Philly Expansion?

As the MLS season comes into its stretch run, so, too, does the competition for the league's 15th and 16th franchises. League officials say they plan to stay at 16 teams for some time after the next expansion. Whoever loses out on this expansion bid may have a long wait on their hands.

The Atlantic City Press seems to think MLS expansion for the Philly area is a good idea. It lays out a pretty good case, while looking at other possible cities.

Seattle the next city to get an MLS team?

According to Jonah Freedman of CNNSI and Soccer By Ives, Seattle is the next city to get a new MLS franchise. Seattle is already home to the Sounders of the United Soccer Leagues First Division and the MLS team will keep its name. The new Sounders will begin play for the 2009 season.

MLS' goal is to expand to 16 franchises by the 2010 season. The league currently has 13 teams and announced in July that it would add San Jose, Calif., as its 14th franchise for '08.

Seattle had been at the forefront of as many as eight candidate cities for further expansion. Portland, Ore., was also a consideration for a new club in the Pacific Northwest.

The new Seattle franchise would bring the number of teams in the MLS Western Conference to eight. If the league wants to balance its schedule, it must now add an Eastern Conference team. St. Louis and Philadelphia are said to be the frontrunners.