MLS Commissioner Don Garber said that the league and N.Y. officials have "been in discussions" and are trying to "locate a suitable site for a stadium in what Garber called the ‘urban core’” to serve as home to the league's 20th franchise, according to Jack Bell of the N.Y. TIMES. Bell: “In other words, Belmont Park is out. Long Island is out. Did we already mention Staten Island? Out. The financially challenged Wilpon family and the Mets? Not likely.” Garber said, “It’s premature to talk about any specific site, but the league is taking the lead on developing a stadium. It’s the first time we’ve ever done that as part of the expansion process. ... Architecture, consultants and environmental all work for the league. We will put together a project and then we hope to be able to deliver to a potential owner.” He added, “We want to ensure that when this project is complete we have the perfect site for a stadium. It will take as long as it takes to make sure we have the right site, that’s how important a second New York team is.” Garber said that over the past 18 months league officials “had inspected 19 different sites and have now winnowed the number to between 8 and 10.” Garber said that Belmont Park “was out of the running because of its location on the border of Queens and Nassau County, near major highways but with no subway access.” Garber: “We’re getting more focused on fewer sites. We’ve made the decision to get focused on getting the stadium done. When that’s done, there won’t be any shortage of owners willing to pay $100 million for a team in New York.” But Garber gave “no indication of a timetable to get a stadium deal” (NYTIMES.com, 3/8).
OFF BROADWAY? In a Q&A with ESPN.com’s Jeff Carlisle, Garber discussed rumors of the 20th team going to Orlando instead of N.Y., and said, “I have only terrific things to say about Phil Rawlins and the ownership group at Orlando City. They've got a really cool thing going on there and I was very impressed. But I really don't think at all that this is a matter of Orlando coming before New York.” On what other new markets have come up, Garber said, “I don't know when we'll be (in Florida), but it's hard to imagine the league's future without teams in this market” (ESPN.com, 3/7).
