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Vancouver lands an MLS franchise for 2011
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP)—Vancouver was awarded a Major League Soccer franchise for the 2011 season Wednesday, becoming the league’s second Canadian team.
MLS started in 1996 as an eight-team league and opens its 14th season Thursday night. Seattle enters the league this season as the 15th club, with Philadelphia to begin in 2010. The other Canadian team is Toronto FC, which joined in 2007.
“Our goal is to become one of the world’s best soccer leagues,” MLS commissioner Don Garber said at a news conference. “The addition of Vancouver will help us get to that point.”
The Vancouver Whitecaps currently play in the United Soccer Leagues’ first division. There’s no immediate word on whether the MLS team will be called the Whitecaps.
Whitecaps owner Greg Kerfoot leads the Vancouver ownership group. NBA star Steve Nash is also involved along with San Francisco Giants co-owner Jeff Mallett and Boston Celtics co-owner Steve Luczo.
Vancouver was one of four remaining groups vying for a franchise for 2011. Ottawa, Portland and St. Louis also applied. The MLS is expected to award a second team at a later date.
The Vancouver MLS team will play at BC Place. The stadium—a 20,000-seat soccer-specific design—will undergo about $292 million in improvements before the club begins playing.
“The Vancouver Whitecaps have been a part of our province’s history for more than three decades,” British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell said. “As an MLS team, the Whitecaps organization will carry on that incredible tradition.”
Vancouver Whitecaps FC will continue to field a USL-1 team during the 2009 and 2010 seasons.
“The successful bid for a Major League Soccer franchise offers a whole new level of opportunity for our organization and by extension for our city and our province,” Whitecaps president Bob Lenarduzzi said.
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MLS awards expansion team to Portland
NEW YORK (TICKER) —Major League Soccer announced Friday that Portland was awarded the league’s 18th club, beginning in 2011.
The announcement came two days after Vancouver was named the 17th team and one day after the expansion Seattle Sounders opened the 2009 campaign with a 3-0 victory over the New York Red Bulls.
“A city with such a storied soccer tradition deserves an MLS team, and we are proud to have Portland join the top level of professional soccer in our region,” MLS commissioner Dan Garber said. “Merritt Paulson and his family provide a vibrant and innovative ownership group that truly loves the world’s game and we believe PGE Park will provide a world-class soccer environment for soccer fans.”
When Portland debuts, it will mark the league’s ninth expansion team since 2005. Real Salt Lake and Chivas USA joined that year, the Houston Dynamo began play in 2006, Toronto FC debuted in 2007 and the San Jose Earthquakes returned as an expansion team in 2008.
Philadelphia begins play as the 16th team in 2010.
