superbrad Posted March 23, 2009 Share Posted March 23, 2009 http://www.canada.com/news/national/story.html?id=1409526 Montreal group confident it will land MLS one day Canwest News ServiceMarch 20, 2009 Montreal Impact general manager Nick De Santis welcomed the news about the Vancouver Whitecaps joining Major League Soccer, saying it is a big step in the growth of the sport in Canada. But De Santis added that the Impact also merit an opportunity to take their game to the next tier. "It's great to see another Canadian market get to the highest level of soccer (in North America)," De Santis said, referring to Wednesday's announcement that Vancouver will become the second Canadian city in MLS, joining Toronto FC for the 2011 season. "It goes to show clubs like Vancouver, Toronto FC and ourselves belong at the highest level "Of course, hearing about Vancouver and knowing what our vision is and the way we do things, we should be there, too," De Santis added. "That we're not is a bit disappointing, but in the end I believe the club will always work to better itself in every aspect, be it on the field or in administration. "I also believe in (team president) Joey Saputo's vision, which is to see the franchise compete at the highest level," De Santis added. "One day it will happen." The Whitecaps, reigning champions of the United Soccer Leagues First Division, will continue to play in the USL until the end of the 2010 season, before making the jump to MLS. The Whitecaps and Impact are the lone Canadian teams in the USL. The Whitecaps will continue to play in the 5,800-seat Swangard Stadium in Burnaby until 2011, when their new MLS home will be BC Place, which is to be refurbished at a cost of $365 million, which includes a retractable roof. The Whitecaps' plans are said to include a $75-million soccer-specific stadium on the Vancouver waterfront with 15,000 to 20,000 seats. Vancouver's MLS ownership group paid $35 million US to join MLS, $5 million less than what the league was asking for a franchise-only fee from Montreal. Saputo, in partnership with Montreal Canadiens owner George Gillett -- who also is part-owner of Liverpool FC of the English Premier League -- made a bid to pay MLS a privately financed $45 million Cdn to join the league. That included the cost of expanding Saputo Stadium from 13,000 seats to 20,000. Montreal's bid -- with the Impact prepared to join the league as early as 2010 -- was rejected last November, but Saputo said the door to future discussions with MLS remain open. © Copyright © Canwest News Service Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keano Posted March 23, 2009 Share Posted March 23, 2009 Anyone else find it weird that Garber was willing to negotiate the fee with Vancouver but not with Montreal? I'm not saying this from a bitter or jealous standpoint, I'm ecstatic for Vancouver. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raven Posted March 23, 2009 Share Posted March 23, 2009 The difference is that Saputo didn't hold out as long as possible to negotiate...Vancouver and Portland were the most patient applicants.Let everyone drop out, then with a few applicants left negotiate. Very smart on their part. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
youllneverwalkalone Posted March 23, 2009 Share Posted March 23, 2009 ^If the 45m CAD included the cost of expanding the stadium -which must be at least 10m- then Saputo was offering about $28m US. Considering MLS wanted closer to $40m, I'm not sure it's fair to say Garber was the one who was not negotiating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superbrad Posted March 23, 2009 Author Share Posted March 23, 2009 Biggest difference was that the stadium improvements in Van were already underway - winning bid or not. That gave them a tool to negotiate with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keano Posted March 23, 2009 Share Posted March 23, 2009 quote:Originally posted by youllneverwalkalone ^If the 45m CAD included the cost of expanding the stadium -which must be at least 10m- then Saputo was offering about $28m US. Considering MLS wanted closer to $40m, I'm not sure it's fair to say Garber was the one who was not negotiating. True Garber would have ended up with less in pocket. Well hopefully Balsillie buys the Habs and goes in with Saputo now that uncle George is broke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calgary Boomer Posted March 23, 2009 Share Posted March 23, 2009 Joey could easily go it alone. But, there's no doubt he could scare up some collegues. He needs to do it within the next year though... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanadianSoccerFan Posted March 23, 2009 Share Posted March 23, 2009 quote:Originally posted by Keano True Garber would have ended up with less in pocket. Well hopefully Balsillie buys the Habs and goes in with Saputo now that uncle George is broke. Maybe Balsillie will try and get a team for Kitchener-Waterloo[] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Free kick Posted March 23, 2009 Share Posted March 23, 2009 quote:Originally posted by youllneverwalkalone ^If the 45m CAD included the cost of expanding the stadium -which must be at least 10m- then Saputo was offering about $28m US. Considering MLS wanted closer to $40m, I'm not sure it's fair to say Garber was the one who was not negotiating. Correct. There is some selective memory in this thread. Saputo reportedly offered something like $42 mill ( IN CANADIAN DOLLARS) for everything ( Franchise fee plus stadium improvements) when in fact what was reportedly required was $40 Million (US DOLLARS) plus an estimated addtional $10 Million to bring the stadium to MLS stardards. He didn't even come close to what MLS wanted. But what I find equally frustrating about this whole episode is that we have started witnessing that old dynamics of Canadina politics playout whereby one thing is said in the French media and another thing is said in the English media. Here we have De Santis saying in english that he welcomes the news of another Canadian team in MLS and that he still hopes to be there some day. But that is quite different to what Richard Legendre was quoted in saying to the Francophone press a few weeks ago whereby he stated that during the CCL that MLS rejected them. His tone implied that that it was all MLS's fault and that the blame lies with Garber. Anyone who has followed this whole MLS expansion drama knows ( from day one)full well that Montreal was the front runner from the get go. MLS and ( especially) the folks at MLSEL wanted Montreal. So who screwed up? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Free kick Posted March 23, 2009 Share Posted March 23, 2009 quote:Originally posted by Keano Anyone else find it weird that Garber was willing to negotiate the fee with Vancouver but not with Montreal? I'm not saying this from a bitter or jealous standpoint, I'm ecstatic for Vancouver. probably because Saputo didn't even come close and low balled Garber. See note above. