Montreal?

[mls_in_canada]

Yes, I'm back (although I said I wouldn't bring this up again...oh well). I made a mistake last time in praising the virtues of Toronto as an MLS candidate when Montreal is clearly a better and more sensible choice at present. This is for two reasons:
1) The Toronto stadium deal has fallen through. It was to have cost $80 million, but it now appears that it will actually cost $100 million, causing the organizers (Toronto Argonauts CFL franchise, University of Toronto, Soccer Canada) to go back to the drawing board.
2) Montreal Impact averaged over 10 000 fans per game in the A-League, which is almost on par with the MLS, for a semipro franchise. They drew over 13 000 fans for the A-League final.
Don't get me wrong. I've heard the naysayers who either want the MLS to stay All-American (although arguably you now have a Mexican club in the league ;)), or who say that there are plenty of great U.S. cities without teams (ie. Houston, Rochester, Cleveland), but I still feel that Montreal brings something else. That something else is a European-style atmosphere to MLS. With Montreal on board, you have a league that would now broadcast games in three languages, between two countries, and strong representation in Mexico. I understand that CD Chivas USA may already cause concern for the "Uncle Sam's Army" element of MLS fans, and I can understand that. Here in Canada there are great concerns with any tampering involving hockey on any level originating from the U.S. or elsewhere.
I would appreciate a response, even if it is somewhat negative. I enjoy the MLS and would like to see its' profile grow on the world stage every year.

[The Voice of Reason!]

well I wont totally disagree, but before you jump all over montreal, first make sure they average over 10k first :)

they did over 9k, but not over 10k as far as I recall, unless I missed something that kenn added later.

If montreal builds on this seasons success, and they are drawing 12k crowds or more and an owner shows up and yeah you know the rest.

but right now it is another A-league success.
let them do it a few more years

[mls2atl]

i dont think that mls should place teams in canada. if canada wants teams they should have their own league. plus isnt it against fifa rules, i think (thought i saw it somewhere).

[mls_in_canada]

It can't be against FIFA rules since the old North American Soccer League fielded teams from both Canada and the U.S. Not only that, but there are small countries in Europe that don't have their own domestic leagues and instead field teams in neighbouring countries (FC Monaco in the French league comes to mind). Canada is not that small in relative terms (ie. 30 million people), but being that building 6-8 soccer specific stadiums is highly unlikely in Canada, I felt that perhaps Canada's largest cities (Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, etc.) could field MLS teams with some of the others (Ottawa, Hamilton, Calgary) fielding A-League or PDL teams. It's a thought. First thing we need up here is at least ONE SSS!

[Chowderhead]

If Quebec secedes from Canada and become an associated free state of the United States, a la Puerto Rico, I'd be for this. Until then, forget about it.

Good luck, though, with whatever it is you have going up there.

BTW, you're wrong on that Fifa thing. And who cares anyway? Fifa can't make us take a Montreal team. They can only let us. But it's against their current rules so bummer.

[SYoshonis]

FYI, there are Welsh teams that play in English leagues. And, before you go all geographic on me, Wales is, for all FIFA intents and purposes, just as much a separate country relative to England as Canada is to the USA.

And, Canadian teams compete in the USL, which is also an American league, not one iota less so than MLS.

If MLS wanted a Canadian team, they could have one. Period. FIFA would not object.

[Gioca]

FYI, there are Welsh teams that play in English leagues. And, before you go all geographic on me, Wales is, for all FIFA intents and purposes, just as much a separate country relative to England as Canada is to the USA.

And, Canadian teams compete in the USL, which is also an American league, not one iota less so than MLS.

If MLS wanted a Canadian team, they could have one. Period. FIFA would not object.

Wales: Not a Country

Canada: Country

MLS should be American only. Having Canadian teams wouldn't help MLS or US Soccer in any way. A much smaller US city would be much more beneficial to the league than the biggest Canadian city.

[SYoshonis]

Repeat: ACCORDING TO FIFA, Wales = country.

[mls2atl]

either way i think canada should have their own league, im tired on their cities in all our leagues. they are a huge country they could support a league. toronto, vancouver, calgary, edmonton, montreal, halifax, london, ottawa, quebec, winnipeg, regina, victoria. there you go 12 cities and they could be the same size as mls.

[footfetish]

either way i think canada should have their own league, im tired on their cities in all our leagues. they are a huge country they could support a league. toronto, vancouver, calgary, edmonton, montreal, halifax, london, ottawa, quebec, winnipeg, regina, victoria. there you go 12 cities and they could be the same size as mls.realistically, they would not have the potential that mls has... but they could support a damn fine league of their own. think the dutch erevidisie or the scottish premier league.

[mls_in_canada]

I love seeing the different angles on this topic! It's good to see that the vast majority of comments, if not positive, are productive and intelligent. I wish that Canada could have a league, but it has been tried and failed. Also, Canada is already in the USL, so therefore it is only logical in the context of the current makeup of the USL that its' largest or most successful markets would get MLS teams, regardless if they are in the U.S., Canada, or Puerto Rico (the Islanders play there).

[hornonmyankle]

Montreal would be a great soccer city and good for MLS. However their warm season is smaller and though they have a nice stadium, I remember it being too small for MLS. Also, people in Quebec are rude towards Americans and I almost got arrested there for refusing to pay my cab driver when he tried to rip us off by taking a scenic route back to our hotel and charging us $40 on what should have been a $20 ride. Sure I was drunk and abnoxious but he was a French a__hole. Otherwise, my trip to Montreal was great and is would be a great city in MLS.

[DoyleG]

Getting an SSS of their own will be a bit of a problem.

Wait and see if Montreal can keep up the momentum.

[The Truth Commission]

How about ReAL MontReAL???

Hahaha....

[Gioca]

Montreal should maybe join the French league. But the MLS should be for American teams only.

[swedcrip34]

Montreal should maybe join the French league. But the MLS should be for American teams only.

American and Spanish teams! Don't you pay attention.

[moejash]

and mexican,but no canadiens :rolleyes:

[Gioca]

American and Spanish teams! Don't you pay attention.

Chivas USA plays in Los Angleles, not Madrid. LA is still part of America if you forgot.

[Gioca]

and mexican,but no canadiens :rolleyes:

There are no Mexican teams in the MLS. There is a Mexican owner, but the team is based in the USA.

[swedcrip34]

Chivas USA plays in Los Angleles, not Madrid. LA is still part of America if you forgot.

I was talking about Real Salt Lake.