MLS commissioner to meet with MLSE [Archive]

Passive Observer

07-27-2005, 02:02 PM

This is what the MLS Commish said today about expansion:

Don Garber: (2:58 PM ET ) 2007 is are target for our next round of expansion with Toronto the frontrunning city. I am traveling to Toronto tomorrow for a meeting with the Maple Leafs board where we hope to get one step closer to finalize a deal in that city. We're still working hard on finalizing the second team, no city leading the pack at this point. Michael, I plan to be with Peter in Milwaukee at some point during the month of August.

http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=8775

Richard

07-27-2005, 02:13 PM

Robert will no doubt be whining soon that the CSA has failed to reveal anything to him about all this which is yet another indicator of the organisation's total incompetence and reason for instant dismaissal of Kevan Pipe and the firing of Andy Sharpe!

Rudi

07-27-2005, 02:23 PM

quote:Originally posted by Richard

Robert will no doubt be whining soon that the CSA has failed to reveal anything to him about all this which is yet another indicator of the organisation's total incompetence and reason for instant dismaissal of Kevan Pipe and the firing of Andy Sharpe!

Although you are probably correct, I don't see the point of posting something like this.

It borders on baiting, something that Robert does not need as motivation.

Free kick

07-27-2005, 02:23 PM

Sounds like great news, but just to sure, is that article current dated?

Varsity Tyler

07-27-2005, 02:23 PM

That's some pretty huge, and fairly unexpected news. I don't think many people in Toronto thought that the chance of MLS here was that great given the recent stadium collapse.

Well, they'll need a place to play. Here's hoping that we're due for an announcement soon.

Passive Observer

07-27-2005, 02:30 PM

quote:Originally posted by Free kick

Sounds like great news, but just to sure, is that article current dated?

It's a live chat that was done today! (July 27)

Massive Attack

07-27-2005, 02:32 PM

Actually, the chat is still ongoing.

Gian-Luca

07-27-2005, 02:35 PM

Here's another question & answer from that chat that should be of interest:

Bob (Cleveland, OH): I cannot understand adding a team outside of a team outside of the US. Why add a team in Toronto? Why not add a team in Mexico? How would this impact international player limits? What are the pros and cons over the long haul of Toronto over a US city?

Don Garber: (3:21 PM ET ) Great question, Bob. It starts with the three pillars for successful expansion --- Ownership, Stadium and Market. Mexico has it's own first division pro league, which rules out expansion for us there. Clearly, we hope to continue expansion successfully in the U.S. as well. As it relates to international rules, it is likely that a domestic player will be Canadian and a foreign player will be non-Canadian.

Gian-Luca

07-27-2005, 02:36 PM

That thing I just posted suggests that the three pillars are to be in place in Toronto soon (or else why finalize a deal there tomorrow?). We know about ownership & market, but that third pillar....

Massive Attack

07-27-2005, 02:39 PM

As it relates to international rules, it is likely that a domestic player will be Canadian and a foreign player will be non-Canadian.

Sorry, I just needed to do that. Where are DoyleG and Luis and all the other non-believers now?

Breakwood

07-27-2005, 02:40 PM

Hopefully this is some good news, but if being a Soccer fan in Canada has taught me anything its not to hold my breath.

Passive Observer

07-27-2005, 02:40 PM

Gian-Luca

07-27-2005, 02:45 PM

quote:Originally posted by Massive Attack
[Sorry, I just needed to do that. Where are DoyleG and Luis and all the other non-believers now?

Last I heard, DoyleG was made a moderator of the Canadian forum on bigsoccer.com.

Elias

07-27-2005, 02:49 PM

Free kick

07-27-2005, 02:51 PM

quote:Originally posted by Massive Attack

As it relates to international rules, it is likely that a domestic player will be Canadian and a foreign player will be non-Canadian.

Sorry, I just needed to do that. Where are DoyleG and Luis and all the other non-believers now?

I never took that argument seriously after I posted a response ( when the thought first surfaced)that it was a rediculous notion to begin with. I stopped bothering after that. To suggest that Canadian players would be treated as forienger to begin with is not even worth debating.

Rudi

07-27-2005, 03:13 PM

quote:Originally posted by Elias

That rule is for the Mexican team.

Besides, he said "likely". Phsss.

What Mexican team?

