The league has 13 teams and will add a 14th in San Jose next year. Commissioner Don Garber has said he expects to add a 15th and 16th team by 2010 — Abbott said the timetable is to announce those teams by the end of the year — and then hold off on further expansion for a few years. But recently, Garber has said the league could go to 18 before stopping because of the number of markets — 12 — seeking teams. The league wants to expand in even numbers because of the scheduling headaches that come with an odd number of teams, which could mean two in 2009 and two more in 2010.
So by taking Garber's statement at face value, that could mean (in any combination here) Seattle and St. Louis/Philly in 09, and Philly/St. Louis and (Western City) in 2010. As a Seattle fan, I'd most like to see Portland or Vancouver as the 4th team. Let's hope all these cities can have all their ducks in a row, and get franchises awarded to them.