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted March 23, 2009 Share Posted March 23, 2009 ^ He also badmouthed Garber publicly, not a very smart negotiating tactic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keano Posted March 23, 2009 Share Posted March 23, 2009 quote:Originally posted by Calgary Boomer Joey could easily go it alone. But, there's no doubt he could scare up some collegues. He needs to do it within the next year though... He doesn't have access to the family vault for the Impact, it's his personal side project. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandstander Posted March 23, 2009 Share Posted March 23, 2009 I think with Beckham officially gone, and Vancouver having the most stable bid (of all actually) from the remaining four clubs, there may have been an opportunity to negotiate the price down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RS Posted March 23, 2009 Share Posted March 23, 2009 Beckham is back in July. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mpenza Posted March 23, 2009 Share Posted March 23, 2009 When you have all the good cards in your hand and still end up losing the game, you can blame the whole world if you want, Garber included, but it's not gonna change the fact that you, and you alone, screwed it up. Our F.O. dropped the ball. Period. Will they be able to recover? MLS obviously is giving them a chance to redo their homework and submit a proper bid. We'll see if they can come up with something decent this time. Let's cross our fingers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grizzly Posted March 23, 2009 Share Posted March 23, 2009 quote:Originally posted by Keano He doesn't have access to the family vault for the Impact, it's his personal side project. That is not true. The family vault is what is behind the Impact to whatever extent they put their own money into the enterprise (ie. there is a lot of government funding involved and the team is a non-profit corporation). It is true that Joey doesn't control the keys to the family vault and has to ask his father for whatever money he wants. However, to say this is a personal side project of Joey's is completely untrue. The family in particular his father are the ones really behind the team. Joey is just the figurehead and the guy in charge of running the team. The Saputos do put a significant amount of their own money into the team and have to be given credit for that. On the other hand, are they willing to put enough money into it to make it into a truly top level professional team like fans such as myself want. So far they have not been willing to do this but hopefully they will in the future. Hopefully the 55 000 in Olympic Stadium will convince them to take the risks involved in joining MLS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grizzly Posted March 23, 2009 Share Posted March 23, 2009 quote:Originally posted by Free kick Correct. There is some selective memory in this thread. Saputo reportedly offered something like $42 mill ( IN CANADIAN DOLLARS) for everything ( Franchise fee plus stadium improvements) when in fact what was reportedly required was $40 Million (US DOLLARS) plus an estimated addtional $10 Million to bring the stadium to MLS stardards. He didn't even come close to what MLS wanted. But what I find equally frustrating about this whole episode is that we have started witnessing that old dynamics of Canadina politics playout whereby one thing is said in the French media and another thing is said in the English media. Here we have De Santis saying in english that he welcomes the news of another Canadian team in MLS and that he still hopes to be there some day. But that is quite different to what Richard Legendre was quoted in saying to the Francophone press a few weeks ago whereby he stated that during the CCL that MLS rejected them. His tone implied that that it was all MLS's fault and that the blame lies with Garber. Anyone who has followed this whole MLS expansion drama knows ( from day one)full well that Montreal was the front runner from the get go. MLS and ( especially) the folks at MLSEL wanted Montreal. So who screwed up? Yes that is quite funny. I guess they think Garber doesn't know how to use an online translator. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr.Impact Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 quote:Originally posted by Richard ^ He also badmouthed Garber publicly, not a very smart negotiating tactic. This has been going on for a while. I remember when Toronto was awarded a franchise, Soccer Central had both Joey Saps, and the Duze on the show, and Joey did not have many good things to say about the League. He also wasn't happy about the Government funding received by TFC for their stadium. I have faith in the Saputos to get this thing done. Im thinking relocation is the best bet to get a franchise in this city. In the meantime, we shouldn't complain. We still have an amazing squad to cheer for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarnCherry Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 quote:The Whitecaps' plans are said to include a $75-million soccer-specific stadium on the Vancouver waterfront with 15,000 to 20,000 seats I doubt the plans for the Waterfront stadium calls for a capacity that low (especially the 15,000 number) now they are assured of MLS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brownbear Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 quote:Originally posted by Krammerhead I doubt the plans for the Waterfront stadium calls for a capacity that low (especially the 15,000 number) now they are assured of MLS. There is no way a new stadium is built with fewer than 30,000 seats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MTL_4_LIFE Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 MLS one day Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juby Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 I'm actually hoping this is a bit of a blessing in disguise. Alot of people would have agreed at the start that Montreal was the best option for expansion, and I think thats true, and if Montreal took it, it would have been doubtful they would have awarded both Montreal and Vancouver. Now in the next expansion round, if Montreal participates they will probably still be the front runner, however if Vancouver was in that round, which will probably take place in a better economy, which could even have better team markets involved and will probably have more solid bids, then Vancouver could well have come in 3rd twice and got left out in the cold. Montreal fans probably don't feel too much better hearing me say this but awkwardness of this round of expansion will have hopefully ensured at least 3 Canadian teams in MLS longterm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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