Tuesday November 13th 2009

[Kurt]

This will be a day many so called true Timber soccer fans nightmare will come true. With all the hate this group can muster will not be enough to stop the MLS playing in Seattle in 2009. This has been the worst kept secret of the year. It all started with someone looking into bringing the MLS to the NW. Well we all saw what a joke that was as the one who got this deal done was Paul Allen. Why did it work for 2009 and not back in 2005? If you remember Seattle was in the hunt for a MLS side but came up short as Salt Lake City came up with the money first. It seems Seattle is getting a sweet deal in that the MLS policy of Soccer Specific Stadium will not apply. With Allen as the owner of Qwest the rent for the MLS side will be free thus they will not have to build a stadium. You think about it this is a big money saver. So come Tuesday we will find out what other deals the owners have made with the MLS. Will the name be the same as the current USL side? Will the colors still be Blue or will it be Green? Yes Green has been in the mix.
Will there be a ULS side in 2008 and beyond? This is major news for the NW and will have a big impact as well. Will Vancouver and Portland make the jump as well? Vancouver is on it's way once the stadium deal is ironed out.

How many people from Portland will buy season tickets to the MLS Seattle side and will that impact the attendance for the Timbers? We do know that many season ticket holders for the Seahawks and Mariners live in Portland and it could happen with the MLS side as well. I do not think it will effect the attendance to the Timbers as the fan base is loyal to the Timbers.

So Tuesday we find out the last details

[Kurt]

From the MLS site:www.mlsinseattle.com/Article.aspx?id=460

What was not said in the MLS site is the Sounders will play their last season in the USL in 2008.
Some of those playes could be protected for the 2009 MLS side.

[Pounder]

First, the grab bag... Don Garber has been heard to say that the NFL owner involved in an NFL stadium for MLS is the alternative possibility. Paul Allen wasn't involved in 2005, and neither was the spectre of Initiative 91 (no more public funds for stadia in Seattle without the bulk of revenues going back to the city- something being threatened for the county and the state). Interesting that "Sounders" isn't guaranteed past next year, but is that Hanauer fearing the name has no value, or a European tie "possible?" Also, San Jose has first rights to all USL players leading to their re-inaugural next year, something obviously open to Seattle next year.

Enough new people in the Army and enough souls amongst the long-timers know the score here. California Victory are gone and not being replaced for at least a year (and, despite what the USL press release says, I HIGHLY doubt they'll get a new Bay Area club). The PDL Fresno owner and folks in Victoria have taken note of the situation in Seattle and Vancouver, suggesting a chilling effect on further western expansion in USL-1. It certainly helps that Merritt Paulson has the trust of the vast majority of fans, and he's making loud noises about bringing the Timbers to MLS. No guarantees, but certainly possibilities. Hopefully, one of those isn't the Timbers to PDL.