Having committed to reaching 24 teams by the end of the decade, MLS intends to "develop additional expansion plans within six months," according to Ronald Blum of the AP. MLS Commissioner Don Garber on Friday during a meeting with the AP Sports Editors said, "We've got to come together and develop a plan with our ownership to determine when we go further, because we will. We will expand this league beyond 24 teams. It's not an if, it's a when." MLS said that cities "expressing interest" included Austin, Sacramento, St. Louis and San Antonio; and to a "lesser extent" El Paso, Indianapolis and Las Vegas. Garber: "I believe that we can expand and manage a league far larger than we are today without having to contemplate promotion and relegation." Meanwhile, he said Miami will have an MLS team "by the end of the decade" (AP, 4/24). Garber also said he believes Sacramento "belongs in MLS. And when we are able to bring them in, they will be very successful." In Sacramento, Marcos Breton noted Garber "cautioned that the six-month time frame does not mean Sacramento will be awarded a team in six months." He said that the league "will have a plan in six months, but he couldn’t predict what the plan would be or how long it will take" for USL club Sacramento Republic FC and its supporters to "get the answer they want" (SACBEE.com, 4/25). Garber also addressed AEG looking for a local owner for the Dynamo and said, "I won't say the Dynamo are actively for sale. But I will say that [AEG Chair] Phil Anschutz and his group are looking for their share to be bought out by a local group that will be as committed to the franchise. They have spoken with several people." He did not offer "specifics on the local groups that have spoken with AEG" (CHRON.com, 4/24).
THIS & THAT: SI.com's Alexander Abnos noted Garber addressed the CBA, and said that the agreement "has yet to be officially ratified." That could "help explain why this season's roster rules and regulations have yet to be released by the league." MLS Deputy Commissioner Mark Abbott said that he "did not have a precise date for when the CBA could be ratified." Meanwhile, Garber said of LAFC, "I meet with (majority owner) Peter Guber monthly and speak to him weekly. ... They're very engaged socially, I'm very bullish about their plans and their management of the process so far. It's going to be really cool to have two L.A. teams" (SI.com, 4/24).
AMERICAN MADE: Garber said that the league will "keep on pursuing the top American players, even if U.S. national team coach Jurgen Klinsmann thinks they will improve more with European clubs." Garber added that the league "will stay focused on its plan 'regardless as to what our national team coach might want to do.'" Garber: "We will do whatever we need to do to ensure that we have the best possible American players here" (AP, 4/24). ESPN FC's Doug McIntyre noted USSF President Sunil Gulati "isn't happy" with Garber's "latest criticism" of Klinsmann. Gulati: "I don't know what Don was asked specifically, but frankly, I wouldn't have said some of things he did the way he did." He said of Klinsmann, "He absolutely supports the league and knows it's critical to the national team's development. The success of the U.S. national team is directly linked to the success of MLS. Jurgen knows that, Don knows that, I know that. Let me be real clear. If Don or anyone criticizes the national team or its success, that's inherently saying something about where the league is. And vice versa if you criticize MLS, which is central to our national team" (ESPNFC.com, 4/26).
CARRYING THE BANNER: In Orlando, Paul Tenorio noted Toronto FC and Orlando City SC played last night, and five players in the game "left bigger leagues to play in MLS." Now, they all "carry with them a responsibility to promote the league." TFC MF Michael Bradley said, "We're all here for the same reasons -- because we believe in the league. We believe in soccer in this country, in North America. So I think the fact that the league continues to grow in this way is something we're all proud of." He added, "It's interesting; everybody has their own take. I think in a lot of ways I've taken far more heat in the past year than I did in a lot of years in Europe. So again, for me, to push myself forward as a player, as a person, as a leader, I think I'm in a place where I'm being challenged and I'm being asked to do a lot every day. I think that's allowed me to grow" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 4/26).
