New Hope 2012

[sznakes]

At the announcing of Vancouver as the entry for expansion, Mr.Garber let it slip that 2 more expansion teams would be rewarded in 2012. Does this mean that STL and Montreal(55,000 Hard to Ignore!!) Will be next ?

[BringSoccerToIndy]

Vegas and NYC could come knocking not to mention Miami and Ottawa. This will be fun. Montreal deserves it more than any other city without a franchise, including Portland and Vancouver. I want all of you guys to have a team you deserve. I remember watching the Canadian Cup and being amazed by your fans. You guys would be a great addition to the league.

[sznakes]

I can see potential in NYC as i have heard complaints that the Red Bulls new stadium is ridiculous with travel but where in the 5 boroughs do you build ? Ottawa is a strong Candidate but problems with the build site and a CFL franchise loom. Miami doesnt have fans and theres a reason why 4 other pro sports leagues have'nt set up shop in Vegas!
I think he would be hard pressed to ignore the fan support of the Impact!

[BringSoccerToIndy]

I could see Ottawa getting in if the CFL stadium deal doesn't pass. They were an impressive bid. NYC is interesting because Citi sponsors the Mets new stadium and Wilpon lost a lot of money because of Madoff. That could be two factors that could keep them from making a bid. If Ottawa and NYC are out, St. Louis and Montreal are the obvious choices unless Miami gets a fully funded SSS and sell season tickets. That's doubtful. Montreal and St. Louis seem to be the favorites, and I would hope so. MLS needs another Midwestern team and Montreal deserves a team more than any other city. You guys know how to support a team.

[Paddy C]

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/Sports/Montreal+will+land+team+Impact+says/1406744/story.html

“I also believe in (team president) Joey Saputo’s vision, which is to see the franchise compete at the highest level,” De Santis added. “One day it will happen.”

[sportie1]

2012-- should be montreal and a choice of atlanta, NYC2 or a city ready to take the BIG jump and pony up the $$$$$$$$$$$$ for a franchise and a stadium suitable for soccer-- and a proven fan-base with strong community-minded owners

[zidja]

(unfortunately?) It's all up to Joey.
I can understand why in the olden days, he didn't want to subsidize the heavy losses incurred by rival cheese maker Robert Kraft.

I can understand why this time, he didn't want to pony up 40 Million during a down economy to cover the losses for other teams who continue to make bad decisions when his operation is all but guaranteed to be a money printing press. He called the league out on its BS and the result is that Vancouver and Portland get in at reduced costs and negotiated payment plans.

But next time? The train is leaving the station for good. Either get on it, or get your other slighted, rich USL owners and Nike to pony up and make a rival league.

[filbox]

U got that right!!! however, Montreal is a distinct society when it comes to sports too: the fans go for the party and entertainment 1st (cheap familly tickets), so wether it's MLS or USL really doesn't make much of a difference in QUEBEC. The true soccer fans in MTL only care about European soccer (no insult intended). If the impact want those fans they're going to have to do a real investment inorder to join a league over there.. otherwise, eventhough they stay USL they will make plenty of money...especially in CCL. I got my season tickets and pay well for them but I'm an exception... U gotta remember that major players in Quebec (like Hydro) got screwed by MLB in the Expos fiasco so there's reluctance there. There's a better chance that the Impact work with NIKE...(the fighting with MLS will continue).. NY is good start, now u gotta go get more in CANADA (Hamilton, Quebec City, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Halifax..in nice stadiums of course) and in the State of Florida, and of course STL.

[mednus]

"Montreal is going to be a great soccer market and I think a potential MLS market," said Garber. "I think Joey Saputo has to decide whether he wants to be the best team in the USL or to come up to the MLS. We believe in him and his family and obviously feel good about his partnership with George Gillette of the Montreal Canadiens. I'm sure at some point we'll get back together."
Don Garber as quoted by Steve Ewen, The Province March 19, 2009

[WTAMUCrew]

Personally I would like to see a franchise in Montreal. From what the fans have shown it would be a well supported team in a strong market. The one question I have with the whole situation in which the ownership group tried to haggle with MLS over the entrance price. It seems to me with this next round of expansion looking to be the last in the foreseeable future, does the Saputo family tempt fate and try and haggle the price once again or are they prepared to pay the premium it will likely take to compete with some of the other bids. By then the economy will likely be headed in an upward direction and some of the worries that drove some markets to withdraw from consideration. What I'm asking isn't whether or not Montreal deserves a franchise it is more, do you (Montreal fan) believe that the Gillette/Saputo will put together a blockbuster bid, or will they test the waters and hope for the best.

[Lavictoireq]

What I'm asking isn't whether or not Montreal deserves a franchise it is more, do you (Montreal fan) believe that the Gillette/Saputo will put together a blockbuster bid, or will they test the waters and hope for the best.

I have to admit that's the thing that worries me most... Saputo said earlier this week they still want in, but again not at any price, so I guess he'll still try to bargain the league...

they better not fcuk around next time, cause it will probably be the last :confused:

[Moaca]

I have to admit that's the thing that worries me most... Saputo said earlier this week they still want in, but again not at any price, so I guess he'll still try to bargain the league...Why shouldn't he? MLS just lowered the price to 35 million for the Whitecaps.

[Trident]

Why shouldn't he? MLS just lowered the price to 35 million for the Whitecaps.


Exactly, they got in at 35 million, while if I remember correctly, what Saputo offered was basically 32$ million.

[Daniel from Montréal]

Exactly, they got in at 35 million, while if I remember correctly, what Saputo offered was basically 32$ million.

$32m CAD which was about $25m USD. And I'm guessing the Whitecaps didn't lowball by 40% ($15m) right from the start. Saputo didn't respect the MLS in his negotiations and he got burned.

[Trident]

That's true.

Though MLS threw a bit out for it being lower than what they asked for, and they say that;s bad form, then accept a lower offer.

I know Vancouver still offered more, but it's still a double standard of sorts.

[SFEarthquakes]

Does anybody remember the Toronto Lynx. Are the fans in Montreal wedded to Saputo's ego so much that they would not accept a new team in Montreal with a different owner. I would love to see an MLS team in Montreal, sans le ego de Saputo.

[santeroatomico]

Montreal will get a team when someone other than Saputo brings a team. Get rid of Joey, Get a team.

[arkjayback]

St. Louis only needs to get a few more wealthy investors and they're set. St. Louis and Montreal are the two candidate cities that are most readily prepared and enthusiastic for being the next city. Right now the league's primary objective is to secure itself financially.

Teams in Las Vegas, Ottawa, Carolina, Minnesota, NY2, Detroit, Atlanta, and Miami will be great for the league in the long term and reach out to new, valuable fan bases. But as far as the league getting to 20 teams, St. Louis and Montreal are undoubtedly the best in the short term.

[camilos]

Montreal will get a team when someone other than Saputo brings a team. Get rid of Joey, Get a team.

I would tend to agree. I know alot of Montrealers respect Saputo for what he's done for Soccer in Montreal, but his antics really make him look like a minor league owner.

Unfortunately, I don't see any Montreal billionaire buying an MLS franchise. I wonder if Stephen Bronfman is a soccer fan.

[santeroatomico]

Exactly, they got in at 35 million, while if I remember correctly, what Saputo offered was basically 32$ million.

Link? I have not found anything that suggest the bid was lowered.