The MLS Commish Speaks...

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MLS expands rosters, relaunches Reserve Division
Moves are designed to continue to incentivize player development


YORK – The 2010 season is the first in which homegrown players have left their mark in MLS.

D.C. United’s Andy Najar became the youngest Rookie of the Year in US pro sports history, New York’s Juan Agudelo earned a US national team call-up at 17, and 19-year-old Tristan Bowen made an important contribution to the LA Galaxy’s Supporters’ Shield run.

Now the league's player development movement is poised for an even more aggressive push with the launch of the Reserve Division and the unveiling of new roster rules by MLS.

Teams can now sign an unlimited number of homegrown players per season while rosters sizes will expand to 30 players beginning in 2011.

Six spots of those roster spots will be reserved for players 24 and under, and they will not count against a team’s salary budget, which for 2011 will be $2.67 million per team.

MLS Commissioner Don Garber also announced the relaunch of the Reserve Division, where young players will be able to cut their teeth in competitive matches while continuing to train with the first team squad

www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/mls-expands-rosters-relaunches-reserve-division

MLS Commissioner Don Garber on Tuesday announced details of the relaunch of the MLS Reserve Division for the 2011 season.

“It’s their strong view [of the MLS Technical Committee] that we need to have a Reserve Division that’s a central part of the player development ladder in the United States,” Garber said on teleconference call.

The Reserve Division season will consist of a 10-game regular season. Clubs will be split into three regions consisting of six teams each. Teams will play opponents in their region twice a season. Matches will take place the day after the first teams or during midweek.

The best eight teams in the Reserve Division regular season will advance to the playoffs, which will determine a champion.

In addition to participating in the Reserve Division, MLS reserve squads may also schedule matches against other teams, including NASL or USL-Pro clubs.

Eligibility rules will also be strict as to which players can participate in these matches.

“These matches can only have players who are on the club’s roster or are on trial with the club or are members of the club’s academy,” Garber said.

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Garber: Expansion conversation goes beyond NY

MLS Commissioner admits numerous markets have shown interest


NEW YORK – MLS Commissioner Don Garber has not ruled out the possibility that another expansion market could leap ahead of New York in the race to become the league’s 20th club.

“It’s possible that another market could jump in there,” Garber said in Friday's annual media teleconference call leading up to First Kick. “If that happens, we’ll just move our efforts and our plans in New York to a later time period.”

The MLS Commissioner proceeded to cite several markets that are involved in discussions with the league office: San Diego, Arizona, Las Vegas, Detroit, San Antonio, South Florida and Atlanta, where a potential ownership group is led by Arthur Blank, owner of the NFL's Falcons.

The talks with San Diego and Arizona were described as happening “very recently.”

Garber made clear his position on the South Florida market when asked to comment on the Fort Lauderdale Strikers and the NASL club’s recent hiring of Tim Robbie as team president.

www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/garber-expansion-conversation-goes-beyond-ny

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Garber: Boston, DC next targets for new stadiums

Commish says Revs owners committed to venue; DC still tough

NEW YORK – MLS Commissioner Don Garber said the New England Revolution and D.C. United are working on joining the ranks of MLS clubs with new soccer-specific stadiums to call their own.

“I’ve told the Krafts on numerous occasions, that if they were able to build a downtown stadium in Boston, it would be Seattle in terms of its excitement and its success,” Garber said

Garber highlighted the efforts and investment of DC management in its pursuit for a new home for the club. He said millions upon millions of dollars in resources have been used by the club on lobbyists, architectural designs and plans over recent years.


www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/garber-boston-dc-next-targets-new-stadiums

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Garber: Temporary stadiums a solution for teams

Firm behind Vancouver facility may be used in other markets

VANCOUVER, B.C. – While Vancouver Whitecaps FC wait for renovations to their permanent home to be completed, they’re playing almost their entire 2011 debut season at a facility that was built in 111 days – and will be razed to the ground as soon as it’s done serving its purpose.

That’s an ideal solution for some other MLS teams, too, according to Don Garber.

The MLS Commissioner told reporters during halftime of the Vancouver-Toronto FC match at Empire Field on Saturday that the league has explored temporary-stadium solutions for clubs that are struggling to get their own soccer-specific stadiums built. And the successful launch of the ‘Caps’ temporary home is an excellent example.

Empire Field (above) was constructed in less than four months at a $14.5 million price tag by Swiss engineering firm Nüssli AG, which has erected similar modular structures in a number of countries including Germany, Austria and Australia.

www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/garber-temporary-stadiums-solution-teams

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MLS Commissioner "big proponent" of new format for MLS Cup final

Garber visits Vancouver, discusses title game, playoffs, and downtown stadiums

WATCH: www.mlssoccer.com/videos?catid=114&id=19680

Although there is no timeline on a potential change in the format for the title match, Garber did hint once more that the new league schedule for 2012 – which he said would be released a lot earlier than last season -- will likely not be balanced and instead the league may adopt a format that “can take advantage of a number of key rivalries.”

www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2011/10/02/mls-commissioner-big-proponent-new-format-mls-cup-final

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Garber: NYC still aim for 20th team, but Cosmos not ready
Commissoner Garber: Investors interested, stadium may be closer


While revealing that he was hosting three prospective investors for a New York team in his suite at Red Bull Arena, the Commissioner also indicated that the New York Cosmos are not at the forefront of the discussions.

“I don’t know that they’re involved,” Garber said. “They’ve got some things that they’re trying to work out within their ownership group. But as I‘ve said many times, I applaud what they’ve been doing. They’re doing a great job building their brand and when we’re ready to get that team launched and they want to be a part of it, we’ll be happy to talk to them.”

Regardless of the status of the various investor groups, however, Garber was unequivocal that the key to landing a second team in New York City was a stadium plan. He cited Flushing Meadow Park, the area around Citi Field, home of baseball's New York Mets, and Randall’s Island as the areas that are being studied

www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2011/10/12/garber-nyc-still-aim-20th-team-cosmos-not-ready