mls expansion into canada

Discussion in 'MLS: Expansion' started by plissken666, Nov 20, 2003.

  1. plissken666

    plissken666 New Member

    Nov 19, 2003
    nanaimo
    rumours up north say that vancouver montreal and toronto will be joining in 2006.

    vancouver--building a 30.000 seat sss in downtown vancouver.whitecaps have a billionaire owner.strongest tradition in north america.flagship of the A league.exceptional local talent pool.


    montreal-averaged over 8000 a game in 8000 seat claude robbiliard stadium in A league last season.expanding the seating of their stadium to 12.000.would move to molson stadium which seats 20.000 for a few games next season.


    toronto-building a stadium sss.A league lynx play out of 3500 seater.when they build it in toronto they will come.great pool of local players.5.5 million population.
     
  2. astabooty

    astabooty Member

    Nov 16, 2002
    China
    Club:
    FC Barcelona
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    sounds very nice. im not really a mls fan, but anything to improve it right?
    iirc arent there some problems with a league including teams from 2 different countries tho?
     
  3. Bill Schmidt

    Bill Schmidt BigSoccer Supporter

    Aug 3, 2003
    Washington, DC
    Club:
    Real Madrid
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Yeah, these boards have some info about FIFA rules limiting a league to teams from one nation. Supposedly a nation that enters a team in another nation's league will lose its national team eligibility. But there are some exceptions when one nation's league is a whole lot weaker than the other's. It could probably be worked out. I'm sure FIFA will allow some grey area to help grow the game onthis continent, you know, like when they held a World Cup here.
     
  4. astabooty

    astabooty Member

    Nov 16, 2002
    China
    Club:
    FC Barcelona
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    from what i remember at this time of night cobblestone you are partially right. ie: monaco gives up their right to a national team i think to be able to play in the french league.
    but then i remembered, dont some welsh teams play in the FA CUp in England?
    idk im confused!
     
  5. Sanguine

    Sanguine Member

    Jul 4, 2003
    Reston, VA
    I thought the Toronto stadium was not an SSS, but rather a CFL and soccer stadium with end zone seats that pull back to allow for the long CFL field?
     
  6. DoyleG

    DoyleG Member+

    CanPL
    Canada
    Jan 11, 2002
    YEG-->YYJ-->YWG-->YYB
    Club:
    FC Edmonton
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    There's 2 plans for a stadium on the board. One is a plan already publically announced by the CSA, another is by the new Toronto Argos ownership. The latter doesn't have a possible site named yet.

    The problem is that even if they can get some private funding, most of the funding would have to come from government. With all the changes going on now, that is seemingly very remote.

    As for the 1 league, 2 nations idea. The only real example is that of NZ Kingz in the Australian NSL. It's been stated that they got a 5 year exemption from FIFA to compete in the league. The pro scene in Australia is going to be reformed and FIFA likely won't grant another extension. The Kingz performance on and off the field hasn't helped either.
     
  7. Sempuukyaku

    Sempuukyaku Member+

    Apr 30, 2002
    Seattle, WA
    Club:
    Seattle Sounders
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    If we expand into Canada the last place I would want to go to is Toronto. They don't even support their A-league team. Do you think they'd support an MLS team?


    Vancouver would be cool though.
     
  8. denver_mugwamp

    denver_mugwamp New Member

    Feb 9, 2003
    Denver, Colorado
    The most likely seems to be Toronto, since it's been mentioned a few times by Garber. There should not be much of a problem with FIFA. I guess it all rests on building a stadium. Vanvouver might be a better location since their A-League team seems to be much better supported. There's already rivalries with Seattle, who will et a team before too long. Who's the billionaie?
     
  9. billf

    billf Member+

    May 22, 2001
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    It seems to me that the Welsh-based teams plaing in English competitions are under the authority of the FA. This doesn't seem like a big deal since Wales and England are actually part of one country when it comes to national government and all. Would Canadian MLS teams be under Chicago's umbrella? I can't imagine the CSA giving up any say in licenseing of teams within it's borders or other things like the assigning of referees. roster rules are also a tricky issue since each national government is going to have conflicting laws.
     
  10. MLS3

    MLS3 Member

    Feb 7, 2000
    Pac NW
    Club:
    Seattle Sounders
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    let canada start their own f'ing league...theres still many UNITED STATES CITIES that need teams and SSS's and SSS plans are starting to pop up so just because Toronto is building a CFL stadium thats also for soccer doesn't mean they should be in MLS an AMERICAN SOCCER LEAGUE...
     
  11. Paul Schmidt

    Paul Schmidt Member

    Feb 3, 2001
    Portland, Oregon!
    Um, Vancouver billionaire owning the Caps??

    Don't overdo it. Perhaps the guy is a billionaire, but he isn't spending like one. Inferring that he'd plop down bucks downtown for a SSS humors me.

    Doesn't mean Vancouver wouldn't be a good site. Frankly, it would be great.

    I remember one stadium proposal out of Vancouver... but it's a smaller stadium for CFL AND AAA baseball AND soccer. Don't think I need to go into THAT discussion. In any event, snake, if there's a new proposal with an article, please post a source.

