MLS Fast Expansion

In its' 13th year of existence, Major League Soccer is growing rather quickly. Currently there are fourteen teams playing in the 2008 season. By 2010, the league is hoping to add two new expansion teams, the Seattle Sounders in 2009 and a team in Philadelphia in 2010. In Seattle, Qwest Field held a friendly international game between Mexico and China. The stadium drew 56,000 fans for a friendly match that does not include the United States. People in Seattle love their soccer and they deserve a team. Last year, Toronto was given an expansion team and already has 14,000season ticket holders. San Jose was given their Earthquakes back after they finally built a soccer-specific stadium in the San Francisco Bay Area. Cities keep putting bids in for a new soccer franchise in Major League Soccer. Miami had a team called the Miami Fusion FC but the team dissolved in 2001. Miami is showing interest in bringing professional soccer back to their city but nothing official has occurred. With the league growing every year, the league as well as soccer should be gaining popularity across the United States. When the Los Angeles Galaxy signed David Beckham, more people watched professional soccer because they finally knew a name that was playing.