[nas] Expansion banter

11.     Coming soon: an MLS franchise in your city?

By Sean Wheelock
FOX Sports World - Friday, September 19, 2003

As Major League Soccer nears the post-season, the topic of expansion is
getting more play. It's now old news that MLS wants to add two new clubs
by
the start of the 2005 season. 
Announced at the time of this year's MLS All-Star game, the first
expansion
side will be operated by the ownership group of venerable Mexican First
Division club Chivas. Their likely home is San Diego and Qualcomm
Stadium,
just a short hop over the U.S.-Mexico border. The Chivas group is anxious
to
get the team in kit for next season, and we're likely to see them in
2004.

As for the second expansion team, a number of cities have interest:
Tulsa,
Philadelphia, Oklahoma City, Portland, Seattle, Cleveland, San Antonio,
Houston, Milwaukee, Atlanta, Rochester, somewhere on Long Island, NY,
Salt
Lake City, and Toronto.

I've seen this list, more or less, for over two years now. Funny thing
is,
San Diego wasn't even a remote possibility until this Chivas situation
arose. So don't be surprised by whichever city is ultimately selected.
Many
factors are at play. All of us who support MLS want the league to expand;
at
least I do. There's no downside as long as the cities and the ownership
groups support their clubs, the team gets a proper stadium (preferably, a
brand new soccer specific one). 

The league needs to be bigger; I don't think anyone would argue that.
There
are certainly plenty of quality players, both in the US and abroad, who
could easily fill the squads. The question becomes one of where to
expand.
First, a caveat. Eventually I'd like to see MLS comprised of 20 clubs,
using
a single table, 38-match schedule identical to that of the English
Premiership. But that will require slow steady growth. With that in mind,
I
won't denigrate any expansion candidate. 

If a city is even considered for expansion, I'm thrilled. It shows
reflects
greater interest in MLS and soccer in general. Several cities on the
above
list could make for good MLS hosts.

That said, here's my less-than-obvious choice for the next MLS franchise:
Toronto. The first question many of you will ask is What about FIFA? Will
they allow the American First Division to spill out of its borders? My
answer is yes, they will.

One, there are precedents in North America, namely the late NASL and the
A-League, which next season is set to expand to a fifth Canadian city
(Edmonton). 

Two, FIFA allows transnational leagues in other parts of the world. The
Australian First Division, includes the Auckland (NZ) Kingz. And English
football contains three clubs based in Wales. 

And three, does anyone really believe that FIFA is going to block the
progress of soccer in the US and Canada? There is nothing for FIFA to
gain
by obstructing. So, then, why Toronto and why Canada? 

Toronto is the only Canadian city to show any serious interest obtaining
an
MLS franchise. An unidentified wealthy Canadian already has contacted
both
MLS and the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) on this account. 

Soccer interest is serious enough that the CSA would soon like to begin
construction on a 30,000 seat soccer-specific venue in Toronto to be used
as
the National Stadium for Canada, and which one could reasonably assume,
might attract and house an MLS club. An owner, plans for a new stadium,
and
proven fan support. Put Toronto in the U.S., and it would be the clear
frontrunner for MLS expansion. 

And why Canada? If Toronto were to receive an MLS franchise, the league's
rules governing foreign players rules currently in place could still
apply.
Except in this case, non-Canadians, including U.S. citizens, would be the
foreign players. 

If so, the Toronto squad would likely feature top Canadian internationals
such as Jason DeVos, Paul Pescosolido, David Xausa, Kevin McKenna, Lars
Hirschfeld, and the promising young midfielder Rob Friend. Not only would
this be Toronto's team, it would be Canada's team, driving interest in
the
rapidly growing Canadian fan base. 

When I interviewed MLS Commissioner Don Garber on MLS Wrap, during
All-Star
Weekend, I asked him about Toronto. He said that the city is on the list
of
cities being considered, and that he didn't for see a problem with FIFA
in
regards to crossing the U.S.-Canadian border. Toronto might not be the
obvious choice for MLS expansion, but it might be the best one. Coupled
with
the new Chivas of San Diego, a Toronto club gives the league a true North
American feel. 

As evidence, look to history and the success of the NASL in the city. And
look to the future as to how crossing the Canadian border could both
enhance
MLS. A new stadium, a local owner, outstanding supporters, and a highly
skilled squad would combine to make Toronto the perfect choice for MLS in
2005.


12.     MLS needs to come to San Diego - Quinn

By Chris Bergin
USSoccerUK.com - Friday, September 19, 2003

San Diego Sockers general manager and head coach Brian Quinn believes
MLS'
highly likely "return" to the Californian city has been a long time
coming,
but aired caution on the timescale and marketing approach of Jorge
Vergara's
prospective club. 

The Chivas owner has formally submitted the paperwork to enter a newly
expanded MLS team into the League, housed at Qualcomm Stadium, in time
for
the beginning of the 2004 season, which would see a return to
professional
top flight football in the city for the first time since their NASL days.

And while Quinn welcomes the expected expansion team, he echoed recent
comments made by Chicago Fire general manager Peter Wilt over the amount
of
time required to structure a new top flight team infrastructure.

"San Diego, in my opinion, is one of the major centres of soccer in the
country," noted Quinn. "I think for MLS to succeed they have to have an
MLS
team here eventually. The only negative is that they are hoping to start
next year and there may just not be a lot of time to put the
infrastructure
in place by 2004, so it may be better for them to hang off for a year."

The Sockers, of the Major Indoor Soccer League, have 20 years of
experience
in San Diego, surviving through the barren patches in the history of US
soccer, leading to their undoubted resource that Vergara and his team
would
be well advised to tap into.

"We would certainly explore (working with Vergara's staff) because if you
look at the way the leagues are structured now there is very little
overlap
in the seasons," added Quinn. "So if we were approached we would sit down
and meet with them. 

"But the real big plus is that we have is that we have been ingrained
here
for 20 years as far as understanding the soccer community, and I think we
could be a big help to them."

Quinn - who hails from Belfast, Northern Ireland, but became a US citizen
in
1991 - has a vast amount of experience at every level of the US game.
Having
amassed 48 caps for the US national team, the former Everton midfielder
also
played in the NASL and in the indoor league, as well as being the
youngest-ever MLS manager with San Jose.

Vergara would do well to note Quinn's thoughts on the local make of
soccer
in San Diego, especially after the Chivas owner continues to note only
the
major influence of marketing towards the Hispanic community.

"I think you need to approach San Diego as a whole, and then tailor your
marketing to the Hispanic community - which is fantastic and I don't have
an
issue with that - but I think you shouldn't exclude the core population,"
added Quinn. "People who have been involved with soccer here for the past
25
years, people who have supported all the leagues, with the Sockers, with
the
A-League team, women's team. 

"Whatever is going on there are soccer fans in San Diego and you should
tap
into that resource, opposed to just streamlining to just one distinctive
group."

With the new MLS team becoming the second soccer team in San Diego, Quinn
also noted the possibilities of working together on the field, with the
potential of loan deals for developing MLS players in the city.

"I think the way we would approach that is along the lines of young
players
who need the experience in playing with good players that come into our
league," he noted. "I think it would be more difficult for more
established
players - or "star" players, but we could afford opportunities to young
players because the competition in the MISL is very good."

MLS are primed to announce San Diego as a new league team, with a
ratifying
of Vergara's plans now in the hands of MLS' board of governors. 

Should San Diego enter in 2004, MLS will still expand in 2005, with
Cleveland now leading the race to join next.

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