If you mean Chivas USA, they are subject to the exact same rules as the rest of the teams.

denis

07-27-2005, 03:18 PM

In the past I have been pessimistic about the potential benefits of the MLS in Canada, particularly with regards to player development for the MNT. However after seeing how a ULS team like the Impact can contribute to the program, it makes you wonder what a step up in quality, which the MLS team could provide, would do.

Elias

07-27-2005, 03:26 PM

quote:Originally posted by Rudi

quote:Originally posted by Elias

That rule is for the Mexican team.

Besides, he said "likely". Phsss.

What Mexican team?

If you mean Chivas USA, they are subject to the exact same rules as the rest of the teams.

The question where that answer is from, the guy asked why not expand to Mexico. I was just being stupid. And now I can't login and change it.

redhat

07-27-2005, 03:27 PM

Good news. I just hope it gets finalized, including the stadium.
As for the player quotas, ownership group, and how it benefits Toronto
and Canada, well I suppose the details are yet to be announced ...

A Toronto team would be a plus for the MLS, as would the marketing possibilities.

(edited for spelling)

dbailey62

07-27-2005, 05:44 PM

quote:Originally posted by Massive Attack

As it relates to international rules, it is likely that a domestic player will be Canadian and a foreign player will be non-Canadian.

It's just bloody common sense isn't it!

db

zacRWE

07-27-2005, 07:51 PM

i am simply perplexed! is this a dream? well I will believe it when i see it, until then...

RealGooner

07-27-2005, 08:40 PM

If Mr Garber is coming to Toronto tomorrow, it will be perfect timing for an announcement on a new stadium, which the CSA promised for the end of July.

Cheeta

07-27-2005, 08:58 PM

All in all what's the worse that could happen?

MLSE could loose a **** pile of money? Nope. Can't see that as being a negative.

MLS is a success in Toronto, the league makes money, and MLSE looks like roses after it's all said in done? Fu'k. That would be hard to take. MNT player development or no.

Anyway, pretty neat. Pipe and Sharpe scouting out Home Depot in LA. Now the MLS commish is going north? Wow. Something smells fishy.

Passive Observer

07-27-2005, 09:10 PM

quote:Originally posted by Cheeta

All in all what's the worse that could happen?

MLSE could loose a **** pile of money? Nope. Can't see that as being a negative.

MLS is a success in Toronto, the league makes money, and MLSE looks like roses after it's all said in done? Fu'k. That would be hard to take. MNT player development or no.

Anyway, pretty neat. Pipe and Sharpe scouting out Home Depot in LA. Now the MLS commish is going north? Wow. Something smells fishy.

Think there are three great developments that will happen with MLS:

1) Toronto will definitely have a soccer centric stadium (MLS will demand it), thus Canadian soccer will finally have a home

2) Montreal and Vancouver will be envious of Toronto and will feel pressured to make the step up to MLS

3) As someone else mentioned: instead of half the national team playing in the USL (US second division), they will be playing in the MLS (US first division)

I don't see how this "hurts" Canadian soccer in anyway.

Jason

07-27-2005, 09:13 PM

I was never a big booster of the MLS coming to Toronto, but I'm starting to think there isn't a lot to be lost by it happening. The Impact and Whitecaps will likely be unaffected (except for a few player losses).

As for the import requirement, the way described by Garber only makes sense. It's how they do it in the USL D1. By the way, I doubt Canadian labour laws would ever allow a rule preventing Canadians from getting jobs over foreigners.

Let's hope for the best...

Jason

Johnnie Monster

07-27-2005, 10:49 PM

Here's how Garber's meeting in Toronto unfolded:

MLSE wanks: "Good morning Mr. Garber!"

Garber: "So... which one of you fancy lads is Greg Kerfoot?"

Long uncomfortable silence....

MLSE wank: "Uhhh, Mr. Kerfoot is in Vancouver."

Long uncomfortable silence....

Garber: "So... can anyone give me a lift to the airport?"

Free kick

07-28-2005, 09:19 AM

Perhaps. But I doubt that the guys at MLSE have ever heard of Greg Kerfoot.

Gordon

07-28-2005, 09:47 AM

:D I know you're responding to Johhnie's jibes in kind, but if MLSE have never heard of Greg Kerfoot, then they are about the last people in the world who should be running Toronto's MLS bid.

