Major League Soccer

[Bison 4 Life]

There should be a team in South Florida or the Carolinas.

[EPJr]

folks keep saying that but it takes a sugar daddy with money to underwrite the process. A MLS team now cost $40M to start up not including a SSS, which is highly recommended

[LULions]

Mets Interested in MLS at Citi Field


A club spokesman told The Post, "We've had good dialogue previously with commissioner Garber, and look forward to continuing that in the future."

http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/soccer/interest_in_mls_at_citi_934YGINfvgmgurbxLiXCNO

Citi Field won't have have the same views for the spectators that Red Bull Arena (European Style architecture in Harrison, NJ).  Does the Cosmos think having Pele's name linked will provide a draw?  Soccer is very popular in the NYC metro area, but I don't know if the area is big enough to support two teams at this time.

[EPJr]

Mets Interested in MLS at Citi Field


A club spokesman told The Post, "We've had good dialogue previously with commissioner Garber, and look forward to continuing that in the future."

http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/soccer/interest_in_mls_at_citi_934YGINfvgmgurbxLiXCNO

Citi Field won't have have the same views for the spectators that Red Bull Arena (European Style architecture in Harrison, NJ).  Does the Cosmos think having Pele's name linked will provide a draw?  Soccer is very popular in the NYC metro area, but I don't know if the area is big enough to support two teams at this time.

Yes - as well as several other former Cosmos players. NYC can probably support two more teams if they are marketed properly and spaced out in the area. The average SSS don't seat more than 20-25,000 fans

[EPJr]

MLS and Adidas ink new eight-year sponsorship deal, enhances youth development

Major League Soccer and Adidas have agreed to a new eight-year sponsorship deal that officials believe solidify and validate the increased growth of the league and calls for significant investment in youth development.

The new deal replaces a 10-year, US$150-million contract between the two organizations that started with the 2005 season. The new agreement will begin with the 2011 season and continue through 2018 — when the league will be in its 22nd season.



http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5hKwuv_KBVR4qDlKHwj80GywFiZIQ

[EPJr]

Timbers gain sponsor for jerseys

PORTLAND, Ore. -- When the Portland Timbers join Major league Soccer next season, their jerseys will be sponsored by Alaska Airlines.

The Timbers announced the new title sponsor for their MLS kits on Thursday at Portland International Airport. Terms of the multiyear deal were not revealed.

The Alaska Airlines logo will be displayed prominently on the jerseys, much like the Seattle Sounders have "XBOX 360" on their kits.

The airline will also partner with the Timbers' community fund on youth-based fitness and educational initiatives, as well as donate 25 tickets to each game to area kids. The company will also be the presenting sponsor for all MLS Timbers youth soccer camps.

http://espn.go.com/sports/soccer/news/_/id/5524048/alaska-airlines-sponsor-portland-timbers-jerseys

[EPJr]

MLS to expand rosters to thirty players for 2011

MLS will be expanding rosters to thirty players next season. MLS currently has rosters of twenty six, with twenty four roster players and two spots for home grown players. Coach Hyndman says the move is about the added games in the MLS season that have come about with expansion. "The roster is going to be extended," Hyndman told the assembled media at FCD training on Wednesday. "We're at a twenty four man roster, and with home grown players we’ve put ourselves really at a twenty six man roster, and next year it’s going to be a thirty man roster. So our league was very sensitive to the fact that we’re going to ask you to do more games but we want you to have more players. For a team like Dallas, who really counts on our homegrown players to be part of a 30-man roster, I think it helps. Now we’re giving more games to our younger players as well.”

http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/soccer/post/_/id/9039/mls-to-expand-rosters-to-thirty-players-for-2011

MLS moves to 34-game schedule in 2011

With two new expansion clubs joining the fray in 2011, Major League Soccer will expand its regular season schedule to 34 games from the current 30-game season. The 2011 campaign will kick off on Saturday, March 19, 2011, and the 34 matches will be played in the span of 32 weeks with the regular season coming to a close on October 22.

The league also announced that it will not break for the CONCACAF Gold Cup or any other international competitions next year. In 2010 there was a two-week hiatus in MLS league play during the World Cup group stage. The 2011 postseason format, the date for MLS Cup 2011 and the format for the 2011 regular-season schedule will be announced by MLS at a later date.

http://www.coloradorapids.com/news/2010/09/mls-moves-34-game-schedule-2011

[Bison 4 Life]

DC United situaion is getting alot worse. I see them relocating very soon.

