With the rising success of Major League Soccer in general and the Toronto FC specifically, two more Canadian cities are showing enthusiastic interest in securing an MLS expansion team. While no announcement is imminent, the cities of Vancouver and Ottawa have ownership groups actively trying to gain entrance into the league.

The Vancouver bid is unique for two reasons. First of all, Steve Nash of the NBA’s Phoenix Suns is said to be involved in the bid. Nash, who grew up in Vancouver and played soccer growing up, wants the Vancouver team to be a non-profit organization that gives profits made by the team back into the Vancouver community. The money from the profits would be used to fund area youth soccer.

On September 16th, an Ottawa based ownership group will officially enter the mix to get an MLS team during a press conference. The ownership group, which is the same group that owns the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League, will reportedly announce their plans to build a top of the line soccer stadium in the city of Ottawa.

Currently MLS has 14 teams, with all but the Toronto FC being located in the United States. Next season, an expansion team in Seattle will be added. The 2010 season will see the addition of a 16th team, this one in Philadelphia. Both the Vancouver and Ottawa bids are believed to be interested in joining the league beginning in the 2011 season.

While both Canadian bids are believed to have a lot of support throughout the league, many other cities are vying for a spot in MLS. Among those cities believed to be interested are Las Vegas, Miami, Portland, San Antonio and St. Louis. Additionally, the ownership group of the New York Mets of Major League Baseball is reportedly interested in adding a second MLS team in New York, joining the New York Red Bulls.

Tags: canadian soccer, major league soccer, MLS, Soccer, Toronto FC
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