[Obsideon]

Major League Soccer is coming to Vancouver, reports TEAM 1040.

According to the radio station, sources have informed them that MLS officials will be in the city next week to officially award the expansion franchise.

The team will begin play in 2011.

In addition, there is one more expansion team to be awarded and three cities are still in the hunt: Portland, St. Louis and Ottawa.

Other sources told TEAM 1040 that Portland has the inside track, but must have stronger financial backing in place before MLS will award them a franchise. The announcement on the second expansion team is not expected until later in March.

Whitecaps president Bob Lenarduzzi has remained behind while his team is on a tour of Tanzania. Lenarduzzi has stated throughout the process that the Vancouver bid was one of the two strongest.

The strength of the Vancouver bid stems from solid financial backing by Whitecaps owner Greg Kerfoot, Yahoo's Jeff Mallett and Phoenix Suns star Steve Nash, plus a newly renovated BC Place for the team to play in.

Personally I don't care much for soccer in general. I would watch a few matches of World Cup but usually only the final 4 or the championship match. This is like AHL of Hockey that MLS is to soccer compared to Euroleague isn't it? Maybe if we can get Cristano Ronaldo it would be exciting LOL!

I'd wish they could bring back a NBA franchise to Vancouver ... I didn't even get to watch any Grizzly games before they got shipped to Memphis (although they weren't really worth watching anyway) ... THEN I wanted to drive down the Seattle to watch the Sonics but they dropped out to Oklahoma City ... the next closest would be ... Portland Blazers? ... kinda far to watch a game lol. I was in LA last month but DAAAAAAMN Lakers tickets are retardedly expensive, anything that's not nose-bleeds will run you in the thousands!

[wahyinghung]

I would be down with watching a couple games at the new proposed waterfront stadium

[BoneThug]

should call them the grizzlies

[InvisibleSoul]

Yeah, the difference in quality between the MLS and the European leagues is tremendous...

[AzNightmare]

Meh, I love playing soccer, yet I hate it at the same time.
I like playing with my buddies who are all similar to my skill level, but I hate participating
in a club full of euro guys that will just dominate the game.

And naturally, when it comes to watching the game on TV, it's no where as exciting to me as hockey. World Cup only makes me watch as I try my best to join in the hype like a bandwagoner until
after 2 or 3 matches, and I can't take it anymore. :( I don't even know which team I should be cheering for, because Canada and China's not in it.

[invader]

At least we will get to see Landon Donavon.

There are some good players in the MLS, there was much talk that some "older" superstars would come to the MLS since Becks made the move over. Now that hes gone much of that talk has gone to rest.

But there is still potential, aging stars such as Thiery Henry, Ronaldino were rumored to come over.

http://celeb.wohoo.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/thierry-henry-steve-bash.jpg

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/blogs/goal/posts/nash.game.533.jpg

[willystyle]

I would be down with watching a couple games at the new proposed waterfront stadium
They'll be playing at BC Place.

I don't really know what to think of this. I mean, the MLS is courageous to enter a new market at this current economic state with barely any history of soccer success in this city, yet the NBA, in a losing state, hanging on life support is too "chicken shit", for the lack of better words, to attempt to re-establish a successful winning NBA team here when our LOWEST annual attendance for the Grizzlies fare far better than the HIGHEST for its current regime.

[SkinnyPupp]

It's going to fail. Vancouver isn't a soccer town. It's not a basketball town, it's not a baseball town. Hell, it's not even a hockey town. It's a Canucks town, and that's it.

[Vansterdam]

interesting

[azzurro32]

nice i really cant wait.

I think MLS will do good here. Tickets wont be as expensive as the grizzlies, and the team isnt going to have a huge payroll in the millions.

plus vancouver has alot of people from different ethnic backrounds. most of them don't know the difference between a hockey stick and a puck, but a soccer ball is global.

[AzNightmare]

Steve Nash is pretty skilled in soccer too. Doesn't Nash have a brother that plays pro in soccer?

[3seriesBeeM]

ya steve nashs bro plays for the whitecaps Martin Nash

[svelt]

I'm down with this. I've been following this possibility for a year now so it's cool it finally comes, so I'll probably will catch a few games every year as long as they aren't too expensive. I do agree Vancouver needs its Grizzlies back more than anything though.

[Hondaracer]

im alot more excited about the AHL team in abby

[BoneThug]

im alot more excited about the AHL team in abby

maybe then there would be a hockey team in BC that doesnt suck

[luibei]

maybe then there would be a hockey team in BC that doesnt suck

Actually the team is called Vancouver Giants. Mighty good the past few years.