River City

07-28-2005, 10:16 AM

Hey guys, I think we should stop this thread right now. Being a bit superstitious and all, I don't think we should be tempting fate like those fans who start talking shutout at halftime. ;)

Gian-Luca

07-28-2005, 10:52 AM

Took me a while to find this thread since it got moved. Article in the Toronto Star today mentions nothing about MLS (I don't expect the Star to be that on the ball with this stuff so that's okay) but does mention that the stadium, assuming the feds give the money they previously pledged, will go to the Ex, which is I think is probably what the MLSE would want in terms of location to place an MLS team, and I suspect they may have had some say in it. Put a team in Toronto & Vancouver in the new stadiums and we'll be laughing (not just for the club scene but for the national team) - get a third in Montreal with their new stadium and we'll have died and gone to heaven (while laughing).

Now, about that half-time shut-out........

hamiltonfan

07-28-2005, 10:58 AM

or could we have died from laughing so hard??:D

I would LOVE to see this happen. Keep your fingures crossed

Free kick

07-28-2005, 11:04 AM

quote:Originally posted by Gordon

:D I know you're responding to Johhnie's jibes in kind, but if MLSE have never heard of Greg Kerfoot, then they are about the last people in the world who should be running Toronto's MLS bid.

It was a joke on my part. Well, partly. Excuse my ignorance but I am familiar with seagate software as I have used Crystal reports in the past. In fact, just as I type this post, on my desk to the immediate right is a Crystal reports manual from seagate software Info mgmt group, 1095 west pender str, Vancouver BC, V6E 2M6.

Its just that some of other threads that I have been reading would suggest that Greg Kerfoot is some sort of icon of the canadian establishment. A successfull business man? sure. a godsend for canadian soccer? absolutely. wealthy? no doubt. But unless I have misread something, there are many successfull It startups from the high tech boom of the 90's that are still around. Its just that I don't believe that he or they is in the stratosphere of the canadian business establishment that some on the board would suggest. Were it not for my interest in canadian soccer, I might never have heard of him. Yet I read the business pages fairly regularly.

Gordon

07-28-2005, 11:54 AM

quote:Originally posted by Free kick

It was a joke on my part. Well, partly. Excuse my ignorance but I am familiar with seagate software as I have used Crystal reports in the past. In fact, just as I type this post, on my desk to the immediate right is a Crystal reports manual from seagate software Info mgmt group, 1095 west pender str, Vancouver BC, V6E 2M6.

Its just that some of other threads that I have been reading would suggest that Greg Kerfoot is some sort of icon of the canadian establishment. A successfull business man? sure. a godsend for canadian soccer? absolutely. wealthy? no doubt. But unless I have misread something, there are many successfull It startups from the high tech boom of the 90's that are still around. Its just that I don't believe that he or they is in the stratosphere of the canadian business establishment that some on the board would suggest. Were it not for my interest in canadian soccer, I might never have heard of him. Yet I read the business pages fairly regularly.

Same boat here Freekick. Used his software, but had he not bought the Whitecaps, I wouldn't know who he is. I don't know that he is any kind of Icon other than having successfully made several hundred million dollars. Which strikes me as pretty Iconic, but he seems a guy who values his privacy. The only reason I can be pretty definite in my opionion that the guys at MLSE know who he is is because they are competent businessmen, and would have done their due diligence in examining the whole MLS franchise concept, which includes a look at the soccer landscape in Canada generally, which necessarily leads to Kerfoot.

Alberto7

07-28-2005, 12:12 PM

With Rochester about to complete construction on a new stadium, I don't understand why MLS would be interested in having Toronto where NOTHING has been built to date. This seems a little like last year when all people talked about was that Seattle was a shoe-in and at the last minute Salt Lake comes out of nowhere to get the expansion team. I sure hope this isn't one of those smoke-screen tricks and Toronto gets shafted in the end.

Alberto7

07-28-2005, 12:12 PM

SeanKeay

07-28-2005, 12:56 PM

Its because Rochester is topping out @ 11,000 people every year, and that i think its peaked. Where as toronto has millions of people to follow soccer with a billion dollar sports corp on there side.

Johnnie Monster

07-28-2005, 03:16 PM

Kerfoot's main business these days is the Whitecaps.

