Impact de Montreal drop MLS bid

In some big soccer news, Impact de Montreal or in English...Montreal Impact pulled out what many people thought to be a sure fire bid to gain entry to MLS for the 2011 expansion. In fact the bid was so strong many people thought that Montreal would/could enter the league early in 2010. Personally I'm disapointed, Montreal would have brought a lot of flavor to the league, a huge market, an established USL-1 team, and a true Canadian Derby. TFC and Impact met already twice this year in the Canadian Nutrolite Championship, playing two intense matches in sold out stadiums (BMO Field - Toronto and Stade Saputo - Montreal). It was a great atmosphere, MLS should have catered to these folks to make sure they get in the league.

So whats next for MLS, many had considered Montreal a lock for one of the two positions in 2011. Well obviously there is a lot of positives still, we will see Seattle into the league this coming year. They will be looking fly in their new Xbox Live Green and Blue kits. Red Bull Park is scheduled to open in 2009 at the latest (hopefully) and that is in my opinion one of the nicest looking parks in all of MLS. Philly will be joining the league in 2010, but that leaves the two expansion spots still open, and now that Montreal is out, its a whole new ball game. There are a ton of senarios...does MLS go Canadian and make Vancouver a lock? Does that make the Ottawa bid stronger? If Vancouver comes in, does that mean they bring Portland in with em to increase the Northwest rivalries (Portland, Seattle, Vancouver)? What happens to St. Louis and Miami? Here is my hopes and dreams for the future of MLS expansion...

Vancouver should enter in 2011, and not to create a derby with Toronto, though it would bring a Canadian rivalry, it wouldn't be a Natural rivalry...it's like Detroit and Colorado in hockey, we were huge rivalries because both teams were good at the same time period and Detroit still is. Whereas a Toronto - Montreal rivalry in soccer would be much like the Maple Leafs/Canadians or Maple Leafs/Red Wings rivalry. So who comes in with them?Vancouver has a great bid and BC Place will be upgraded to be state of the art to host Vancouver Whitecaps.

I'd like to see St. Louis grab the bid, they would be a great stronghold of American Soccer, and create a nice derby with Kansas City. Hopefully they make sure their bid is together and doesn't fall apart on them, its kinda sat on the edge of collapse a few times in the past. If St. Louis fails they need to bring in Portland. Why am I ignoring Miami or any Southern teams? Cause Miami had a team and it failed...now if a team like Charleston decided to throw up a MLS bid I think they would be great!

And of course, I await patiently the day Detroit gets a team, Motor City FC would kick ass. I think Detroit gets in during the next expansion round, although I wouldn't mind them opening play within the next few years as a USL-1 team before jumping up to MLS.


As always I got a video for everyone...enjoy Toronto FC @ Impact de Montreal!