Jul 25
Should MLS Expand to Canada, or Focus on America?
With Don Garber and MLS now ready to expand by two more teams for the 2011 season, the debate is on. Many Americans would favor expansion right here in America, but there is also a compelling case for expansion into Canada. MLS just yesterday held a successful All Star game in Toronto, and the support is unbelievable there. I like the idea of expanding in American cities because it promotes the sport in America, but it’s hard to deny that there is enormous potential in Canada. I present the following video as evidence of the great support.
TFC March on Tuesday July 22nd from Matt Rix on Vimeo.
I want to know if you prefer expansion in the USA, or should we add a team in either Vancouver or Montreal? Let’s hear your thoughts?
July 25th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
The support in Toronto is amazing but as an American (and one in the Southeast where DC or Columbus are the closest teams and they are not really close at all) I have to say I’d rather see expansion in the US first or possibly one more in Canada and one in the Southeastern US would be fine as well. I like the support from Canada but with a whole region of the United States without a team anywhere near I don’t see why Canada should get another team first. MLS is supposed to be about raising American soccer but it is leaving a large area without a local team…so America first then Canada or one for each is a fair way to expand as well.
July 25th, 2008 at 9:10 pm
Jonesta, looking at a map of the US, with the cities of MLS included, It’s clear that the Southeast needs a team. Atlanta looks like a nice centralized location, and it’s also the biggest city around. I also then like either Portland or St. Louis for the next team. I’m not a fan of expansion to Canada. MLS is supposed to improve the US at soccer, and having teams develop Canadians and grow Canadian support for the game is not something i want.
July 26th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
Jonesta, I feel your pain. I currently reside in Starkville, MS, which is equal distance from New Orleans, Atlanta, and Nashville, and any of these cities would be nice. I know Atlanta is probably the most likely for a bid, but I really think New Orleans could potentially create a seriously unique atmosphere (as it does for everything.). Or why not Tampa? They hold as many USMNT games there as anywhere it seems.
July 26th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
Tampa had a failed MLS team already…I don’t know the details behind it but the Mutiny are no longer there so I can see why putting a team there is problematic. I currently live in Auburn, Alabama and would certainly drive to Atlanta to watch an MLS team play…it’s like a comment I saw earlier its hard to get behind a team in MLS when none of them are local. I follow the entire league and most leagues around the world but I would love to have a local team I could pull for
July 26th, 2008 at 4:54 pm
an interesting point made on Jen Chang’s blog over on soccernet.com was that improving the game in Canada actually does benefit the USMNT. Looking at UEFA and CONMEBOL, the competition is better, and that helps everyone in the group. Mexico and USA being able to just coast into the World Cup and basically trade off the Gold Cup title every year isn’t doing us any good once it comes time to play on the big stage.
July 27th, 2008 at 12:43 am
But if we can simply grow our own players in our own league better and better we wont need the competition on the international level…that only makes it harder to get to the big tournaments and I for one don’t want to lose out to the little countries if there is another way to make our team better…
July 27th, 2008 at 1:23 am
i agree with Jonesta. I don’t want competition, I want to dominate and a way to do that is investing in American Soccer, not leveling the playing field by investing in Canada.
July 27th, 2008 at 8:40 am
But without having to play tougher opposition regularly, once we get to those tournaments we won’t know how to handle it. The fact that Paraguay, Peru, Ecuador, etc. are pretty strong programs isn’t detrimental to Brazil or Argentina, is it?
July 27th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
fine, i guess that’s a fair point, but I don’t want it to come to a point where Canada is knocking us out of Gold Cup’s, and World qualifying. That is a bad bad thing. Competition is good, but I still want to be a dominate force in Concacaf. I’m just against investing there because the goal of MLS is to improve American soccer. I really want them to stick to their mission. I’m all for a team in the Southeast and then a team in Portland. once the league is at 20, i think we can look at adding a team in Canada.
July 27th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
I think expansion in Canada isn’t a bad thing. I agree with Ryan, but also, more exposure everywhere is also a goal of MLS, and to have more teams in Canada will do that. Also, if their support is as strong as Toronto’s is, that will bring more casual fans who keep up with the EPL and other leagues around the world into the mix, because they will see that the MLS is passionate too. This could also lead to more players sticking with soccer instead of going to other sports. They will see rabid fan support (which will hopefully spread to the entire league) and they will want to stay with it. Canada is a good idea. and I think that having Steve Nash have a team in Vancouver (?, I think its Vancouver) that will make more people notice the league. I also think Atlanta is a good choice. The SE needs a team.
July 27th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
South east needs a team and that has to be dealt with. I just think that there are a lot of great US cities ready to embrace a team and we should go for them first. unfortunately, it looks as if MLS is very interested in going to Canada so we will be getting at least one new canadian team. I think Portland and Atlanta are two great choices and then the next two teams can be St. Louis and vancouver, for 2012.
July 27th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
I think all the indications are that St. Louis is next in line. I thought Philadelphia was pretty high on the pecking order too. I’m ready for a team in Atlanta though, Columbus is just too far for me to make games.