With the Miami MLS expansion bid officially in its grave, Major League Soccer needs a new favorite to emerge in the expansion race, and sources tell SBI that one expansion city has done just that.
Vancouver has become the new front-runner in the MLS expansion sweepstakes, moving ahead of remaining MLS expansion candidates Portland, St. Louis and Ottawa. According to multiple sources, MLS is on the verge of putting Vancouver's bid up for expansion approval and the Canadian city has become what one source called "a lock" for the 2011 expansion cycle.
MLS is expected announce its 2011 expansion entrants before the start of the 2009 season on March 19th and signs are pointing to Vancouver being one of those entrants.
Why Vancouver? Three major factors are in the bid's favor.
First, the Vancouver bid has the deepest and most financially strong stable of owners among the remaining expansion candidates. With Vancouver Whitecaps owner Greg Kerfoot, former Yahoo executive Jeff Mallett, Boston Celtics co-owner Steve Luczo and NBA star Steve Nash making up the group, the Vancouver bid boasts the prospective owners best equipped to deal with the current global financial crisis.
Secondly, a potential national TV contract for MLS in Canada also adds to Vancouver's candidacy. Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE), the parent company of Toronto FC, recently purchased GolTV Canada and is in position to benefit the most from one or two Canadian cities (Ottawa being the other) entering MLS, which would help a national Candian MLS television contract move closer to reality.
Thirdly, Vancouver has the double benefit of being a national rival to Toronto FC, while also being a geographic rival with 2009 MLS expansion club Seattle Sounders FC.
Vancouver has not been approved yet, but the Canadian city is now in the lead and looks to have fewer obstacles in its way than any of the remaining bids.
What do you think of this development? Surprised to see Vancouver move to the forefront? Still holding out hope that Portland and St. Louis will get it together and make the cut? Wondering if MLS will reconsider bringing Montreal back into the mix? Starting to think that MLS just might not expand at all in 2011?
Share your thoughts on Vancouver's MLS expansion chances, and the MLS expansion race in general, in the comments section below.
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