Official: Portland Will Enter Bid for MLS Expansion Franchise

It’s no longer a question of ‘will we or won’t we’. It’s official and it’s exciting. Portland will be entering the race to be the next expansion target for Major League Soccer. And we’ve got a deadline.

Earlier today, MLS officials provided a timeline for candidate cities to submit their bids, citing an October 15th deadline. Bloggers and expansion watchers had only a couple of hours to comment on Portland’s chances given what was widely regarded to be a very tight timeline, before Paulson announced his intention to submit a bid by October 15th.

Those who follow the MLS expansion process from afar know that Paulson has hinted at the use of public support to upgrade PGE Park for both MLS and PSU Football. The hope among those pushing for expansion to other cities was that the October 15th date would be too soon for a bid that involved city decision makers since Mayor Elect and MLS supporter Sam Adams would not assume his new post until November.

That’s not the case. As a result of the economic revitalization aspects of the plan in addition to the tourism, business and cultural and public facilities elements, there is already broad support in the Portland City Council for the project that would also be a green light for MLS. While the city will surely allow for due process and public feedback, this could theoretically be approved in the very near term.

With what Paulson describes as “the most ardent and authentic soccer fanbase in the United States,” as well as a commitment to invest in the historic jewel that is PGE Park, Portland should rightly emerge as the city to beat for MLS expansion in 2011.

See the full announcement below:


PAULSON, PORTLAND TO SUBMIT APPLICATION FOR MLS EXPANSION FRANCHISE
For immediate release: July 31, 2008

PORTLAND, Ore. – Merritt Paulson, owner and president of the Portland Timbers and Portland Beavers, today announced plans to submit an application for a Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise that would play at PGE Park in downtown Portland, Ore.

MLS today announced the timeline and application process for the league’s next two expansion teams, with plans to add two clubs by 2011 to bring the league to 18 teams.

MLS, which will consider markets in the United States and Canada, has set an Oct. 15, 2008, deadline for applications.

“There is no doubt in my mind that Major League Soccer in Portland would both add a tremendous amount to the league and have a phenomenally positive impact on our community and state,” Paulson said. “We have the most ardent and authentic soccer fanbase in the United States, and Soccer City USA deserves a Major League Soccer team."

In the coming months, we look forward to making an exceptionally strong case to both MLS and our community as to why Portland should be designated as one of the next two MLS expansion cities.”

MLS has indicated that an announcement regarding the next two expansion clubs will take place during the fourth quarter of 2008 or the first quarter of 2009.

About Major League Soccer
Headquartered in New York City, Major League Soccer is the top-flight professional soccer league in the United States and features many stars from the U.S. and around the world. Now in its 13th season, the 14 teams in MLS are: the Chicago Fire, Colorado Rapids, Chivas USA, Columbus Crew, D.C. United, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, Kansas City Wizards, Los Angeles Galaxy, New York Red Bulls, New England Revolution, Real Salt Lake, San Jose Earthquakes and Toronto FC. Seattle Sounders FC will join the League in 2009 and a Philadelphia expansion team will debut in 2010.

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