| TheOriginalWinger

"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... (more...)

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

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 ...

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 ...

Single-game tickets for Seattle Sounders FC's opener March 19 sold out Monday morning, the team announced. Single-game tickets went on sale at 10 a.m. today. The club has changed the seating configuration for the opener against the New York Red Bulls. Qwest Field will accommodate 32,400 for that game. Image via BP

"When we started this process eight months ago, it was a very different time," Miami businessman Marcelo Claure told the Sun Sentinel on Thursday night at an event in Miami. "We're not sure the business model works in difficult economic times. ... The timing may not be right for what we're trying to do." Image via Webshots

FC Barcelona director Jean Oliver said at a news conference (on Friday) that the club's quest to have an MLS team is ``very delicate, and we are evaluating if the situation allows for the model planned to be implemented in Miami or not.'' Image via Miami Herald

"The Montreal Impact announced Friday it had sold more than 42,000 tickets for the quarterfinal game of the CONCACAF Champions League, on February 25, at Olympic Stadium against Mexican club Santos Laguna. With this milestone, the Impact has established a new sales record for a CONCACAF game." Nice one.