[EPJr]

The USSF Division-2 Pro League playoff schedule is as follows:

No. 1 Rochester vs. No. 8 Puerto Rico
Leg 1: @ Puerto Rico 2:0 Rochester
Leg 2: @ Rochester, Saturday

No. 4 Portland vs. No. 5 Vancouver
Leg 1: @ Vancouver 2:0 Portland
Leg 2: @ Portland, Sunday

No. 2 Carolina vs. No. 7 Minnesota
Leg 1 Minnesota 0:0 Carolina
Leg 2: @ Carolina, Saturday

No. 3 Austin vs. No. 6 Montreal
Leg 1: Montreal 2:0 Austin
Leg 2: @ Austin, Saturday

The first legs of the semfinals will be played Oct. 13 or 14 and the return  legs Oct. 16 or 17.


The first leg of the finals will be played on Oct. 23 or 24, and the return leg will be on Oct. 30 or 31.

[EPJr]

SEMIFINALS 1st LEG
Thu, October 14, 2010
7:30 pm Montreal Impact  vs  Carolina RailHawks  Stade Saputo   
8:05 pm Puerto Rico Islanders  vs  Vancouver Whitecaps FC  Estadio Juan Ramon Loubriel

SEMIFINALS 2nd LEG
Sun, October 17, 2010
4:00 pm Vancouver Whitecaps FC  vs  Puerto Rico Islanders  Swangard Stadium 
6:00 pm Carolina RailHawks  vs  Montreal Impact  WakeMed Soccer Park

[EPJr]

Portland Timbers sign first MLS players


The first official signing is forward Bright Dike, who scored 10 goals for the 2010 USSF Timbers. Drafted by Columbus and cut during camp, Dike was a pleasant surprise for the Timbers and provided a wonderful compliment up top.

The second signing is goalkeeper Steve Cronin, who joined the club in 2009 and helped solidify the Timbers backline defense. Cronin had a solid season statistically for the Timbers, and his play improved immensely after a challenging stretch in May and June.

The third signing is the 2010 Golden Boot winner for most goals in 2010 in USSF Division 2, midfielder Ryan Pore. Pore was simply outstanding in May and June, single handedly carrying the Timbers offense. While he struggled during the summer months, he resumed his form late and partnered with d**e to give the Timbers a solid one-two scoring punch.

The fourth signing has some familiarity with the Timbers, and was chasing Pore for the most goals scored in 2010, but came up just short. Former Austin Aztex forward Eddie Johnson will join the MLS Timbers, and has an impressive scoring resume as the Aztex’s franchise leader in goals scored, total points and assists. Johnson has also played overseas, appearing in matches for Belgian club Royal Antwerp, English club Coventry City and legendary English football club Manchester United. The Timbers have made some solid choices with their first signings, combining experience with scoring flair, and I love this early approach to filling the roster


http://blog.oregonlive.com/timbers/2010/10/portland_timbers_sign_first_ml.html

[EPJr]

Columbus v. Colorado
Oct 28 9pm ET
at Colorado, 1st leg
Dick's Sporting Goods Park
ESPN2

Nov 6 4pm ET
at Columbus, 2nd leg
Columbus Crew Stadium
TeleFutura/Regional TV


Real Salt Lake v. Dallas
Oct 30 5pm ET
Real Salt Lake at Dallas, 1st leg
Pizza Hut Park
FSC

Nov 6 10pm ET
 at Real Salt Lake, 2nd leg
Rio Tinto Stadium
FSC


New York v. San Jose
Oct 30 10pm ET
at San Jose, 1st leg
Buck Shaw Stadium
TeleFutura/Regional TV

Nov 4 8pm ET
at New York, 2nd leg
Red Bull Arena
ESPN2


LA Galaxy v. Seattle
Oct 31 8pm ET
at Seattle, 1st leg
Qwest Field
ESPN2

Nov 7 9pm ET
at LA Galaxy, 2nd leg
The Home Depot Center
ESPN

[EPJr]

Columbus v. Colorado
1st leg - Columbus 0:1 Colorado

Nov 6 4pm ET
at Columbus, 2nd leg
Columbus Crew Stadium
TeleFutura/Regional TV


Real Salt Lake v. FC Dallas
1st leg - Real Salt Lake 1:2 FC Dallas

Nov 6 10pm ET
at Real Salt Lake, 2nd leg
Rio Tinto Stadium
FSC


New York v. San Jose
1st leg - New York 1:0 San Jose

Nov 4 8pm ET
at New York, 2nd leg
Red Bull Arena
ESPN2

LA Galaxy v. Seattle
1st leg - LA Galaxy 1:0 Seattle

Nov 7 9pm ET
at LA Galaxy, 2nd leg
The Home Depot Center
ESPN

[WAHBCUSportsFan]

LA Galaxy scored that scary goal against my Sounders today...grr!!!

[EPJr]

New York 2:3 San Jose

1st leg - New York 1:0 San Jose
2nd leg - New York 1:3 San Jose