Seven Cities Bid for MLS Expansion
Seven prospective ownership groups from markets throughout the United States and Canada have submitted an application for a future Major League Soccer expansion team.
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 have submitted applications to the MLS office.
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 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.
(MLSnet.com)
