Canada (MLS Expansion or Canadian League)

[Daniel from Montréal]

Can we get back on topic, this petty piss contest is annoying.

New pics up at http://www.boutiquemeteo.com/saputo/stadesaputo.htm.

http://www.boutiquemeteo.com/saputo/semaine25/semaine25_2.jpg
http://www.boutiquemeteo.com/saputo/semaine25/semaine25_3.jpg
http://www.boutiquemeteo.com/saputo/semaine25/semaine25_6.jpg

[#1TFC]

So when can we get you boys in to the MLS so we can settle this pissing match one game at a time on the field?

I really do want to see Montreal in the league, sorry for poking the stick at you earlier, as I think the possbilities of Montreal, Toronto, Boston and New York rivalries would be just great. Throw in DC who are just down the road and our friends in Columbus who love the beer and broads in our city (Eboe) and we have the makings of great, exciting, spirited games.

Your stadium is looking really nice and from the pics it looks like it could be expanded with little changes to the original structure.

MLS - note to Commissioner - get these guys in ASAP. Sure they are yappy, xenophobic and anachronistic but driving or taking the train to / from Montreal for a game would be an absolute hoot. Good for the league, good for Montreal, good for the game - All good.

[zidja]

<drool> It's really coming along nicely! I also just realized the wavy seat pattern on the east stands is also an "M" ... but I'm slow like that.

[hogmesh]

amazing what a good roof can do! looks good and i'd love to see a future mls bid-- give me another excuse to visit my favorite city :)

[alexp92]

looking good montreal, like to see you and vancouver in the mls someday
a tfc and montreal rivalry would be great, one of the best in the league

[DigzTFC]

http://www2.sportsnet.ca/blogs/gerry_dobson/2007/10/05/canadian_soccer_triumvirate/

Here's what I can tell you: The three teams want to work together on player development and other things including friendly matches. Collectively they carry a ton of clout. Without purposely doing so, they are working themselves into position to shape the game in this country for years to come. Perhaps it's just nature running its course. In Montreal, Saputo has already talked casually with Montreal Canadiens and Liverpool owner George Gillette about finding common ground. This could mean having the legendary England club train in Montreal and play the Impact at their soon to be completed soccer specific stadium (Natural grass by the way. In fact, it's already been installed).

Vancouver Whitecaps owner Greg Kerfoot is willing to spend whatever money and resources are required to make his franchise as powerful as it can be. Even though we haven't heard much from them lately, I get the gut feeling there are some things about to break on the west coast.

[Macksam]

http://www2.sportsnet.ca/blogs/gerry_dobson/2007/10/05/canadian_soccer_triumvirate/

Here's what I can tell you: The three teams want to work together on player development and other things including friendly matches. Collectively they carry a ton of clout. Without purposely doing so, they are working themselves into position to shape the game in this country for years to come. Perhaps it's just nature running its course. In Montreal, Saputo has already talked casually with Montreal Canadiens and Liverpool owner George Gillette about finding common ground. This could mean having the legendary England club train in Montreal and play the Impact at their soon to be completed soccer specific stadium (Natural grass by the way. In fact, it's already been installed).

Vancouver Whitecaps owner Greg Kerfoot is willing to spend whatever money and resources are required to make his franchise as powerful as it can be. Even though we haven't heard much from them lately, I get the gut feeling there are some things about to break on the west coast.

This is nothing but good news. If the CSA don't want to to do it, might as well let the clubs do their thing.

[DigzTFC]

Whats more notable is Gary Dobson of Sportsnet (author of this article) stated George Gilette wanted to buy a MLS for Montreal in an earlier article. So, when you have a stadium ready and waiting and two Billionaire owners that want to buy a club....it can mean good things for Canada.

Kerfoot is also just waiting on the City of Vancouver to get its shit together and allow a completely privately funded stadium to be approved. Its coming and I predict within the next 5 years one if not two of these cities will have franchises.

[AndrewW]

Here's what we do know for sure. Due to MLSE's exclusivity clause, we won't see Montreal of Vancouver until after 2010 when the clause expires.

Could that be changed by an exchange of cash or other promises? Sure.

Have to say that the prospects of Montreal seem much better than Vancouver simply because things are getting done.

The stagnency of what was planned in Vancouver is more concerning and completely frustrating. What we know is the current soccer money-bags in Vancouver is willing to spend and spend big. I can't think of any other municipality in North America where this wouldn't have been completed already.

Now, Dobson's revelation may be more than just a "feeling". I believe he's fairly cozy with the Duze who may have let some information slip.

