2009 Major League Soccer

[Zeno]

Looks like Vancouver is the next expansion team...

The Vancouver Whitecaps will thrive as a Major League Soccer team and push to become the city’s number two sports franchise — behind only the market-dominant Vancouver Canucks.

That was the word Tuesday from Whitecaps president Bob Lenarduzzi as his team prepares join MLS in 2011. The soccer club is expected to announce Wednesday it has secured one of two MLS expansion franchises that will begin play in two years.

 

[Peter C]

Looks like Vancouver is the next expansion team...

Indeed, Vancouver is officially #17. Ottawa, Portland and St. Louis await the announcement of #18.

In Garber's announcement, he added that teams #19 and #20 would begin play in 2012.

So as this expansion cycle comes to a close, the next one begins immediately.

 

[Zeno]

Indeed, Vancouver is officially #17. Ottawa, Portland and St. Louis await the announcement of #18.

In Garber's announcement, he added that teams #19 and #20 would begin play in 2012.

So as this expansion cycle comes to a close, the next one begins immediately.

Too fast too soon IMO.

They should let the league stabilize both financially & competitively before they expand that far.

Only 3 MLS teams made money last year and one(Dallas) only made $500K, NFL teams make more than that in parking...not that I expect them to make NFL money but all the other teams lost money last year(Toronto & LA Galaxy were the others that made a profit), MLS disbanded their reserve league and then cut back their roster size. Expansion isn't the solution to those problems.

They should stay at 16 for about 5-8 more years before even considering expansion.

 

[azsouthendzone]

Thursday, March 19, 6pm

The MLS season begins on Thursday with the Red Bulls visiting sold out Qwest Field to meet Seattle in the Sounders' first ever MLS game.

Over 32,000 expected. Should be a fun match.

Churchill's Pub and Grill in Chandler will be airing the game, with the pregame beginning at 6pm.

Churchill's is on the NW corner of Alma School and Warner.

NY 2 Seattle 1

Juan Pablo Angel= Man of the Match

 

[Milgod]

Maybe MLS is expanding just a little too quickly, but they have done things pretty well up to know. The attendances and following has grown steadily over recent years.

The biggest thing that shows me MLS is starting to be taken a bit (only a little but still an improvment) more seriously is the recent review in 442 magazine here in the UK. It's the first time I have read a proper season/game review in the UK that didn't make fun of the league in anyway. Just a straight up season preview. Great stuff indeed.

I don't really have a team to follow. I just follow the league and hope it keeps improving. Some seem to act like it's terrible because it's not the English Premier League, but it's certainly as good as some of the next tier leagues in Europe.

The fans seem to be getting into things a bit more recently too. A bit more hardcore if you will.

 

[Zeno]

I don't really have a team to follow. I just follow the league and hope it keeps improving. Some seem to act like it's terrible because it's not the English Premier League, but it's certainly as good as some of the next tier leagues in Europe.

The fans seem to be getting into things a bit more recently too. A bit more hardcore if you will.

Last year was my first time ever going to an MLS game and I went to around 6 or 7 DC United games while I was in northern Virginia. That got me hooked on the league, I enjoyed it, DC has a very good supporters section and its a lot of fun being there.

I want the league to continue to improve but I just fear too much expansion too fast will water down the league even more and effect the improvement on the field.

 

[Chaplin]

NY 2 Seattle 1

Juan Pablo Angel= Man of the Match

Seattle is looking pretty good.

 

[azsouthendzone]

Seattle Sounders...WOW!

Great game, great crowd.....that team looks damn good. Fredy Montero was sick.

Crazy thing about MLS....30k strong, knowledgable soccer fasn going crazy in Seattle tonight.....then we get to see 8k in KC at a minor league soccer stadium and 8k if we are lucky backing Chivas USA at the HDC.

Seattle is the model franchise. Unreal night.

 

[Zeno]

Seattle Sounders...WOW!

Great game, great crowd.....that team looks damn good. Fredy Montero was sick.

Crazy thing about MLS....30k strong, knowledgable soccer fasn going crazy in Seattle tonight.....then we get to see 8k in KC at a minor league soccer stadium and 8k if we are lucky backing Chivas USA at the HDC.

Seattle is the model franchise. Unreal night.

They should move KC to St Louis and move Chivas to San Diego...I bet that would help both franchises fan bases.

Seattle sure came out all guns blazing and didn't look like a expansion team...NYRB on the other hand, yikes.

 

[BirdMan21]

I will be pulling for Seattle this year. Friend I went to HS with is on their team now....was on Columbus last year but was picked in the expansion draft.

And he scores a goal opening night....great start to the year for Seattle. Hopefully they can be like the Fire their first year.

 

[Mulli]

Expansion to Vancouver worked so well for the NBA.

