Gian-Luca Posted July 20, 2007 Share Posted July 20, 2007 http://www.rds.ca/impact/chroniques/233131.html A translation of some of the key bits from a poster on bigsoccer.com: "The new stadium to built, which should be ready in 2008 and will host up to 18,000 fans, was an important part in the decision of Richard Legendre to accept the offer." "Saputo and Legendre did not hide their interest to bring the Montreal Impact in MLS ranks in which David Beckham will now play for the Los Angeles Galaxy." "Saputo repeated several time that he had changed his mind about MLS and that every doors were open now that the league was leaving individual team owners act more freely instead of trying to administer everything from the league's offices. However, Saputo reminded people that the Toronto franchise owned exclusive right over the Canadian market for the next 3 years." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jarrek Posted July 20, 2007 Share Posted July 20, 2007 No surprise there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivan Posted July 20, 2007 Share Posted July 20, 2007 Good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Posted July 20, 2007 Share Posted July 20, 2007 Le vendredi 20 juillet 2007 L'Impact en route vers la MLS? Jean-François Bégin La Presse En embauchant hier l'ex-ministre Richard Legendre à titre de vice-président principal, l'Impact de Montréal a franchi une étape importante sur la route qui pourrait le conduire vers la Major League Soccer. La nomination de Legendre, qui a présidé à l'agrandissement du stade du parc Jarry à l'époque où il était à la tête de Tennis Canada, est une prise de taille pour l'Impact, dont le nouveau stade est présentement en construction. «Ma priorité sera de mener à bon port la construction du stade et surtout de faire en sorte de le remplir jusqu'à ce qu'il devienne trop petit et qu'il faille l'agrandir de nouveau», a dit M. Legendre lors d'une conférence téléphonique, hier après-midi. L'ancien joueur de tennis referme la parenthèse politique ouverte en 2001. Il avait alors été élu sous la bannière péquiste, lors d'une élection partielle dans la circonscription de Blainville. Candidat malheureux lors la course à la direction du PQ qui avait couronné André Boisclair, il a été défait aux élections provinciales, le printemps dernier. «Je suis content de ce que j'ai fait au cours des six dernières années, mais le 26 mars, la population m'a dit de faire autre chose. Je suis content de revenir dans le sport, car c'était mon premier choix», a dit M. Legendre. Comme ministre responsable du Loisir et du Sport dans le cabinet de Bernard Landry, Legendre avait participé au sauvetage et à la relance de l'Impact à titre d'organisme sans but lucratif, en 2002. «J'ai vu la façon dont il a mené le dossier de l'Impact et les dossiers de sport en général, a dit le président de l'Impact, Joey Saputo. Il va aider l'Impact et le soccer. C'est la personne idéale pour mener notre sport et notre équipe au prochain niveau.» La tentation de la MLS À en juger par les propos tenus hier par M. Saputo, le prochain niveau, ça risque fort d'être la MLS. La ligue née en 1996 offre le meilleur calibre de soccer professionnel en Amérique du Nord. Elle vient d'accueillir en grande pompe sa première authentique super-star, David Beckham, qui fera demain ses débuts dans l'uniforme du Galaxy de Los Angeles, si sa blessure à une cheville est suffisamment guérie. «Dans le passé, je disais non à la MLS, parce que je n'aimais pas la structure de la ligue. Mais celle-ci est en train de changer et mon opinion change aussi», a indiqué Saputo. Tant mieux. Le succès phénoménal de la Coupe du monde U-20, qui a attiré 240 000 spectateurs au Stade olympique, a prouvé hors de tout doute l'appétit des Montréalais pour du soccer de qualité. Or, disons-le franchement, la première division de l'USL, dont fait partie l'Impact, n'offre pas toujours du soccer de haut vol. Les accros de foot européen diront que la MLS non plus, mais ce serait quand même un net progrès. La MLS compte présentement 13 équipes, dont le Toronto FC. L'équipe de la Ville reine a fait ses débuts cette saison et détient l'exclusivité sur le marché canadien pendant trois saisons. Après cela, tout est possible. «Je ne veux pas dire qu'on va être dans la MLS dans deux, trois ou quatre ans, dit Saputo. Mais on va examiner cette possibilité si c'est intéressant. C'est quelque chose qu'on regarde.» La MLS s'est développée en fonctionnant de manière très centralisée, mais elle offre de plus en plus d'autonomie à ses franchises, selon Saputo. «Si ça continue dans cette direction et que le propriétaire peut plus ou moins décider de la direction de son équipe, on est ouvert.» Cette ouverture nouvelle explique sans doute l'optimisme affiché par un haut gradé de l'Association canadienne de soccer, qui me confiait récemment sa conviction que l'Impact se joindrait à la MLS en 2010. Une conviction renforcée par la construction, à l'ombre de la tour olympique, du stade Saputo, qui doit ouvrir ses portes à temps pour la saison 2008 de l'Impact. Le nouvel amphithéâtre pourra accueillir 13 000 spectateurs, mais il sera possible de faire passer sa capacité à 18 000 sièges, de manière temporaire ou permanente. «À 18 000 sièges, ce serait accepté par la MLS», dit Joey Saputo. À titre de