MLS Commissioner Don Garber yesterday said the league needs "more relevance" for the Impact franchise in Montreal, as "it's not just a soccer club," according to Stu Cowan of the MONTREAL GAZETTE. Garber: "I want this team to be as important as any other professional sports team and that means it’s integrated as part of what is important in Montreal." The city is planning a 375th anniversary celebration, and Garber said, "We want this club to be a big part of that." Garber went on to say he believes the Impact "should be selling out every game." Cowan notes a "very good argument" could be made that the Impact passed the CFL Alouettes in relevance "last summer while advancing to the Eastern Conference final before losing to Toronto FC." Game 1 of that conference final "attracted a sellout crowd of 61,004 to Olympic Stadium." The crowd for the Impact’s game against the Crew last Saturday at Saputo Stadium was "generously announced as 17,506 -- more than 3,000 less than a sellout." The Impact "haven’t helped themselves this season," as they sit in last place in the Eastern Conference. But last season, the Impact "only attracted a crowd of 15,027" to Saputo for Game 1 of the conference semifinal against the Red Bulls before "really capturing the city’s attention while coming within one victory of advancing to the MLS Cup." Garber "praised" Impact Owner Joey Saputo, "calling him a 'very special owner' with a commitment to soccer at the MLS level and the youth level" (MONTREAL GAZETTE, 5/17).
NOT THERE YET: The CP's Bill Beacon notes the Impact were "promised an all-star game when they joined" MLS in '12, but so far the league has "found that local interest in its brand of soccer is not entrenched enough to guarantee it would be a success." The league "considered it this year" as part of the city's anniversary celebrations, but "opted instead to have the MLS all-stars face Real Madrid Aug. 2 in Chicago" (CP, 5/16).
