MLS Commissioner Don Garber yesterday visited Vancouver to "meet with fans at an evening town hall, put in a charity appearance ... and to chat with the media" about the league's future, according to Patrick Johnston of the VANCOUVER PROVINCE. Garber admitted a plan to have 28 teams by the '22 season is "going to be a scheduling challenge." But he said he is "very sensitive" to the fact the Whitecaps travel "50 to 60 thousand miles every year, and many of those trips are two-plane trips." Garber said, “When I speak to international players it’s the No. 1 thing they speak about.” Garber also said MLS is working with its clubs to "build a Canadian commercial strategy." Garber: "We will have some staff up in Canada. Most importantly that staff will be fully supportive of, and integrated with and tasked with, ensuring that our national strategy is fully integrated with the local strategies of our three clubs. This is not in anyway about creating a level above our clubs. We’re looking at figuring out ways we can grow our national TV ratings. In order to do that we need to make our league more relevant here" (THEPROVINCE.com, 2/6).
A PLACE TO PLAY: Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley said that he "doesn’t foresee public money being used to build a stadium" should one be needed as part of USL club FC Cincinnati's pitch for MLS expansion. Cranley: "No one has talked to us about taxpayer money for a stadium in any manner whatsoever. I don’t envision that.” FC Cincinnati President & GM Jeff Berding has "long maintained there is no imminent plan" to leave the Univ. of Cincinnati's Nippert Stadium, but he "confirmed the club has partnered with MEIS Architects as they continue to explore stadium options." In Cincinnati, Patrick Brennan notes while it is "unclear if Cranley's office was involved in the expansion application, it's clear FC Cincinnati generally has Cranley's full support" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 2/7).
