...the Vancouver ownership group is committed to playing in 2010 and to exploring establishing a team in another market for 2011 and beyond.
A lot of attention has been given to the USL-1's Team Owner Association press release and what it means to professional soccer in northern North America. And there should be a lot of attention given to it. If those clubs are successful in their attempts to separate and form a FIFA sanctioned league they could, conceivably, be in position to try and challenge MLS for top division status in the U.S. and Canada. It's unlikely they would be successful, but such an effort might force MLS' hand a little earlier than it would like on issues such as loosening the salary cap (or getting rid of it - a guy can dream, right?) and moving to a schedule that respects international dates.
It's a story that needs to be followed closely.
But, for now I want to focus in on the last line of that press release, which has escaped much notice up until now.
...exploring establishing a team in another market for 2011 and beyond
Since Vancouver was awarded its MLS team (and let's, for a moment, assume that the BC Place roof issue will not put that in jeopardy) there has always been some rumblings that they would keep the USL-1 rights and try and operate in another B.C. market (Victoria being the most likely). However, this is one of the first times such an idea has been officially put out there, even if it's just in passing.
It's pretty clear that three pro teams are far from enough to properly develop players in this country. If we are to see that number double, we need groups like the Whitecaps to stay committed to the second tier.
It's nice to see that they still appear to be.
8 comments:
I caught that as well, but just assumed that the Whitecaps had committed to starting up another USL team in the area, and that I had missed it.
I know there are plenty that disagree with me, but as long as MLS includes Canadian clubs, what's good for Canadian soccer is good for American soccer. Good news.
Saputo also has the rights for USL for the province of Quebec. Rumors of a team in Quebec City when the Impact move to MLS
Victoria, huh? I know the Aztex have a budding partnership with Victoria Highlanders FC. Maybe that's the start of something with higher-level aspirations than PDL only.
This is a good thing for sure. It sounds similar to what the Kitsap Pumas have done with the Sounders USL rights. They were hoping to be in USL-1 from the get go but have been forced to toil away in the PDL for now. Could make some fun derbies with MLS and USL-1 teams in close proximity.
Saputo just said, in a press point this morning, that he would like to promote Trois-Rivières Attak in USL after Montreal departure for the MLS.
The Highlanders have had USL-1 ambitions from day one, but they weren't connected to the Whitecaps.
The owner of the Highlanders is a fellow by the name of Alex Campbell, who you've probably never heard of but his family used to own half the grocery stores on Vancouver Island. He is, for all intents and purposes, richer than God.
From before the Highlanders took a pitch, everyone was mumbling (and the Highlanders office was quietly encouraging) rumours that Victoria would try to go for USL-1 as soon as the Whitecaps moved up. Things did die down a bit when the Timbers got an MLS franchise as well because, well, the USL-1 Highlanders would have nobody to play.
Hey Duane,
This is not quite the first time this idea was put out there. There was an article you may remember from perhaps 5-6 months back that was in one of the BC Community Newspapers (can't remember if it was Surrey or Delta or something like that) that said the Caps werelooking at Edmonton. I think this would be a much more realistic option than Victoria. The Highlanders already have their thing going on there. I think one of the reasons the Caps held a Beckham game in Edmonton was that they wanted to see what the reaction would be like in that market.
I have asked Lenarduzzi straight up about another USL team in 2011 and he has never said no. The question then becomes, if this other USL is essentially run as a Vancouver farm team, are they permitted into the Voyageur's Cup?
We have had Alex Campbell Jr. on the show and I have chatted with him since. He is actively looking for a partner to bring USL-1 into the Victoria market. But, he is aware of Victoria's limitations at the moment. The stadium would need to be expanded, which costs money. He also has a vision similiar to the Vancouver Whitecaps in growing talent, but he wants to grow talent on Vancouver Island.
I agree with Masster, he Caps are/were looking at Edmonton. They played the Beckham game in Edmonton to "grow the Whitecaps brand in a new market." I would not be surprised to see the PDL team stay in Vancouver and he USL-1 Whitecaps move to Edmonton.
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