comparaison, le BMO Field, domicile du Toronto FC, compte 20 000 places. Il y a encore beaucoup de fils à attacher avant que la MLS débarque à Montréal. Le succès de foule de l'Impact repose en bonne partie sur des billets peu coûteux qui permettent aux familles d'assister aux matchs. Il faudrait maintenir le plus possible cette accessibilité. Mais ce serait une progression logique pour l'Impact que de passer dans les grandes ligues. Les Raging Rhinos de Rochester ou le Battery de Charleston, c'est bien beau, mais Montréal mérite mieux. Impact international Le succès de la Coupe du monde U-20 a convaincu Joey Saputo qu'il serait viable pour l'Impact de disputer des matchs internationaux pendant la saison morte, à l'automne ou au printemps, contre des clubs mexicains ou sud-américains. Mais pour jouer en avril ou en novembre, il faut jouer à l'intérieur, au Stade olympique. Et pour jouer au Stade, il faut une surface artificielle. L'Impact examine présentement la possibilité d'investir pour garder au Parc olympique la surface synthétique amovible acquise par la Fédération de soccer du Québec en prévision de la Coupe du monde U-20. Cette surface fait présentement l'objet d'un appel d'offres et pourrait être vendue à une municipalité si une entente n'est pas conclue pour qu'elle reste au Stade. La faisabilité d'une telle entente serait plus forte si l'Association canadienne de soccer donnait des garanties que l'équipe nationale disputera plus souvent des matchs à Montréal. «L'Association canadienne a vu qu'un match international à Montréal peut avoir du succès et qu'il n'y a pas qu'Edmonton ou Toronto», dit Joey Saputo. Une histoire à suivre. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juby Posted July 20, 2007 Share Posted July 20, 2007 I'm starting to get excited, could you imagine if we had a few franchises in a sustainable league? If MLS expanded into two leagues above USL we would have some real infrastructure. Could we possibly have more MLS teams than NHL teams? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grizzly Posted July 20, 2007 Share Posted July 20, 2007 This is good news. It also mentions that the Impact are thinking of purchasing the removable artificial turf bought for Olympic stadium (I think they mean the one FIFA didn't apprve) so they could play friendlies against large international clubs at this stadium. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Posted July 20, 2007 Share Posted July 20, 2007 Would large international clubs want to play on artificial turf, let alone one which isn't FIFA-approved? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted July 21, 2007 Share Posted July 21, 2007 How can it not be FIFA approved? The FIFA U20 World Cup was played on it, for crying out loud! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanadianSoccerFan Posted July 21, 2007 Share Posted July 21, 2007 I thought it was going to be grass........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted July 21, 2007 Share Posted July 21, 2007 quote:Originally posted by Cooks How can it not be FIFA approved? The FIFA U20 World Cup was played on it, for crying out loud! He said he thought it was the one that FIFA did NOT approve so it would be the one that was NOT used for the U20 WC games.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RS Posted July 21, 2007 Share Posted July 21, 2007 quote:Originally posted by CanadianSoccerFan I thought it was going to be grass........ It is. They're trying to purchase the artificial turf so they can easily schedule large-scale friendlies at the Big O with Euro clubs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest speedmonk42 Posted July 21, 2007 Share Posted July 21, 2007 quote:Originally posted by Juby I'm starting to get excited, could you imagine if we had a few franchises in a sustainable league? If MLS expanded into two leagues above USL we would have some real infrastructure. Could we possibly have more MLS teams than NHL teams? Three is all we are going to get. If that. Since Paris Hilton is now a soccer fan, we may not even get a third. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cndsoccer Posted July 21, 2007 Share Posted July 21, 2007 montreal great...tfc road trip,i can see up to 2000 making that trip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbailey62 Posted July 21, 2007 Share Posted July 21, 2007 quote:Originally posted by cndsoccer montreal great...tfc road trip,i can see up to 2000 making that trip. We've got to do it by train though! Nothing better!!! db Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Macksam Posted July 22, 2007 Share Posted July 22, 2007 quote:Originally posted by speedmonk42 Three is all we are going to get. If that. Since Paris Hilton is now a soccer fan, we may not even get a third. If the stadium and interest is there, it will come. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Macksam Posted July 25, 2007 Share Posted July 25, 2007 So they have increased the plans for an 18 000 seater stadium? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Posted July 25, 2007 Share Posted July 25, 2007 As mentioned in the other thread, "added capacity" is probably just a vague number. They know you need 18k for MLS, so now they're saying it's 18k. