City expanding into USA

[Ted Hughes]

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/ ... in_america

[andeez nutz]

Yes please. And send recovering players to get fit playing in the mls. Like a farm team. Maybe they can invest in the Philly union and start loaning players over here.

[Fish111]

As one of the comments said. Great idea, we have nothing lose.

[lets all have a disco]

Surely we wont just buy a team and loan players etc.

I reckon it would be more of a new franchise thing,with our current badge used in some way maybe changed slightly but with a full use of the CITY name etc.

[CitizenYank]

I am writing this post from the ceiling of my apartment:

I am a native of Portland, Oregon and have several friends who work for
Nike. The city of Portland (PDX or Stumptown) has been awarded a MLS
Franchise (named the Timbers) that starts playing in the league as of
2011.

http://www.portlandtimbers.com/

The Portland Timbers firm is called the "The Timber's Army"
and is probably the most emotive, rabid group of fans in North America.
They don't call this place, Soccer City, USA, without good reason.

I can't think of another potential US club that would suit Man City
any better than the Timbers.

[lets all have a disco]

I am writing this post from the ceiling of my apartment:

I am a native of Portland, Oregon and have several friends who work for
Nike. The city of Portland (PDX or Stumptown) has been awarded a MLS
Franchise (named the Timbers) that starts playing in the league as of
2011.

http://www.portlandtimbers.com/

The Portland Timbers firm is called the "The Timber's Army"
and is probably the most emotive, rabid group of fans in North America.
They don't call this place, Soccer City, USA, without good reason.

I can't think of another potential US club that would suit Man City
any better than the Timbers.

City Timbers?

[ja0005]

And then we could "sell" them, say, Benjani for £200 million to balance the books.

[Beeks]

How about

The Portland Citizens

[CitizenYank]

I am writing this post from the ceiling of my apartment:

I am a native of Portland, Oregon and have several friends who work for
Nike. The city of Portland (PDX or Stumptown) has been awarded a MLS
Franchise (named the Timbers) that starts playing in the league as of
2011.

http://www.portlandtimbers.com/

The Portland Timbers firm is called the "The Timber's Army"
and is probably the most emotive, rabid group of fans in North America.
They don't call this place, Soccer City, USA, without good reason.

I can't think of another potential US club that would suit Man City
any better than the Timbers.

City Timbers?

Well, I don't know about buying out the current owner Merritt Paulson, since he's
spent a good part of the last five years getting the franchise rights and dealing
with the revisionist City Council.... but I think an agreement could be reached
for a possible Academy and first refusal on future players.

The NW of the US is one of the most fertile areas for soccer talent and not just
home grown players. Many foreign athletes come to Oregon/Washington and
enroll in college teams here. Danny Mwanga, the number one pick of the Superdraft
came out of Oregon State University last year.

And just look through the US U-21, U-17 teams to see what I am talking about.

Former Timbers players from the NASL days in the 70's, like West Ham's Clive Charles.
(may he rest in peace) founded a string of youth programs at local schools that
are still here and prospering.

[Beeks]

like West Ham's Clive Charles.
(may he rest in piece)

Any particular piece?

[CitizenYank]

like West Ham's Clive Charles.
(may he rest in piece)

Any particular piece?

In peace, sorry. But if you don't like my idea, then try the Seattle Sounders,
you already dumped Steve Daley on them once. HAHAHAHA

[andeez nutz]

if it does happen, it will make the MLS better.. and that is a good thing for the sport over here.

[andeez nutz]

here is an article from espn

MLS wants English to buy U.S. teams
Associated Press

March 3, 2010
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MANCHESTER, England -- Having failed to convince Barcelona and Real Madrid to invest in Major League Soccer teams or start new franchises, MLS commissioner Don Garber is turning his focus to English Premier League clubs.