 

[BirdMan21]

Expansion to Vancouver worked so well for the NBA.

It should do a lot better with MLS. There is a lot of support for soccer up there, I wouldn't be surprised to see it be one of the top teams attendance wise as soon as it starts up.

 

[Mulli]

Probably so. Npo bryant reeves either

 

[azsouthendzone]

Leaving in the morning for LA. 1st row behind goal. Can't wait!

 

[Zeno]

Leaving in the morning for LA. 1st row behind goal. Can't wait!

Have fun. If I end up in DC again this spring for work I will be able to make a few games otherwise I'll just have to settle for TV.

 

[azsouthendzone]

Just grabbed two tickets in the 2nd row in the corner for vs NYRB on May 2. I am going to try to go to at least 4 games this year. Stubhub has great deals for the first half of the season pre-Beckham.

 

[Zeno]

Cooper hit a 60 yard goal for Dallas then the Dallas defense fell apart and their offense couldn't manage any good shots on goal.

Looking forward to DC/LA tonight...even though I have to watch it on Telefutura.

 

[azsouthendzone]

Just got back from the LA game. Fun as hell. Front row on the South end, saw Donovan's goals perectly, gave fist bumps to Cobi Jones, Bruce Arena, and Alan Gordon. Angel City Brigade and LARS were going off. Great trip. Already have my tickets for May 2nd and I can't wait to go back. Here is a picture of when the two DC players cracked skulls from my crappy camera phone. Nice comeback...crappy officiating all over the place.

 

[Chaplin]

I thought it was one of the sloppiest games of football I'd ever seen. People were flopping like dying fish all over the pitch.

 

[azsouthendzone]

I thought it was one of the sloppiest games of football I'd ever seen. People were flopping like dying fish all over the pitch.

Donovan's goal was awesome and so was Pontius's from DC. Of course you thought it was sloppy because you think MLS sucks so that isn't surprising that you would find something negative to say. That is par for the course. It was a good comeback and it was a great day to be at the HDC.

 

[Chaplin]

Donovan's goal was awesome and so was Pontius's from DC. Of course you thought it was sloppy because you think MLS sucks so that isn't surprising that you would find something negative to say. That is par for the course. It was a good comeback and it was a great day to be at the HDC.

I didn't say it wasn't a good comeback, it was very exciting and contrary to your opinion, I do like Landon Donovan. But if you think that's a good brand of football, I don't know what to tell you. People flopping all over the place to me doesn't make for something pleasant to watch. I've played soccer for years, and I've never played like it was a hockey game.

That Sounders/Red Bulls game was much more entertaining to watch (from start to finish).

 

[Milgod]

I didn't say it wasn't a good comeback, it was very exciting and contrary to your opinion, I do like Landon Donovan. But if you think that's a good brand of football, I don't know what to tell you. People flopping all over the place to me doesn't make for something pleasant to watch. I've played soccer for years, and I've never played like it was a hockey game.

That Sounders/Red Bulls game was much more entertaining to watch (from start to finish).

Yeah, because it NEVER happens in the Premiership, Serie A or anythe other top leagues . . . . .

 

[azsouthendzone]

Yeah, because it NEVER happens in the Premiership, Serie A or anythe other top leagues . . . . .

Exactly. Chap just likes to bitch about MLS. Nothing new to see here. The ref was terrible. He wasn't in control. But to call it a sloppy game is overboard. For week one it was great. The stadium had a great atmosphere. It was fun.

 

[Chaplin]

Exactly. Chap just likes to bitch about MLS. Nothing new to see here. The ref was terrible. He wasn't in control. But to call it a sloppy game is overboard. For week one it was great. The stadium had a great atmosphere. It was fun.

Please. It's not to the extreme as it was on Sunday. I thought it was unusual, even for an MLS game. I like to bitch about MLS? Well, until they put a better product on the field (which they are capable of doing) they deserve it. I'm tired of us being considered a B league across the world. What's wrong with that??

The funny thing is, we're both fans of the Galaxy yet you have no problem attacking me for my opinion. It was SLOPPY. If you can't see that, then I don't know what to tell you. I don't expect it to be that sloppy next week at all. It's definitely the ref calling a poor game. Plain and simple. I'm surprised there weren't any major injuries out there. That doesn't make it any less sloppy. And dangerous, IMO. Like I said, I wanted to see a football match, not a hockey game.

HDC is a great atmosphere regardless of the game, so I don't know exactly what you're trying to prove to me.

 

[Zeno]

one thing that must improve is the officiating...MLS has some of the weakest referee's in pro soccer, it has to get better. Is not 100% just MLS its all of CONCACAF.

I watched 3 of the games this weekend....Seattle/NY, Dal/Chi, DC/LA and a little bit of Col/Hou.

This weekend we not only have MLS we also have US Soccer in a WCQ.