By Greg Douglas
SCENE & HEARD: Those six ownership groups that have submitted applications to become 2011 expansion franchises in Major League Soccer can forget about gaining an earlier entry date should the 2010 bid from Philadelphia fail.
"Everything is moving forward in Philadelphia," MLS senior vice-president Dan Courtemance said Friday afternoon. "In fact, the county just today voted to approve $30 million in financing for the stadium."
After Philadelphia had been approved as a 16th franchise, MLS commissioner Don Garber said two more teams would be added for 2011, the first of which would be announced "during the fourth quarter of 2008" and the second "in early 2009". Yet the waiting game continues for Vancouver, Ottawa, Miami, St. Louis and Portland.
Courtemanche now says the two successful bids will be made public before March 19. The delay stems from the fact Garber has visited every potential city with the exception of Ottawa. "That's his next stop," Courtemanche says, "and it will happen before the end of this month."
