Sempuukyaku Posted April 7, 2005 Share Posted April 7, 2005 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A32575-2005Apr6.html quote:Garber was in Toronto on Tuesday to meet with representatives of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, owner of the NHL Maple Leafs as well as the NBA Raptors, about placing an expansion team there in 2007. "We're making progress," he said. A source close to the situation said that, if Toronto's new stadium proposal is finalized, the deal is "a slam dunk." If the stadium goes down (which I predict it will, without problems), welcome to MLS! [8D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted April 7, 2005 Share Posted April 7, 2005 Interesting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gian-Luca Posted April 7, 2005 Share Posted April 7, 2005 That part sounds promising, but I was already under the impression that everything with the stadium was finalized already. What else still needs to be done? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaydog2006 Posted April 7, 2005 Share Posted April 7, 2005 There is a small issue with the stadium.The group that is behind this expected to get help from the gov they will still get some help but not what they first thought.So some how they have to raise the rest on there own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
River City Posted April 18, 2005 Share Posted April 18, 2005 By GEORGE GROSS, TORONTO SUN THOUGH THE Maple Leafs are on ice and the Raptors will be after this week, the braintrust at Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment Ltd. is exploring new avenues. MLSEL is preparing to invest a minimum of $10 million in order to obtain a franchise in the American-run Major League Soccer with headquarters in New York. BILLIONAIRES ON BOARD This soccer organization has such billionaires on board as Philip Anschutz and Lamar Hunt who, between them, control eight of the MLS' 12 clubs, but promised to reduce their holdings. "Everybody is talking soccer these days," said Richard Peddie, president and CEO of MLSEL. "Of course, the people are interested only in a major-league soccer operation. "We have done a lot of research on it and came up with positive results. But what the people want is good, not average, soccer. We are looking at putting a team into the MLS, but we are not rushing it." Don Garber, commissioner of Major League Soccer who came to MLS from the NFL's marketing department five years ago, is aware of MLSEL's interest in a franchise. "We have decided to expand by two teams in 2007," Garber said. "We met several times with MLSEL executives and we are impressed with their approach to business, sponsorship, promotion and we will continue to talk to them. "As for the franchise fees, it used to be $10 million, but the Chives USA team had to pay $25 million as the second Los Angeles team, which includes territorial rights. As far as Toronto's MLSEL people are concerned, they're a solid group." MLS operates in a unique way which MLSEL may find strange. The league owns and distributes all the players and handles all the players' contracts, as well as the advertising and promotions. These are arrangements Peddie and the Teachers' Pension Fund will have to accept. However, MLSEL should have no difficulty getting used to the new 25,000-seat stadium on York University's lands. Should MLSEL decide to take the plunge into pro soccer, It also may have to find a way to appease the existing three Canadian pro teams in the United Soccer league --Toronto Lynx, Vancouver Whitecaps and Montreal Impact, last season's league champions. "These three teams have done an excellent job promoting soccer," said Dick Howard, a former pro goalkeeper for such teams as the Toronto Metros and Detroit Cougars. Howard is now a member of FIFA's technical committee and a consultant to the Lynx. The Lynx people are concerned not only about another pro team coming to Toronto, but also about the future of the fine Lady Lynx squad that includes several national team players on the roster. This is quite significant because 40% of all registered players in Ontario are females. Is there any way the future soccer Leafs and the Lynx could co-exist? "I can see the two groups working together even if the Leafs might view the Lynx as their farm team," Howard said. "There is hope, though, the MLS might consider franchises for Vancouver and Montreal. After all, in the former North American Soccer League we had three teams from Canada." For his part, Garber has no problems with further expansion to Canada. "The possible arrival of the Maple Leafs does not preclude additional expansion to Canada. We are anxious to build up the sport in North America." CAN CARRY TWO TEAMS I did explain to the commissioner that Toronto could easily carry two teams. Back in the early 1960s, the Eastern Canada Professional Soccer League featured two Toronto teams --Toronto Italia and Toronto City with Sir Stanley Matthews, Johnny Haynes, Tommy Younger and Danny Blanchflower just to name a few. Small wonder that the matches attracted up to 21,000 fans to Varsity Stadium. At any rate, it would be nice to hear the chant of "Go Leafs Go" for a Toronto team that's not on ice -- no pun intended. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gian-Luca Posted April 18, 2005 Share Posted April 18, 2005 quote:Originally posted by River City By GEORGE GROSS, TORONTO SUN "These three teams have done an excellent job promoting soccer," said Dick Howard Well, two of them have at least. No prizes for figuring out which one is the exception. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T5 Posted April 23, 2005 Share Posted April 23, 2005 quote:Originally posted by Gian-Luca That part sounds promising, but I was already under the impression that everything with the stadium was finalized already. What else still needs to be done? According to the Argos, there's a hiccup. Article in National Post this morning: Argos consider remaining downtown Toronto's long-discussed, never-built 25,000-seat outdoor stadium has run into a potential wrecking ball before the first shovel of dirt has been moved." Evidently Argos were promissed "free rent" to stay where they are. MLS franchise? Stadium at York? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Posted April 23, 2005 Share Posted April 23, 2005 Yeah, look at the other section of the forum, it's discussed (yelled about, more like). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbailey62 Posted April 23, 2005 Share Posted April 23, 2005 quote:Originally posted by T5 According to the Argos, there's a hiccup. Article in National Post this morning: Argos consider remaining downtown Toronto's long-discussed, never-built 25,000-seat outdoor stadium has run into a potential wrecking ball before the first shovel of dirt has been moved." Evidently Argos were promissed "free rent" to stay where they are. MLS franchise? Stadium at York? It is a huge disappointment. If, as the floating rumours are implying, that Rogers is buying into the club plus giving it a rent-free deal at the Rogers Centre, it will be tough for Sokolski and Cynamon to turn down. The question is whether or not the project can stay alive in some form. Could MLSE and their MLS flirtation become concrete with MLSE becoming an investor in a new stadium project if it were to further their MLS ambitions? db Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
farpost Posted April 25, 2005 Share Posted April 25, 2005 if an mls team came to canada that would be absolutely huge for csa. would there be a rule on a certain amount of canadians on the team, just like there has to be americans on the states? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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