Ottawa owner seeks MLS team
Posted: Thursday July 24, 2008 10:27AM ET
Eugene Melnyk is the latest to throw his name in the MLS ring. Known more for his sporting involvement in hockey and horse racing, Melnyk has explored the possibility of bringing an MLS franchise to Ottawa, where he operates the NHL's Senators. Already, basketball icon Steve Nash has made waves of luring the MLS brand to Vancouver, while George Gillett, a man who has ownership ties with Liverpool and who owns the Montreal Canadiens, has expressed interest in a Montreal-based side.
Don Garber, Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
Comments (31)
I think they should put more teams in canada. TFC has proven the fans up there are passionate and will support their side. It's good to see MLS growing but I hope it doesnt grow TOO fast.
MSFC3221 | 07/24/08, 10:34 AM
Report Offensive Commentagreed. Though I doubt Ottawa will win a team before St.Louis, Vancouver, or New York2
smitty6000 | 07/24/08, 11:01 AM
Report Offensive CommentThe Ottawa move might be a bad gamble. The CFL team has folded twice in the last 10 years and the local level political climate is a cluster-**** of incompetent city-councellors. If they can't make football work, I don't think they're ready for soccer.
YODA | 07/24/08, 11:04 AM
Report Offensive Commenti think canada should get another team or 2 but i think the MLS needs to look into more US sides, as this is the US's league... i know we share leagues in alot of sports, but if we are capping the number of teams we are expanding to then we need to focus on local developement...
id rather see STL and Portland get a team before another canadian team
Otergod | 07/24/08, 11:35 AM
Report Offensive CommentI agree with Yoda above - Ottawa can't even keep a CFL team afloat, and the Sens haven't exactly been money-makers. You'd still get better support for a 67's game than for an MLS team.
Besides, if MLS wants to go to the Great White North, I'd think Vancouver and Montreal would have better shots of being successful than Ottawa.
Spaceman Spiff | 07/24/08, 11:53 AM
Report Offensive CommentDo not let Gillet buy anything until he has Liverpool sorted out!
Suavern | 07/24/08, 11:55 AM
Report Offensive CommentVAN and MTL before OTT please....
Evertonius | 07/24/08, 11:57 AM
Report Offensive CommentHuh? Melnyk can't get anything done with his talented Senators in the NHL so, he wants to try his hand at soccer now?
DCruiser | 07/24/08, 12:02 PM
Report Offensive CommentThere should be another team in Canada but not in Ottawa. Montreal or Vancouver definitely deserve a shot before Ottawa.
J. HOVA: BROOKLYN'S OWN | 07/24/08, 12:53 PM
Report Offensive CommentIs Ray Emery gonna play goal for them? He could grow his bud and coca bean plants in the back of the net, where he will spend most of his time retrieving the ball from. Let in another goal, take another hit.
wtnelson | 07/24/08, 01:43 PM
Report Offensive CommentOtergod, I think the ship has sailed on MLS being a US league.
Both Vancouver and Montreal will be in the league come 2011 and both are well deserving with long soccer histories and faithful followings.
Ottawa...not so much
Big Ben | 07/24/08, 01:54 PM
Report Offensive CommentSo many more worthy American and Canadian cities than Ottowa. Montreal and Vancouver both have built/are building stadiums.
IrishR#1: USA! USA! USA! | 07/24/08, 02:30 PM
Report Offensive Commentbig ben- ship hasnt sailed... TFC is the only team so far
altho i can see both Van. and Mon. getting a team, but id rather that happen if we ever expand past 20... id rather see US talent developed
Otergod | 07/24/08, 03:05 PM
Report Offensive CommentI think this guy is confused...soccer is NOT FIELD HOCKEY!!!!
DEVO (SPECTRE) | 07/24/08, 04:09 PM
Report Offensive CommentOter-Just because the team is in Canada doesnt mean it's an all Canadian team, there will still be players out of the US on the sides. What this does do, is give added exposure to Canadian football to younger players and hopefully they can begin to build up a solid national team. We're getting too comfortable with KNOWING we'll qualify for every wc. We need another team to set up and challenge us. In the long run, another Canadian side would benefit all involved.
MSFC3221 | 07/24/08, 04:31 PM
Report Offensive CommentMontreal or Vancouver first. Ottawa's market is pretty weak.
A Vancouver side would have a natural rivalry with the new Seattle Sounders.
A Montreal club could clash with Toronto.
billso | 07/24/08, 04:35 PM
Report Offensive CommentNo more expansion until there is a modicum of improvement in the player pool in the U.S. and Canada. Most teams can't survive the injury to 2 or more players right now.. All expansion does now is fill the coffers of the hegemony running this League. With all the young Americans fleeing to Europe or Mexico instead of MLS right now, I don't think there are enough warm bodies for 2 more teams after Seattle and Philadelphia.
AM | 07/24/08, 05:46 PM
Report Offensive CommentMontreal will get it, I mean they are in the Champion's League...
lakers88 | 07/24/08, 08:05 PM
Report Offensive CommentTFC just lost their team. The commish didn't appreciate all the streamers thrown at him during his halftime interview at the All-Star game and stripped them of their team.
Aurinegro | 07/24/08, 09:37 PM
Report Offensive CommentMLS shouldn't expand past 20 unless it is going to introduce a relegation and delagation system.
The Waiting Game | 07/24/08, 10:33 PM
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