    The real question should be about BC Place. With the proposal I mentioned above, the BC Lions obviously think their current stadium is way too big. Last I read, BC Place would host the Olympic ceremonies in 2010, then be subject to destruction. That should be the site for a smaller stadium (it would be a serious coup if a SSS ended up there), but it would probably be prime land for other developments as well. I'm quite curious about the fate of that place.
     
  12. MLS3

    MLS3 Member

    Feb 7, 2000
    Pac NW
    Club:
    Seattle Sounders
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    are the Lions getting a new stadium?

    I love the CFL...nice parade before the cup, hah...
     
  13. plissken666

    plissken666 New Member

    Nov 19, 2003
    nanaimo
    the site for the stadium is picked out.right next to the train station on union street.the billionaire owner of the caps is greg kerfoot owner of crystal decisions.
     
  14. Treetaliano

    Treetaliano Member

    Jun 29, 2002
    Charlotte, NC
    bye bye MLS for me...
     
  15. Bill Schmidt

    Bill Schmidt BigSoccer Supporter

    Aug 3, 2003
    Washington, DC
    Club:
    Real Madrid
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Right. Those are some of the exceptions. I don't know how to link you to a thread, so here is its title: Multi-nation leagues should be allowed." Forum: The Beautiful Game. It's a discussion from last July.

    There's a tweak to the FIFA rules when one nation's league is a whole lot weaker than than the other. So Cardiff City plays in the English First Division (below the Premiership) and many years ago they were in the top flight. There is also FC Vaduz of Liechtenstein playing in the Swiss Challenge League (Swiss 2nd div.). Cardiff is only the top Welsh team playing in England. Others play in lower divisions. Welsh teams can play in the English league because of one or both of the following: 1) Welsh league far inferior to EPL, and 2) no Welsh team is in the English top flight. The same facts apply to FC Vaduz. The league in Liechtenstein is amateur, and FC Vaduz is professional.

    But again, Big Soccer posters and some pundits believe FIFA will let MLS allow Canadian teams by applying those exceptions because of the desire to grow the game here.
     
  16. Bill Schmidt

    Bill Schmidt BigSoccer Supporter

    Aug 3, 2003
    Washington, DC
    Club:
    Real Madrid
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Canadian Soccer League

    I started another thread to talk about the possibility of a Canadian league. "Canadian Soccer League" in the Canada forum.
     
  17. dred

    dred Member+

    Nov 7, 2000
    Land of Champions
    Forget about FIFA regulations.

    FIFA isn't stupid enough to follow their own rules when the economics obviously says otherwise.

    I'm sure there'll be a Canadian MLS team or two in the next five years.
     
  18. jd2084

    jd2084 New Member

    Aug 1, 2001
    Rhode Island
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    My question is what do they do about the international player rule? Will the Canadian teams only be allowed to have 3 non-Canadians on the roster?
     
  19. voros

    voros Member

    Jun 7, 2002
    Parts Unknown
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Will the Canadian stadiums be using real grass or fake stuff?

    An owner and a SSS with real grass and the team as the primary tenant. Anything short of that and there's plenty of American sites to choose from.
     
  20. plissken666

    plissken666 New Member

    Nov 19, 2003
    nanaimo
  21. plissken666

    plissken666 New Member

    Nov 19, 2003
    nanaimo
    being vancouver probably indica or sativa
     
  22. plissken666

    plissken666 New Member

    Nov 19, 2003
    nanaimo
    hemp field turf
     
  23. bright

    bright Member

    Dec 28, 2000
    Central District
    Club:
    Seattle Sounders
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Wow, I am torn.

    I'd love to have Vancouver in MLS, especially since the Sounders are destined for MLS. Vancouver is a great city, awesome people. I'd hate to lose our rivalry with them.

    However, I do like the idea of having distinct Canadian and US leagues. I'd like to see the Canadian league grow on its own and add some champions to the CONCACAF Champions Cup.

    I think the obvious solution is for BC, Washington, and Oregon to secede from their oppressors and affirm their collective cultural identity by forming the new nation of Cascadia. We would have our own national team, and our own national league. Vancouver is more a part of my "nation" than New York or Atlanta. :)

    - Paul
     
  24. DoyleG

    DoyleG Member+

    CanPL
    Canada
    Jan 11, 2002
    YEG-->YYJ-->YWG-->YYB
    Club:
    FC Edmonton
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    The economics are proving to be a failure. Cross border leagues in North America are suffering compared to those that stay within their national boundaries.


    50/50 split on what surface it might be.

    The stadiums would be designed with canadian football as the primary tennant. Getting a CFL team on board any stadium project improves chances for government funding.
     
  25. uclacarlos

    uclacarlos Member+

    Aug 10, 2003
    east coast
    Club:
    FC Barcelona
    Nat'l Team:
    Spain
    God, that would be cool! Then California could secede and not have to deal w/ Rhode Island have as many senators as us.

    Although, my thoughts onthis matter have changed since Oct. 7th 2003...

    California: libre e independiente!
     

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