So, now if we can do something about the capacities of the under-construction Stade Saputo and the planned Waterfront Stadium. :D

[Trident]

Whats more notable is Gary Dobson of Sportsnet (author of this article) stated George Gilette wanted to buy a MLS for Montreal in an earlier article. So, when you have a stadium ready and waiting and two Billionaire owners that want to buy a club....it can mean good things for Canada.

Gilette said he was interested in MLS, not MTL.


And we would have 1 stadium owned by one billionaire, who will not let another use.

They could mess up montreal, IF Gilette wants Montreal MLS.

[denver_mugwamp]

Hey, doesn't the new stadium for the Impact have real grass? On the other thread that was closed they were watering it. That's odd, since the folks over in Toronto keep saying that it's impossible to grow that stuff up there. I guess Montreal is in the tropics of Canada or something. :rolleyes:

[krudmonk]

Hey, doesn't the new stadium for the Impact have real grass? On the other thread that was closed they were watering it. That's odd, since the folks over in Toronto keep saying that it's impossible to grow that stuff up there. I guess Montreal is in the tropics of Canada or something. :rolleyes:
Don't be stupid. It's far warmer in Montreal due to ice insulation.
http://www.criacc.qc.ca/assets/vgl_arb.jpg

[Trident]

I love how our grass just looks much better than any turf, let alone how it feels.

[Shopping Cart Man]

Hey, doesn't the new stadium for the Impact have real grass? On the other thread that was closed they were watering it. That's odd, since the folks over in Toronto keep saying that it's impossible to grow that stuff up there. I guess Montreal is in the tropics of Canada or something. :rolleyes:

Toronto's public use bubble prevents them from installing grass.

[Macksam]

Here's what we do know for sure. Due to MLSE's exclusivity clause, we won't see Montreal of Vancouver until after 2010 when the clause expires.


That my friend is called a non competition clause. In all honesty, if the MLS wants Montreal or Vancouver in before 2010, than they'll probably just break the agreement with MLSE.

[#1TFC]

Toronto would agree tomorrow to remove the clause restricting additional Canadian expansion if MLS and FIFA would agree to view Canadians / Americans as North Americans and so eliminate the current situation that requires so many Canadians to be on our squad. There are just not enough skilled CDNs available to populate multi Canadian city MLS teams. Change the clause and it happens tomorrow. :) Frankly, I hope they do because Montreal needs to be in MLS. It would be good for soccer in general and would add to the growing east coast rivalries that we are seeing starting to grow with our squad. The original six in hockey, Montreal, Toronto, New York, Boston, Chicago and Detroit. With Montreal coming in all that would need to happen is for Detroit to get a team. Add in to this mix Columbus and DC and wow what a bunch of rivalries there would be. All reasonably driveable as well althougt Detroit still sucks.

[Macksam]

Toronto would agree tomorrow to remove the clause restricting additional Canadian expansion if MLS and FIFA would agree to view Canadians / Americans as North Americans and so eliminate the current situation that requires so many Canadians to be on our squad. There are just not enough skilled CDNs available to populate multi Canadian city MLS teams. Change the clause and it happens tomorrow. :) Frankly, I hope they do because Montreal needs to be in MLS. It would be good for soccer in general and would add to the growing east coast rivalries that we are seeing starting to grow with our squad. The original six in hockey, Montreal, Toronto, New York, Boston, Chicago and Detroit. With Montreal coming in all that would need to happen is for Detroit to get a team. Add in to this mix Columbus and DC and wow what a bunch of rivalries there would be. All reasonably driveable as well althougt Detroit still sucks.

Talent won't be an issue five years from now. What I'm talking about is that the MLS can probably break MLSE's Canadian non-competition clause with or without their consent.

[Trident]

I think Montreal MLS would be a bit more attractive to Canadian players that haven't signed on with Torfc.

We have grass.

[#1TFC]

I think Montreal MLS would be a bit more attractive to Canadian players that haven't signed on with Torfc.

We have grass.
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Grass is good. What is not so good would be having to send your kid to school in french because you were not born in Quebec and so would not qualify to attend a school of your choice.

What would not be good would be not having a working knowledge of french so that you could enjoy more than just the west end ghetto and parts of Montreal where the anglophones hang.

Trident grass is good but the rest of Montreal as being liveable for non-french speaking people not going for the week-end to a game or to a strip joint is not so great. There is a reason my house in Toronto is worth 1/2 in Montreal.

[#1TFC]

Talent won't be an issue five years from now. What I'm talking about is that the MLS can probably break MLSE's Canadian non-competition clause with or without their consent.

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Breaking contracts is never a good idea which is why this one will not be broken unless MLSE is taken care of.