MLS seeks two expansion teams by 2011

[Vindaloo]

Vancouver Canucks owner Canucks Sports and Entertainment or it's owner Francesco Aquilini has put in interest for a MLS franchise and met with MLS in April. Either as a partner to Whitecaps owner Kerfoot, or on their own. If this doesn't solidify an MLS ownership for Vancouver then I don't know what would. St Louis or Portland don't have anything close to what is happening in Vancouver with a possible ownership - billionaires' Kerfoot, Canucks Sports and Entertainment, Steve Nash!



Jim Jamieson, Sports Reporter
Published: Sunday, July 27, 2008

According to sources, Vancouver Canucks owner Francesco Aquilini is also interested in investing in the burgeoning MLS, whether as a partner with Kerfoot or through his own expansion franchise bid.

Whitecaps president Bob Lenarduzzi acknowledged on Saturday that Aquilini and Kerfoot have had infrequent discussions over the past year -- the most recent a couple of weeks ago -- about an MLS franchise for Vancouver.

Aquilini's interest in an MLS franchise makes sense on a lot of levels. Besides having the deep pockets to afford an expansion fee that could be as high as $40 million, the family has long standing expertise in real estate development. As partners, the family could be helpful in solving the red-tape logjam that has kept the waterfront stadium in limbo for four years. As a separate bid they could develop and finance their own stadium.

http://www.canada.com/theprovince/ne...0-86c8b30b9ced