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodfern2007 Posted July 27, 2007 Share Posted July 27, 2007 Ain't gonna happen. It's just not in the stars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Posted July 27, 2007 Share Posted July 27, 2007 quote:Originally posted by rodfern2007 Ain't gonna happen. It's just not in the stars. Thank you Miss Cleo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juby Posted July 27, 2007 Share Posted July 27, 2007 quote:Originally posted by Daniel Thank you Miss Cleo. ahaha, my thoughts exactly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john tv Posted July 28, 2007 Share Posted July 28, 2007 One day we will have a second team in the MLS.This will be great fun and very possible.I mean a second team in Toronto! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beachesl Posted July 28, 2007 Share Posted July 28, 2007 quote:Originally posted by john tv One day we will have a second team in the MLS.This will be great fun and very possible.I mean a second team in Toronto! Ajax Canada, eh john tv? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john tv Posted July 29, 2007 Share Posted July 29, 2007 One thing about Canadian sports and that is that real fan rivalry does not exist to the extend it is in the rest of the world.Our sporting society is very well controlled and exploited for money alone. As a prime example is the fact that the NHL will not allow a team in Hamilton. For the fans in Toronto and Hamilton this would be great.The money and controllers view it differenty. Yet we are only talking about less than 20000 thousand spectators which is peanuts in soccer terms.This city can support another MLS team easily and this would be so fantastic and such a upheaval in these controllers offices. We would have a game every week end and no real concerns about having to travel anywhere.They will come to us and we will have a sporting society that will be magnificent. Heck these MLSE need some competition. I have that in my bussiness, why not these guys. We all win and we may even be the guiding lights to other sports.I would love to see a stadium build in the Missisauge/Oakville border and than the real fun starts in this town. I know that the potntial of this happening will be just about nil, money and power talks but this would be ideal as well as a great and vital step to the further developmeny of our national team players. No Ajax, to good to be true. Just think about this guys, This world is build around competition even within your own city. Why would they have a card blanche? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPB Posted July 29, 2007 Share Posted July 29, 2007 I think it could be profitable to build rival teams in close proximity in the Hamilton-to-Montreal corridor. Imagine the business potential of 3-5 teams with fans going to away games. There is no viable business model that starts with "derby-in-a-box", but I think that in the next several years we'll see how far we are from the saturation point in the corridor. The Vancouver to LA corridor is another region ripe for rivalries, I think. Heck, that could extend even into Mexico's west coast. The slow-build approach takes discipline and sh** can happen to throw things off, but the MLS owners do seem to be willing to be innovative in finding the mix of territorial and club systems that will suite soccer in this marketplace. When we get to the point, if ever, that a large portion of the players are entering the league via developmental bases, then, we'll see more rivalaries on the pitch that run deeper than the territorial scheme. If the MLS has an ambitious vision to reach that sort of thing, I can't see how they'd abandon the profits -- it would be a money-making machine. The temptation to go for the big splash, and to drown in debt, will always be there. There is no tradition that exists now by which owners are restrained by club loyalties. But build the stadiums, make them the homes of the clubs, and time and competition will bring its surprises. The MLS is on the right plath to that -- with the soccer-specific-stadium criteria. Yet I don't think there is a club in the MLS who has the sort of player development system in place today that will deliver. That's the area of greatest investment and greatest potention and, thus, I would expect, the greatest competition. When a development system produces a championship team, or a top class player or generation of such players, we'll see the tooth and claws come out way beyond territorial protectionism. It is not a smooth road from here to there, but the risk looks rather good given the sound potential for profit. Slow building is not a race. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Macksam Posted July 29, 2007 Share Posted July 29, 2007 quote:Originally posted by john tv I would love to see a stadium build in the Missisauge/Oakville border and than the real fun starts in this town. Missisaga/Brampton border would be more viable;). quote: Yet I don't think there is a club in the MLS who has the sort of player development system in place today that will deliver It's going to take a couple years before the youth initiative gets up and running. However, we will finally get good player development in the MLS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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