He sits on the board of a number of agencies, including the soon to be constructed Sea To Sky University ("Sea To Sky" ties in to Vancouver's 2010 Olympics).

Also served on the Premier's Technology Council in BC.

Now he's living the good life... owns a place in Whistler with a private hockey rink, plus a place in Kelowna.

River City

07-28-2005, 07:58 PM

Just copied and pasted this off of the Yahoo sports page.

If MLS keeps going like this, they'll no longer be a money losing proposition for two guys....they'll spread the losses evenly.

MLS's DC United sold to local investors

By Joel Rothstein

WASHINGTON, July 28 (Reuters) - DC United has been sold by Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) to a group comprising local investors and the club's president, the Major League Soccer champion said on Thursday.

United president and CEO Kevin Payne and Washington area businessmen Willi Lauterbach and Tim Kissler paid AEG, a company controlled by billionaire Philip Anschutz, an estimated $20 million for the team's operating rights, according to the Washington Post.

ADVERTISEMENT

While DC United did not reveal the sale price, it said in a statement that the amount was the largest yet paid for an MLS franchise.

Under the MLS ownership structure, investors purchase an interest in the league and then retain operating rights for individual teams.

AEG, controlled by the Denver, Colorado-based Anschutz Corp., also owns the rights to Major League Soccer franchises in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Jose, California.

Later on Thursday DC United were due to host English champions Chelsea in a World Series of Football match in suburban Washington D.C.

The match marks the first time the reigning champions of the Major League Soccer and the English Premier League have played one another.

Metro

07-29-2005, 09:07 AM

quote:Originally posted by River City

Hey guys, I think we should stop this thread right now. Being a bit superstitious and all, I don't think we should be tempting fate like those fans who start talking shutout at halftime. ;)

...or a about a stadium being built at York University. (Sorry, couldn't resist [8D])

Passive Observer

07-29-2005, 01:10 PM

Garber in his All Star game speech said that he met with MLSE last night. Then went on to say for 14th team the possible candidates are Cleveland, St. Louis, etc.

Guess it means that Toronto is the 13th team! (MLS currently has 12 teams for those who do not follow it)

Ivan

07-29-2005, 01:46 PM

He could mean San Antonio as No. 13. They were "confirmed" for 2006, I thought.

Signed Devil's Advocate.

L.T.

07-29-2005, 03:21 PM

San Antonio dropped out a few months ago.

Signed Optimist.

Rudi

07-29-2005, 03:27 PM

quote:Originally posted by River City

If MLS keeps going like this, they'll no longer be a money losing proposition for two guys....they'll spread the losses evenly.

MLS has done a good job lately of spreading the ownership around (relatively speaking).

Their current list of owners is as follows:
MetroStars - AEG
DC United - Willi Lauterbach and Tim Kissler
Chicago - AEG (on the block as well, and with a new stadium opening next year a very attractive club)
San Jose - AEG (rumoured to be bought out by Club America very soon)
LA Galaxy - AEG
Chivas USA - Jorge Vergara
Colorado Rapids - Stan Kroenke
FC Dallas - HSG
Columbus Crew - HSG
KC Wizards - HSG (on the block)
New England - Robert Kraft
Real Salt Lake - Dave Checketts

Gian-Luca

08-02-2005, 12:22 PM

Don't know if anyone has posted this article from two days ago that was in the Toronto Sun. Doesn't say anything new, but its the only Toronto media article I've seen on it:

Sat, July 30, 2005

MLS eyes T.O. team in 2007
By STAFF and AP

THE YEAR 2007 could be a big one for Toronto soccer fans.

Not only will FIFA's world youth championship be played in Toronto and other Canadian cities that year, it could be the inaugural year for a Major League Soccer expansion franchise in Toronto.

Officials of the U.S.-based league were in Toronto on Thursday to discuss a possible franchise here in two years.

"At this point, our efforts have been focused in Toronto," MLS commissioner Don Garber said yesterday on an online chat session in advance of the league's all-star game today.

Garber was responding to a question asked by a Montreal fan concerning MLS interest in his city.

A soccer-specific stadium seating at least 20,000 -- which is the preferred setup for MLS teams -- must be built in time for the world youth event.

Bob Hunter, a senior vice-president for Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd., said earlier this month that MLSEL wants to bring an MLS franchise to the city.