront on what is currently a parking lot and the site of...
, with an initial capacity of 20,000 and the potential for further expansion.
Don Garber, who was previously involved in expansion with the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
called the bid presentation by Vancouver representatives Greg Kerfoot and Jeff Mallett, "one of the best I've ever seen."
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 Kerfoot was in final negotiations with MLS for a franchise to start play in 2011.
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 continued to field the second-tier Whitecaps, first in the USL First Division
USL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
for 2009 and then in D2 Pro for the 2010 season, until the MLS team made its debut in 2011. The MLS Whitecaps began the 2011 season at the temporary Empire Field
Empire Field
Empire Field was a temporary outdoor football and soccer stadium built at the former location of Empire Stadium at Hastings Park in Vancouver, British Columbia. It served as the home of the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League from the summer of 2010 until the fall of 2011 when the installation...
, sharing it with the BC Lions
BC Lions
The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team competing in the West Division of Canadian Football League . Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Lions play their home games at BC Place Stadium in Downtown Vancouver, having previously played at Empire Stadium in East Vancouver from 1954...
of the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
before both teams moved into the newly renovated BC Place Stadium
BC Place Stadium
BC Place is a multi-purpose stadium located at the north side of False Creek, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It serves as the home field for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League and the Vancouver Whitecaps FC of Major League Soccer . Originally opened on June 19, 1983 as the...
in October 2011.
Portland (2011)
On July 31, 2008, Merritt PaulsonMerritt Paulson
Henry Merritt Paulson III is the majority owner of Peregrine Sports, LLC which owns the Portland Timbers, a Major League Soccer team based in Portland, Oregon.-Personal:...
announced that he would apply for an MLS franchise for Portland as an MLS continuation of the Portland Timbers
Portland Timbers (USL)
Portland Timbers was an American professional soccer team based in Portland, Oregon, United States. Founded in 2001, the team played in various leagues at the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, including the USL First Division and the USSF Division 2 Professional League, until the end of...
. Paulson further outlined his plan by launching a website on September 3. The MLS Timbers would play in a renovated PGE Park, which was renamed to Jeld-Wen Field by the time the team made its MLS debut in 2011, 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.
Montreal (2012)
Montreal has been a consideration by Major League SoccerMajor League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
since the league's founding and planning stages in 1993. On May 7, 2010, Commissioner Don Garber
Don Garber
Donald Garber is the commissioner of Major League Soccer, CEO of Soccer United Marketing, and a member of the United States Soccer Federation board of directors. Garber has spent his entire career in the sports industry, working in a variety of capacities in marketing, television and league...
announced that Joey Saputo
Joey Saputo
Joseph "Joey" Saputo is a Canadian businessman and sports executive.Joey Saputo is the son of the founder and head of Saputo, a dairy products company which also markets a range of other items, such as spaghetti sauce. Saputo's other holdings include the largest dairy company in Canada, Vachon...
and the Montreal Impact
Montreal Impact
Montreal Impact was a Canadian professional soccer club based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1992, the team played in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid until the 2011 season. The owner Joey Saputo now operates the MLS team Montreal ImpactThe...
would join the league as its 19th club for the 2012 season in the renovated 20,000-seat Saputo Stadium
Saputo Stadium
Saputo Stadium is a soccer-specific stadium in Montreal, Quebec, Canada which opened on May 21, 2008, and is the current home of the Montreal Impact. The stadium is built on the former practice track and field site on the grounds of the 1976 Summer Olympics, while the stadium's west side has a...
.
Further expansion
As of 2011, the ten largest metropolitan statistical areas in the United States by population without an MLS franchise are MiamiSouth Florida metropolitan area
The South Florida metropolitan area, also known as the Miami metropolitan area, and designated the Miami–Fort Lauderdale–Pompano Beach, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area by the U.S...
, Atlanta, Detroit, Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
, the San Francisco–Oakland
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
portion of the San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
, Minneapolis–Saint Paul, San Diego, St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, Tampa–St. Petersburg
Tampa Bay Area
The Tampa Bay Area is the region of west central Florida adjacent to Tampa Bay. Definitions of the region vary. It is often considered equivalent to the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater Metropolitan Statistical Area defined by the United States Census Bureau. The Census Bureau currently...
and Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
. In addition to these, the cities of Buffalo
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, Charlotte
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, Milwaukee, Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, New Orleans and Pittsburgh all have multiple major league franchises in other popular sports, but do not have MLS teams.
On March 12, 2011 MLS Commissioner Don Garber cited several markets that are involved in discussions with the league office about future expansion: San Diego, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, Las Vegas
Las Vegas metropolitan area
The Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...
