Three teams, one dream. All rich $$$$ soccer-lovers or could-be soccer lovers are encouraged to apply for ownership! Seattle----------Portland-----------Vancouver http://SounderCentral.com http://www.SoccerCityUSA.com http://www.WhitecapsFC.com http://www.a-league.com NORTHWEST MLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nothing like having a real pro team, MLS or not. Again, the longer MLS stubs its toes on the likes of 'Weaselstein and Viagra', the better graduating you three and Rochester will look to them, regardless of where they originally set the bar.
Out of those three teams I would definetly choose Portland. Logo, colors, and market, all would be great for MLS.
      I'm not sure whether or not FIFA would allow Vancouver into MLS (that's a discussion for a whole different thread), but the inclusion of these teams into MLS (along with Rochester) would be pretty cool!       However, wouldn't that pretty much destroy the A-League? -G
The one who finds ownership will get in first. Stadia issues will then follow. The Whitecaps owner is currently considering his options to build a 30,000 seat venue. The Sounders have an NFL stadium. The Timbers would need to take over PGE park and make it soccer-specific, not likely to happen anytime soon. I'm sure FIFA will grant Canada inclusion into MLS. As for how these teams leaving would affect the A-League...I think the A-League is built for the long-haul no matter which cities it has...it's the top tier in a vast structure with hundereds of teams...
You got everything... All three clubs have decent fan bases. You don't have to establish rivalries--it's already there. The stadium situation is not impossible to figure out. I'd expect all three locations to draw 15,000+ their first years. You probably wouldn't even have to thing about names since all have long-established indentities. It's a region of North America that would add a great deal to the MLS "footprint". The situation with adding a Canadian team to MLS has never seemed to be much of a problem to the MLS brass. It's just about perfect. You got everything except the owners with the money, and that always seems to be the biggest problem.
Seattle's Seahawks Stadium and soccer: http://www.firstandgoal.com/games_schedule/games_sched_template.asp?content=630 A wide-angle pre-match shot. http://www.a-league.com/features/2002/fea,2002,0017.shtml
      One of the nice things about recently-built NFL stadiums such as Seattle Seahawks Stadium, Invesco Field and Gillette Stadium is that they were built by design with a field big enough to also accomodate a properly-sized soccer field. Granted, the capacities are way too big for MLS (it's no surprise that the Rapids are still looking into an SSS), but is sure beats playing on narrower fields such as Giants Stadium, Arrowhead Stadium, and particularly Spartan Stadium.       Also, I'm sure FIFA would allow a few Canadian A-League teams such as Vancouver and Toronto into MLS, provided that there are no plans for a Canadian Division 1 pro soccer league anytime in the near future. However, I've heard that there may be plans for such a league, so I'm not sure that the Whitecaps will be allowed to join MLS (at least not for now).       But I agree that the Pacific Northwest is an area that MLS really needs representation in, and it would be ideal to promote two (maybe three) A-League teams from there that already have strong histories, identities and fanbases, though I'm still not sure whether or not the A-League could survive such a blow. -G
Why the worries re Whitecaps in MLS? NASL set the precedent in North America (eight or nine teams north of the border over its lifespan). FIFA could permit the Caps provisional inclusion into MLS until such time a viable Canadian D-1 league sees the light of day (and how many of us are holding are breath about that anytime soon? It's not like the US D-1 is busting out all over either... better make the most of the situation at hand).
The NASL also gave the finger to FIFA where player transfers from europe and the like were involved. I'm not sure but was the NASL ever even considered a real league by FIFA? The NASL business plan is not one MLS should be taking notes from.
I think having Vancouver, Seattle, and Portland in MLS would be great.... As long as ALL THREE CITIES will be working towards having SSS'es built within a few years of the teams respective lifetimes. Seattle doesn't have to move as quickly since Seahawks stadium is perfectly designed for soccer. Eventually however, all three cities need to have Soccer stadiums up and ready. I'm not willing to see the league move backwards in progress just so that these three cities can have teams. SSS'es are the key to our league's future and sustainability. Let's keep our eyes on the ball.
Seattle Sounders 1982... Re-live the miracle season that ended up with a Final appearance v. New York Cosmos! http://soundercentral.com/
Soccer Northwest Hey fellas, this sounds great, I would love to cities who supprt, thier teams no matter the market. I hope we have enough talent to spread around. I would also say that thier are changes to the single entity set up the MLS that need to be made. I am sure that is something everyone has said a million times, but not a total overhaul it has merrit. I just read where Blatter and FIFA are revisiting the Inclusion of Celtic and The 'Gers to the EPL. If they are voted in that would open the door for the Canadiens, for good or bad.
The single best expansion MLS could do (outside of Houston of course) would be to get all 3 Pacific Northwest cities in the league. The Cleveland owner had a CRAP idea and San Diego is great, but bringing in Chivas could become a horrible miscalculation. 2005: Houston & Seattle 2006: NYC & Rochester 2007: Portland & Vancouver 2008: Philadelphia & Toronto Miami, Atlanta, San Diego, Calgary, Edmonton, Quebec, St. Louis, San Antonio, Tulsa, Charlotte, Detroit, Minneapolis, Cleveland, Phoenix, OKC, etc. to follow.
Definitly agree on Houston. Can NYC support 2 teams? Metros draw OK, but what would be the appeal of a second team and where would they play?
Hey Sounderfan, sounds like a great idea, I would love to give back to a soccer community of my adopted home.
I think we all have our Expansion wet-dreams. I would love to see a very close-knit group of cities come into the MLS as soon as possible, and potential "promotion" of these clubs makes it all the better (same with Rochester). DNA - The NYC thing is an old topic. Getting to Giants Stadium is probably a real pain in the ass for many New Yorkers (like those in Long Island), so having a team in an area like Queens, etc. would expand the "come down and see a game" appeal to people in that neighborhood. It's the same idea as LA having a second team. "OH but the Galaxy doesn't sell out every game! How can they have a second team!" Well, [Santa Monica Snob] Carson is in the boonies, well south, right next to Long Beach where a lot of Angelinos don't feel like driving the 60 minutes it would take in traffic [/Santa Monica Snob] I say Seattle + Rochester in 2005/2006 (If they can get an investor on board - C'MON PAUL ALLEN!)
The NASL was a FIFA sanctioned league. There were a lot of issues that created friction between the NASL and FIFA, but it was a FIFA league. The only major non FIFA outdoor league I know of was the Colombian league in the '50s.
In the meantime, Portland, Seattle and Vancouver fans are putting a "Cup" to their bitter A-League rivalries this year: http://soundercentral.com/CascadiaCup/cascadia_cup.htm Cup history here: http://www.a-league.com/features/2004/fea,2004,0007.shtml
Your never going to get an SSS built in Canada for good reason. Governments want the biggest bang for their buck. The any stadium in Toronto is going to end up invovling the CFL's Argos. This is even more apparent since they want to get out of Skydome. No doubt the BC Lions will wat to get involved in any Vancouver stadium project. The government will no doubt give the CFL support on that issue.