MLS Still Considering Montreal Expansion Franchise For '11

USL Montreal Impact Owner Joey Saputo is still looking to bring an MLS expansion franchise to the city by '11, and "there are signs that MLS might be willing to accommodate his request," according to Doug McIntyre of ESPN SOCCERNET. MLS earlier this year selected Vancouver and Portland as two expansion cities for the '11 season, ahead of a Montreal bid led by Saputo, but Saputo said, "I'm trying to push for 2011. I feel very, very comfortable that we'll be ready." Saputo said he has spoken to MLS Commissioner Don Garber about the matter. Garber and MLS President Mark Abbott were not available for comment, but MLS Senior VP/Marketing & Communications Dan Courtemanche said, "Joey's been at our offices in the last couple months and sat down with commissioner Garber and Mark and had very positive discussions about a future MLS team in Montreal. Those discussions are still ongoing, but it's premature to talk about the timing of MLS expansion." However, Courtemanche "didn't rule out the possibility that Montreal could join the league" for the '11 season, alongside Vancouver and Portland. McIntyre noted that would be an "apparent about-face from comments Garber made in March saying that MLS would not expand again until 2012 at the earliest." Saputo said, "There is some concern from the MLS that too much expansion too quickly might hurt the product. But I try to prove the point to commissioner Garber that I wouldn't look at Montreal as an expansion franchise. I don't think that we're going to have to pick up 22 new players." Montreal's previous bid for expansion "broke down in November when Saputo wanted to use a portion" of the $40M expansion fee to "increase the capacity" of Saputo Stadium. However, Saputo now is "in the process of securing" $25M in funding from the Quebec government that would expand the stadium from 13,000 to 21,000 seats. Saputo also said that MLS "would allow the expansion fee to be paid over a five-year period" rather than as a lump sum, a change from the previous bid (ESPNSOCCERNET.com, 6/25).

Impact Owner Still Wants To Bring Team To Saputo Stadium By '11

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