Barcelona had been looking to buy partial ownership of a MLS expansion team but negotiations collapsed. However, Garber hasn't given up on forging partnerships that could not only bring in investment but also new methods and links with bigger competitions.

"We think it would be smart for us to have an international team sitting around our board table and helping to influence the way we think and perhaps connect us even more closer with the international community," Garber said in an interview with The Associated Press at SoccerEx.

"We tried with FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, and we will continue to talk to the Spanish clubs while finding some way to see if there is an investment opportunity with any of the English clubs. We are not anywhere close to that on any level yet."

One club that could be persuaded to invest in north America is Manchester City. Garber met Monday with City chief executive Garry Cook, whose club has been transformed by a major injection of money since Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mansour's takeover in September 2008.

"Part of the relaunch of that team is for them to think strategically about their business and where international expansion fits into that, and where the U.S. might fit into that," Garber said. "We've had very preliminary discussions about that. They've got a lot of figuring out to do on their own end in terms of what their international plans are."

Garber argues that MLS teams need greater exposure with soccer outside the United States to improve playing standards.

"We could learn a lot about youth development and coaching and the technical side of things," Garber said. "On the technical side, we still need help and I like to think we are not creating an American version of the world game. I would like to think we are part of the world game, and in order to do that we need to have more deep association with the global football community."

A recent trend has been Americans buying English clubs, with Malcolm Glazer at Manchester United, George Gillett Jr. and Tom Hicks at Liverpool, Randy Lerner at Aston Villa and Ellis Short at Sunderland. Stan Kroenke has a majority stake in Arsenal, and owns MLS's Colorado Rapids.

"Just like it's good in my view to have American sports team owners in England, it would good for MLS to have an English club investing in our league," Garber said. "I would love to see an opportunity for an equity investment. It would be good for us."

A new MLS team could be bought for about $40 million, Garber says, in the next round of expansion.

Philadelphia is the only new team in 2010, while Portland, Ore., and Vancouver will join the MLS in 2011.

Some English clubs already play in the U.S. in the summer, with Manchester United, Manchester City and Tottenham possibly making the trip this July. Garber said helping to grow the sport is the next logical step for interested clubs.

"Whether it's an existing team or an expansion team is irrelevant to me," Garber said. "But I would see over the next number of years us continuing our connection with international football clubs, and having it go beyond representing them in the United States for brand development and fan opportunities."

[Kyle]

Im calling it right now, The Grand Rapids Citizens. You heard it here first people. My city of 250,000 people is yearning for a football team an it would put portland to shame. Talent in this midwestern rural community is at the brim (one time we even sent a player to play at Michigan State!)





Ok damn, I guess you can have it Portland.

[john@staustell]

People 'looking for investment' are usually broke (Liverpool, W Ham, Portsmouth etc) so I'm sure City will be very wary of MLS commissioner Don Garber 'looking for investment'. I doubt there would be much return on it tbh.

Having said that this and the IPL idea may be part of a grand strategy to increase the whole revenue/income stream of Manchester City, maybe with one eye on Platini's hare-brained schemes. Rather than as a 'wise' investment.

[DoomMerchant]

Im calling it right now, The Grand Rapids Citizens. You heard it here first people. My city of 250,000 people is yearning for a football team an it would put portland to shame. Talent in this midwestern rural community is at the brim (one time we even sent a player to play at Michigan State!)





Ok damn, I guess you can have it Portland.

[youtube]-JKwTwX6kPw[/youtube]

[ashton287]

To the MLS and anyone else concerned

Stop calling it soccer and maybe the rest of the FOOTBALLing world will pay more attention you major league tits.

Yours sincerely
Ashton, motherfuckers.

[s1ty m]

Anyone with doubts about the lon term investment in City is mad. These people are triple serious!

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

Portland City Destroyers?

[Vhero]

Great news for everybody really but just realised when I saw this on there... There a crystal palace in the US?? http://www.palacebaltimore.com/index.html There bloody everywhere!!!