[RTS]

Vancouver is definitely a soccer town, and whether or not the waterfront stadium is built I think the MLS Whitecaps are going to see a lot of success. I know my dad and I will buy season tickets.

[jigga250]

Vancouver is definitely a soccer town, and whether or not the waterfront stadium is built I think the MLS Whitecaps are going to see a lot of success. I know my dad and I will buy season tickets.

agreed....look at how successful Toronto has been even though their team sucks. Another highly multi-cultural city as well (even moreso). Immigrants have no connection to basketball, but soccer is everywhere (except NA).

It's going to fail. Vancouver isn't a soccer town. It's not a basketball town, it's not a baseball town. Hell, it's not even a hockey town. It's a Canucks town, and that's it.

The Giants seem to do okay...:blueguy:

[Hondaracer]

maybe then there would be a hockey team in BC that doesnt suck

if you dont support any team anyways why does it matter what they do :/

[Tim Budong]

The Giants are a mighty bunch of young gun
Don Hay has done a very good job

The Abbotsford AHL team will be the the flames AHL affiliate.

The whitecaps will enjoy success here.

[Harvey Specter]

Honestly I wouldn't watch the MLS because it's beyond boring but I think a MLS in Vancover will do just fine.

[86er]

If Vancouver is awarded an MLS franchise, it will be great for the city. The games will be played in the new BC Place starting in 2011.

[Ch28]

If Vancouver is awarded an MLS franchise, it will be great for the city. The games will be played in the new BC Place starting in 2011.

They are

There is a press conference at 10:15am tomorrow morning @ Westin Bayshore to announce it.

[BoneThug]

Actually the team is called Vancouver Giants. Mighty good the past few years.

silence you

[BoneThug]

if you dont support any team anyways why does it matter what they do :/

i just want all the die hards to admit their team is not that good. if people said the nucks were alright but not amazing then id never even say anything, but people ride them so hard for no other reason then that is their home team. i hate that kind of logic. it infuriates me. it makes steam come out of my ears, and gas come out of my bum.

[willystyle]

It doesn't matter if Vancouver is a soccer town or not. As long as the MLS team is a success, they will draw a crowd. Just look at the Grizzlies. they drew an average of 12,000-13,000 fans while they were here, not bad for a team that's labeled as the worst sports franchise in history.

[Tapioca]

The Whitecaps in the old NASL from the 70s used to draw well over 25,000 for their games at Empire Stadium. They drew 60K when they played a few games at BC Place. There is potential for the franchise to succeed if they make inroads in the community and put a good product on the field, much like the BC Lions have done over the past few years.

[Gh0stRider]

its official


Vancouver gets MLS franchise for 2011

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - Sports fans in Vancouver will have another major league team to cheer for in 2011. Major League Soccer has announced that Vancouver has been awarded a franchise. Seven teams applied for the honour.

Premier Gordon Campbell and Mayor Gregor Robertson were at the announcement, along with former Yahoo president Jeff Mallett. Mallett will represent the ownership group of Whitecaps owner Greg Kerfoot, Steve Luczo and Steve Nash, the two-time NBA MVP and brother of Whitecaps captain Martin Nash.

MLS will expand to 16 clubs with the addition of a team in Seattle in 2009 and Philadelphia in 2010.

The Whitecaps, who play in the United Soccer Leagues' first division, will join Toronto FC as the only Canadian teams in the MLS.

[quasi]

I'd be interested in going to a game if they ever build that waterfront stadium they've been talking about for years. It would be more for the enjoyment of watching the game outdoors with friends, jebus knows the draw wouldn't be the actual game.

As is I'd never watch a soccer game in BC place the sport doesn't interest me enough you'd need the appealing venue to draw me and my dollar in. A retractable roof does not make BC Place a good venue either it's still garbage.

[FiveDime]

anyone know how much seasons will be going for?

[7seven]

anyone know how much seasons will be going for?

I don't think they have set the prices yet, just the deposit amount of $50. http://www.vancouvermls2011.com/tickets/tickets-and-hospitality.aspx

I absolutely hate the sport of soccer and will have no interest in watching any games, but I think MLS will do fine in Vancouver.

[86er]

I don't think they have set the prices yet, just the deposit amount of $50. http://www.vancouvermls2011.com/tickets/tickets-and-hospitality.aspx

I absolutely hate the sport of soccer and will have no interest in watching any games, but I think MLS will do fine in Vancouver.

If you buy season tickets for the upcoming 2009 season, you will have priority for MLS tickets over the people who put their deposits online. Go Whitecaps!