, Detroit, San Antonio, South Florida and Atlanta. Garber said. “I believe we will be larger than 20 teams,” and “I can’t say when that will be. But I can’t imagine that when this league is fully expanded that we don’t have teams in the Southeast, that we don’t have another team in the Midwest, that we’re not even expanding to the southern part of California."http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/garber-expansion-conversation-goes-beyond-ny
Detroit
On November 16, 2009, a Canadian firm led by Andreas ApostolopoulosAndreas Apostolopoulos
Andreas Apostolopoulos is a Greek-Canadian real estate developer and investor best known for his ownership of the Pontiac Silverdome stadium in Metro Detroit.-Biography:Born in Kalamata, Greece, Apostolopoulos emigrated to Canada in 1969...
won a bid to purchase the Pontiac Silverdome
Silverdome
The Silverdome is an indoor sporting and entertainment venue located in Launceston, Tasmania built in 1984. The Silverdome was built at an estimated cost of A$4 million, as the Tasmanian Government "proposed a world class facility" to replace the run down velodrome in the Launceston suburb of St...
in Pontiac, Michigan
Pontiac, Michigan
Pontiac is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan named after the Ottawa Chief Pontiac, located within the Detroit metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 59,515. It is the county seat of Oakland County...
. According to the Detroit Free Press
Detroit Free Press
The Detroit Free Press is the largest daily newspaper in Detroit, Michigan, USA. The Sunday edition is entitled the Sunday Free Press. It is sometimes informally referred to as the "Freep"...
, the firm plans to use the facility for a MLS team and women's professional team.
On June 8, 2011, Triple Sports & Entertainment has taken the formal step toward acquiring an MLS expansion franchise to play at the Silverdome in Detroit by submitting an application to the league.
Las Vegas
On September 20, 2011, Dennis Porter says that Major League Soccer are looking to start a soccer franchise in Las Vegas. The Utility Services Director of the City of Henderson, Nevada has confirmed that MLS is keen to move a new club into a proposed stadium in the Las Vegas area and could potentially share the venue with a NBA team. “We know absolutely, positively, the MLS is interested in [a franchise] for Las Vegas,” Porter said. “They have said that themselves. “I think the developers are on the right track with the MLS and NBA possibilities,” Porter added. “With the more potential this can produce, the future could be very bright for the Las Vegas and Henderson areas.”New York City
It is reported that a second New York team is the frontrunner for the 20th spot. Years ago, New York MetsNew York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
owner Fred Wilpon
Fred Wilpon
Fred Wilpon is a real estate developer, baseball executive and the majority owner of the New York Mets.-Biography:...
was 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. However, this interest has waned in recent years; with the Wilpon family having lost a lot of money in the Madoff investment scandal
Madoff investment scandal
The Madoff investment scandal broke in December 2008 when former NASDAQ chairman Bernard Madoff admitted that the wealth management arm of his business was an elaborate Ponzi scheme....
, their financial backing for a soccer team is seen as unfeasible.
New York Cosmos
A potential resurrection of the New York CosmosNew York Cosmos (2010)
The New York Cosmos are an American soccer club based in New York City. The team was formed in August 2010 by a consortium led by English businessman Paul Kemsley, and aspires to become a franchise of Major League Soccer, the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
is being touted recently instead. Since the sale of the Cosmos name and image rights to Paul Kemsley
Paul Kemsley
Paul Zeital Kemsley , is an English businessman. He is best known as a property developer, and to sports fans as a former Vice-Chairman of Premier League football club Tottenham Hotspur, and as Chairman of the revived New York Cosmos.-Biography:He was educated at Atholl School in Rayners Lane,...
, the new Cosmos stated intentions are to eventually join MLS.
On November 6, 2011 it was reported that the New York Cosmos was changing ownership. Sela Sport of Saudi Arabia, a Saudi Arabian company, bought out the shares of former owner, chairman and CEO Paul Kemsley. A statement from Sela Sport said, "It is unequivocally the goal of this ownership group to become an MLS team in the most expedient manner possible, and decisions for the club will be made with this in mind."
Other New York bid
On October 18, 2011, it was reported that Chuck BlazerChuck Blazer
Charles "Chuck" Blazer is an American soccer administrator.He has been a member of the FIFA Executive Committee since 1996, and served as Commissioner of the American Soccer League and Executive Vice President of the United States Soccer Federation...
, ex-NFL player Curtis Martin
Curtis Martin
Curtis James Martin, Jr. is a former American football running back. He is an alumnus of Taylor Allderdice High School in Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh...
, and ex-Cosmos goalkeeper Shep Messing
Shep Messing
Shep Messing is a former American soccer goalkeeper and current broadcaster. He played seven seasons in the North American Soccer League and six in the Major Indoor Soccer League. He was also a member of the U.S...
were teaming up to form an ownership group that would take the reins of a 20th MLS franchise in New York City to rival the New York Cosmos bid.
Orlando
On October 25, 2010, Phil Rawlins and his investor group of Orlando City Soccer Club, announced their intentions of joining Major League Soccer within the next 3 to 5 years.On February 28, 2011, Orlando City S.C. announced they held a meeting with commissioner Don Garber and league officials concerning expansion. Topics covered included a review of the demographics of the Orlando
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
marketplace, the level of potential corporate and fan support for soccer in Central Florida, and a detailed discussion on developing a roadmap for a successful future MLS franchise in Orlando.
The USL Professional Division club, formerly known as Austin Aztex, are believed to be gaining consideration from MLS officials to enter the league in 2013. With some slight drama surrounding the reformation of New York Cosmos, reports suggest that Orlando are in the running to follow Montreal Impact into North America’s domestic competition.
On November 10, 2011, Orlando City team officals met with Commissioner Don Graber for further discussions about joining the MLS as its 20th club in 2013.