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SPORTS Thursday 27 February 2020

Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber speaks during the Major League Soccer 25th
In this Oct. 8, 2019, file photo, Nashville Predators head coach Season kickoff event in New York, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2020.
Peter Laviolette watches the action in an NHL hockey game Associated Press
against the San Jose Sharks, in Nashville, Tenn.
Associated Press MLS owners predict league will

Laviolette to coach surpass MLB, Premier League

Team USA at world By RONALD BLUM MLS is expanding to 26 in the U.S. to that of the

hockey championships AP Sports Writer teams with the addition NFL, which is celebrating
its 100th anniversary this
NEW YORK (AP) — Los of David Beckham's In-
Angeles FC lead owner ter Miami and Nashville, year.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. The tournament being held Larry Berg predicts Major and plans are in place "The momentum that we
(AP) — Peter Laviolette is in Switzerland will mark the League Soccer will sur- to reach 30 franchises by have I think has a chance
returning to the bench af- fourth time Laviolette has pass Major League Base- 2022 — triple the league's to take us to where the
ter being selected as the coached the U.S. at the ball in popularity during low from 2002-04. The NFL is today," he said.
coach of the United States world championships, and the next 10 years and In- league has increasingly Beckham boosted the
men's national team com- first since 2014, when the ter Miami owner Jorge attracted better players league when he played
peting at the world hockey Americans lost to Czech Mas maintains it will be from South America. for the LA Galaxy from
championships in May. Republic in the quarterfi- of higher quality than the "I think the good news 2007-12, a deal that gave
The move was announced nals in Belarus. He was also Premier League and La is players want to play him the right to buy an ex-
by USA Hockey on Wednes- U.S. coach in 2004, when Liga by 2045. here," Berg said. "We're pansion fee at a discount.
day, and comes seven the team won a bronze The pair spoke at the the United States of Amer- "Do I think in the next 10
weeks after Laviolette was medal, and '05. league's kickoff event ica. People want to live years it will challenge the
fired by the Nashville Pred- Laviolette also coached Wednesday, three days here. It's an incredible life- European leagues? It's
ators. the national team to an ahead of the start of its style. The infrastructure is what we all strive for. It's
Laviolette ranks 16th in NHL eighth-place finish at the 25th season. fantastic." what we will strive to com-
wins with 637 covering four 2006 Olympics. MLS anticipates the status Mas co-owns the Miami mit to," Beckham said. "This
teams over 18 seasons, As a player, Laviolette of soccer in the U.S. will be team that launches this should never be a league
including the 2006 Stan- was a two-time Olympian boosted when the Ameri- weekend, partnering where players from Eu-
ley Cup champion Caro- in representing the U.S. in cans co-host the 2026 with former England cap- rope come to retire. That's
lina Hurricanes. He also 1988 and 1994, when he World Cup with Mexico tain Beckham. He talked not where you want to be.
coached the New York Is- served as team captain. and Canada. about what MLS will look It's not where we want to
landers and Philadelphia "Peter is a terrific coach "We definitely have the like for its 50th year in 2045. be as owners."
Flyers. and someone who has demographics in our fa- "I think the MLS will be one Austin, Texas, and Char-
From Massachusetts, the had success wherever vor, both in terms of youth of the top sports leagues lotte, North Carolina, join
55-year-old Laviolette also he's been," said USA Hock- and diversity. So I think in the United States. I think the league next year, fol-
has extensive experience ey's John Vanbiesbrouck. we'll pass baseball and it will be on par or exceed lowed by St. Louis and
representing the U.S. as a "We're thrilled to have him hockey and be the No. the best leagues in the Sacramento, California.
coach and player on the back as head coach of our 3 sport in the U.S. behind world, the Premier League Charlotte, announced
international stage. men's national team." football and basketball," or Serie A or La Liga world- in December, agreed to
Team USA's roster will begin Berg said. "I think we will wide," Mas said. "I think pay a $325 million expan-
being stocked once the be the league of choice. that the MLS 25 years sion fee.
NHL's regular season con- I think we're already a from now will be Premier Detroit, Las Vegas and
cludes during the first week- league of choice to a cer- League-ish if we want to Phoenix remain in contact
end in April. The Americans tain extent, whether we so-call it that on the met- with the league, which
have been limited to win- can be a top-five league rics that leagues are mea- also is monitoring efforts
ning just six bronze medals or a top-three league will sured by." in San Diego. More warm-
since a silver-medal finish in really come down at the Clark Hunt, CEO of MLS' weather cities would help
1950. end of the day to money, Dallas team and the NFL's the schedule early and
The world championships our ability to compete for Kansas City Chiefs, com- late in the year.
are scheduled to run from players." pared soccer's progress "We have no plan in
May 8 to 24.q