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O CANADA
Tuesday’s dramatic all-Canadian Eastern Conference Final between Montreal Impact and Toronto FC was Canada’s most watched MLS game of all time, drawing an average audience of more than 1 million viewers on TSN and RDS and more than 3.6 million total unique viewers.
The Impact held on for a 3-2 victory in front of a crowd of over 60,000 at Olympic Stadium, setting up next Wednesday’s decisive second leg in Toronto (4 p.m. PT on TSN).
DROGBA BIDS FAREWELL
Following Tuesday’s match, Didier Drogba confirmed that he will not return to Montreal Impact in 2017 with his contract expiring at the end of the season – though he did not say whether or not he will retire. The longtime Chelsea FC striker joined Montreal in July 2015.
“STEVIE G” CALLS IT QUITS
From one legend to another, Steven Gerrard announced his retirement on his Instagram account Thursday after a season-and-a-half with LA Galaxy.
The 36-year-old, who spent a whopping 17 consecutive seasons at Liverpool FC before joining LA in 2015, wrote that he’s now considering “a number of options” and will make an announcement “very soon” about the next stage of his career.
EXPANSION UPDATE
So we already know that Atlanta United FC and Minnesota United FC are set to join MLS in 2017, and that LAFC – and potentially Miami FC – will follow in 2018. But we also know that MLS hopes to eventually expand to 28 teams, which means there are four more spots up for grabs.
Enter FC Cincinnati and SC STL.
Both these franchises made some news over the last week in their push for an MLS expansion side. FC Cincinnati, who set a new USL record with an average attendance of 17,296 this past season, will get a face-to-face visit from MLS commissioner Don Garber on November 29. Meanwhile, a Missouri-based ownership group has announced a sweeping plan to pursue an MLS expansion team in St. Louis – and a new downtown, soccer specific stadium.
