Archive for the ‘Expansion Team’ Category

Portland With Official Announcement Friday Morning

Filed under: Expansion Team, MLS, Portland Timbers

Portland Timbers

It’s setting up for a great Northwest rivalry as Portland is set to follow in the footsteps of Seattle and Vancouver as Mayor Sam Adams acknowledged the 10am news conference on Friday.

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Posted on Mar 19th, 2009 by  dunny 

Portland City Council Approves MLS Funding

Filed under: Expansion Team, MLS, Portland Timbers

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“The City Council has approved financing $60 million to lure a Major League Soccer franchise to Portland, but hasn’t resolved how to raise a quarter of the money. The $60 million would go to renovating PGE Park to meet MLS specifications, and building a new ballpark for the Portland Beavers, the city’s Triple-A baseball team.”

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Posted on Mar 11th, 2009 by  FC Uptown 

St. Louis Adds Anheuser-Busch to Bid

Filed under: Expansion Team, MLS

Like Clint Eastwood appearing in the doorway of a spaghetti western, Anheuser-Busch has officially entered the MLS bid process, joining with Jeff Cooper in a suddenly very strong bid for a St. Louis club. A-B InBev is also giving the 32 acre Anheuser-Busch Center (Soccer Park) to St. Louis United for potential construction of a stadium.

“In my opinion, when you have the backing of the best company in the world, it helps your bid significantly” said potential investor, Jeff Cooper.

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Posted on Mar 11th, 2009 by  FC Uptown 

Vancouver Rumored Ready for MLS

Filed under: Expansion Team, MLS, Steve Nash, Vancouver

“Barring a last-minute snag, the owner of the Vancouver Whitecaps Football Club will be awarded a Major League Soccer expansion franchise by the end of the month.”

(Maybe this Bryan Adams soundtrack helped close the deal…?)

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Posted on Mar 10th, 2009 by  FC Uptown 

Mayor-Timbers Reach Agreement, Vote Today

Filed under: Expansion Team, MLS, Portland Timbers

“Mayor Sam Adams and Commissioner Randy Leonard announced an agreement Tuesday with Portland Timbers owner Merritt Paulson on a $129 million plan to bring MLS Soccer to Portland.”

This is not a done deal, but read on for more…

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Posted on Mar 10th, 2009 by  FC Uptown 

Soccer Attendance to Pass NBA, NHL in 09?

Filed under: Expansion Team, MLS, Seattle Sounders

attendance.jpg

Check out this article from SyntheticTurf in October, discussing the projected attendance of the MLS, NBA, and NHL in 09.

Image vie SyntheticTurf

Posted on Mar 5th, 2009 by  FC Uptown 

Steve Nash signs with IMG

Filed under: Business, Expansion Team, Steve Nash, Vancouver

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With Miami out of the MLS expansion race, Vancouver moves to the front according to those in the know. Yesterday, Vancouver investor and NBA star, Steve Nash, signed up with the powerful marketing group IMG to help with marketing efforts specifically in Canada and outside the US.

Is a plan by Steve Nash for a big marketing push in Canada a possible first sign that a team could be coming to Vancouver?

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Posted on Mar 4th, 2009 by  FC Uptown 

…It’s Over

Filed under: Expansion Team, MLS

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Marcelo Claure, the Bolivian billionaire that was the capital behind Miami’s MLS expansion bid conceded defeat today and announced an end to his bid for an MLS team.

”I am very sorry to tell you that we will not have a team in Miami,” Claure told the Miami Herald. “Too many things had to happen, and the economic situation just isn’t right. MLS is holding tight to its franchise fee [$40 million], and there’s just too much uncertainty right now from a financial standpoint, so both Barca and myself decided it wasn’t a wise decision. It didn’t make economic sense.”

Posted on Mar 3rd, 2009 by  FC Uptown