Financial uncertainty has prompted Liverpool owner George Gillett to withdraw his bid for a Montreal team to join Major League Soccer, the league said Friday, boosting the chances of a Miami franchise backed by Barcelona.
"They're out for the next round of expansion,'' MLS commissioner Don Garber said.”I don't think it's gone forever but it's gone for now.''
The withdrawal leaves Atlanta, Miami, St. Louis, Vancouver, Ottawa and Portland, Oregon as the cities bidding to be among two yet-to-be-announced teams in the MLS expansion from the current 14 teams to 18. Seattle will join the league next year, and Philadelphia in 2010.
Garber said Montreal's bid team - led by Gillett and Joey Saputo who founded the Montreal Impact team in North American football's second tier - had informed him within the past week of possible trouble.
"Montreal has had to evaluate what kinds of private capital they needed to refinance their stadium to fund the expansion fee, and what kind of public support would be available,'' Garber said. "I'm not sure they were able to come to terms in this economic environment.''
Financial considerations had also prevented Liverpool from making a long-delayed move to a new stadium, while some fans had agitated for American co-owners Gillett and Tom Hicks to stand aside and allow a takeover by a Dubai-based company.
Garber spoke positively about the Miami bid, which is supported by Spanish Liga giant Barcelona. The Miami Fusion played in MLS from 1998 to 2001 before disbanding.
"If we go back to Miami, we'd better be sure we get it right,'' Garber said.”Barcelona could make investments in lots of different countries. But they believe in this country and in developing the sport here.''
Garber spoke positively about Ottawa and Vancouver's bids, while remaining cautious about further expansion in Canada after 2006's inclusion of Toronto.
"We don't have a lot of commercial businesses in Canada today. The more teams we add there, the more it takes away out from growing our footprint and our television ratings in the United States.''
Garber said the possibility of having a potential rivalry between neighboring Portland, Seattle and Vancouver was intriguing.
"We believe in this conference-rivalry concept,'' he said.
In other news, Garber said that the reserve division would be eliminated and each team would be able to carry 18, 19 or 20 senior players on its roster. Teams could have many as four developmental players. No new quota on international players was announced.
Each team will play a 30-game schedule in 2009, taking on every other team in a home-and-away format, with two extra games against close conference rivals. For the playoffs, the top two teams from each conference will qualify automatically, followed by four teams with the best records regardless of conference.
"They're out for the next round of expansion,'' MLS commissioner Don Garber said.”I don't think it's gone forever but it's gone for now.''
The withdrawal leaves Atlanta, Miami, St. Louis, Vancouver, Ottawa and Portland, Oregon as the cities bidding to be among two yet-to-be-announced teams in the MLS expansion from the current 14 teams to 18. Seattle will join the league next year, and Philadelphia in 2010.
Garber said Montreal's bid team - led by Gillett and Joey Saputo who founded the Montreal Impact team in North American football's second tier - had informed him within the past week of possible trouble.
"Montreal has had to evaluate what kinds of private capital they needed to refinance their stadium to fund the expansion fee, and what kind of public support would be available,'' Garber said. "I'm not sure they were able to come to terms in this economic environment.''
Financial considerations had also prevented Liverpool from making a long-delayed move to a new stadium, while some fans had agitated for American co-owners Gillett and Tom Hicks to stand aside and allow a takeover by a Dubai-based company.
Garber spoke positively about the Miami bid, which is supported by Spanish Liga giant Barcelona. The Miami Fusion played in MLS from 1998 to 2001 before disbanding.
"If we go back to Miami, we'd better be sure we get it right,'' Garber said.”Barcelona could make investments in lots of different countries. But they believe in this country and in developing the sport here.''
Garber spoke positively about Ottawa and Vancouver's bids, while remaining cautious about further expansion in Canada after 2006's inclusion of Toronto.
"We don't have a lot of commercial businesses in Canada today. The more teams we add there, the more it takes away out from growing our footprint and our television ratings in the United States.''
Garber said the possibility of having a potential rivalry between neighboring Portland, Seattle and Vancouver was intriguing.
"We believe in this conference-rivalry concept,'' he said.
In other news, Garber said that the reserve division would be eliminated and each team would be able to carry 18, 19 or 20 senior players on its roster. Teams could have many as four developmental players. No new quota on international players was announced.
Each team will play a 30-game schedule in 2009, taking on every other team in a home-and-away format, with two extra games against close conference rivals. For the playoffs, the top two teams from each conference will qualify automatically, followed by four teams with the best records regardless of conference.
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