MLS Expansion - Canadian teams the favorites

I've enclosed a link to an article from ESPN ad its been widely reported that MLS will add 2 more expansion teams in 2011 and it seems like the front runners are Montreal and Vancouver. I've written about this before and I stand by my opinion that I think it would be a really good idea to add teams in Montreal and Vancouver, assuming that MLS will have the same type of impact in those cities that its had in Toronto. Once MLS adds those 2 teams in 2011, it will have a league of 18 teams, and one that is comparable in structure to most of the top leagues in the world. Its very important that MLS selects the best markets in the U.S. and Canada so that the league can grow and develop all 18 of its teams. I would hope that they would hold off for at least a few years after that to ensure that all of the teams have a strong infrastructure, and especially that the smaller market teams such as Kansas City, Salt Lake, Columbus, San Jose, and Houston are in solid positions financially to be able to compete with the other clubs.

The key to the success of MLS is that it follows the path of other American pro sports leagues in that each team must be capable of winning the championship in any given year. MLS won't be able to truly survive as a league in the U.S. unless this happens and this didn't happen with the NASL where it really was the New York Cosmos and everyone else. MLS isn't like any other soccer league in the world where the fans will just show up because they have supported their team for years. These are all relatively new teams and they need to attract an audience in each city. Its not realistic to expect each franchise to be a winner, only one can win per year. However, if each team at least has the opportunity to win then there is a much greater likelihood that each team will be able to establish themselves. It also is the one factor that could propel MLS forward as a respected soccer league since it would be different then the European leagues.

Lets face it, the only truly competitive league in Europe is the Champions League. None of the big European leagues have a competitive balance amongst the teams. Its usually the same handful of teams that have the opportunity to win, while the others exist purely to make up the numbers. MLS will not succeed if it follows this pattern and if the best markets are in Canada then so be it. There will still be 15 out of 18 teams in the U.S. and plenty of opportunities for U.S. players to play for them. In addition a stronger, more profitable league will increase the likelihood that the top American players will stay.