By BOB MACKIN
Au revoir, Montreal. Hello, Vancouver?
Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber announced Friday in his state of the league address that Montreal's expansion bid was withdrawn for financial reasons, leaving Vancouver and five other cities seeking two entries in the 2011 season.
Garber called the Vancouver bid "one of the best I've ever seen." Greg Kerfoot and Jeff Mallett, half the group wanting to move the Whitecaps into BC Place Stadium, met with MLS officials on Friday. Atlanta, Miami, Ottawa, Portland, Ore., and St. Louis are the other bidders. Garber said the new franchises would be announced before the 2009 season.
Whitecaps' president Bob Lenarduzzi said the Montreal departure was "disappointing" from a national perspective.
