Seven submit applications for expansion
MLS President Abbott makes announcement on MLSnet.com
MLS intends to add two more clubs in the next few years, bringing the League to 18 teams. Seattle Sounders FC begin play next year as the 15th team in MLS, and Philadelphia will join in 2010 as the League's 16th team.
The following ownership groups, listed in alphabetical order by market, submitted applications to the MLS office in New York City prior to the League's 5:00 pm ET deadline on Wednesday:
Ownership Group |
Market | ||
| Arthur Blank | Atlanta | ||
| FC Barcelona and Marcelo Claure | Miami | ||
| The Saputo and Gillett Families | Montreal | ||
| Eugene Melnyk | Ottawa | ||
| The Paulson Family | Portland | ||
| Investment group led by Jeff Cooper | St. Louis | ||
| Greg Kerfoot, Steve Nash and Jeff Mallett | Vancouver | ||
The MLS expansion application required prospective owners to provide information such as details about the applicant's proposed ownership group, stadium plan and financing, and an analysis of the potential expansion market.
The applications will be reviewed by the League office and the MLS Expansion Committee. An announcement regarding which markets will receive the next two expansion clubs will take place during the fourth quarter of 2008 or the first quarter of 2009.
An interview with MLS President Mark Abbott regarding the MLS expansion applicants can be found by clicking here.
The League will not conduct media interviews about the expansion applications until after all of them have been reviewed in detail. In the coming weeks, a media teleconference call will be scheduled to answer questions.
The MLS Cup Playoffs begin Oct. 30 and culminate in the championship game, MLS Cup 2008 on Nov. 23 at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., broadcast live on ABC and TeleFutura at 12:30 p.m. ET.
About Major League Soccer
Headquartered in New York City, Major League Soccer is the top-flight professional soccer league in the United States and features many stars from the U.S. and around the world. Now in its 13th season, the 14 teams in MLS are: the Chicago Fire, Colorado Rapids, Chivas USA, Columbus Crew, D.C. United, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, Kansas City Wizards, Los Angeles Galaxy, New York Red Bulls, New England Revolution, Real Salt Lake, San Jose Earthquakes and Toronto FC. Seattle Sounders FC will join the League in 2009 and a Philadelphia expansion team will debut in 2010. For more information about MLS, log on to the League's official Web site at www.MLSnet.com.
