Mimglow Posted July 14, 2004 Share Posted July 14, 2004 Just took a look at the www.mlsnet.com site, and they have a "Very special Announcenment" to make from Salt Lake City at 1pm eastern. Hadn't heard Salt Lake as a possible expansion site before. Comments? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mimglow Posted July 14, 2004 Author Share Posted July 14, 2004 It's official. http://www.mlsnet.com/MLS/news/mls_news.jsp?ymd=20040714&content_id=8211&vkey=news_mls&fext=.jsp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Concacaf Posted July 14, 2004 Share Posted July 14, 2004 I haven't been following the MLS expansion news that closely recently, but I never saw this coming. I thought they were expanding to Oklahoma City? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew W Posted July 14, 2004 Share Posted July 14, 2004 Makes for more suspense this way. Have to admire the SLC bid group for flying under the radar for the most part. Expansion may mean more opportunity for Canadian players (such as Josh Simpson, next year being his draft year). However can't feel that the product is/will be diluted. I think they are pushing the limits already with American talent. Have also read several columns by American soccer pundits who believe the league's US talent is becoming too diluted. C'mon SLC, think Canadian. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jeffery S. Posted July 14, 2004 Share Posted July 14, 2004 I think it is a low blow to Seattle. What happens is a city with no tradition and no decent team looks better in their proposal just because there is no existing reality to be criticized or doubted. Perfect bid on a clean slate theory. At least SLC is a solid sports town, hopefully they'll be able to get more out than San José. Are they going to a silly entry draft from unprotected players from the other teams? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RS Posted July 14, 2004 Share Posted July 14, 2004 quote:Originally posted by Jeffrey S. I think it is a low blow to Seattle. Seattle is the front runner for a team in 2006, with Rochester rumoured to be the second club to join that season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beachesl Posted July 15, 2004 Share Posted July 15, 2004 The other team awarded for 2005, "Chivas USA", is strongly rumoured to be heading to Home Depot Centre (share with Galaxy) as a second LA area team. The reasoning is that the rivalry and the extra latino fans will exponentially increase the gates and other financial bonuses of both clubs. Nothing has been announced, but Chicago (2nd club), Houston, San Antonio and San Diego are still supposed to be "in the running". I think Houston would be the only other viable option at this time for Chivas. Wonder how they'll divide the league up? Three divisions? (East: NY, NEngland, Washington, Columbus ; Central: Denver, Chicago, Kansas City, Salt Lake City ; West: LA Galaxy, LA Chivas, San Jose, Dallas, with top 2 and 2 wild cards for the playoffs?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew W Posted July 15, 2004 Share Posted July 15, 2004 quote:Originally posted by Jeffrey S. Are they going to a silly entry draft from unprotected players from the other teams? Yup, the expansion draft will be soon after MLS Cup. From what I read in the stories, the team will have a name and colours by August, a coaching staff by late September and its first players by late November. It will be interesting to see how players are protected. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew W Posted July 15, 2004 Share Posted July 15, 2004 quote:Originally posted by beachesl The other team awarded for 2005, "Chivas USA", is strongly rumoured to be heading to Home Depot Centre (share with Galaxy) as a second LA area team. The reasoning is that the rivalry and the extra latino fans will exponentially increase the gates and other financial bonuses of both clubs. Nothing has been announced, but Chicago (2nd club), Houston, San Antonio and San Diego are still supposed to be "in the running". I think Houston would be the only other viable option at this time for Chivas. Wonder how they'll divide the league up? Three divisions? (East: NY, NEngland, Washington, Columbus ; Central: Denver, Chicago, Kansas City, Salt Lake City ; West: LA Galaxy, LA Chivas, San Jose, Dallas, with top 2 and 2 wild cards for the playoffs?) You can't help but think that the second team in LA is not only an attempt to capture Mexican-Americans but to maybe cover for the loss of San Jose to Rochester or some other location out of the western conference. Adding two expansion teams in the west further adds to the possibility if the league looks to maintain its two-conference alignment. So, if San Jose moves to Philly or Rochester (as some have rumoured on other boards) it leaves the conferences in perfect alignment of six each. I think three divisions of four teams leaves too much variation come playoff time and with 12 teams, a single table format makes no sense unless the league wants to play 44 games. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoyleG Posted July 15, 2004 Share Posted July 15, 2004 quote:Originally posted by Joe Concacaf I haven't been following the MLS expansion news that closely recently, but I never saw this coming. I thought they were expanding to Oklahoma City? OKC fell off the radar when they couldn't get the funding needed for the stadium. Cleveland was in the running as well until the guy who pushed it died. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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