It’s the off season in Major League Soccer but that does not mean that there is not a lot going on as teams get ready for the upcoming season.
Toronto have signed two-time MLS Cup MVP Dwayne De Rosario to a four-year contract. The attacking midfielder, who arrived in a trade from Houston last month, has 51 goals and 42 assists in eight MLS seasons. The 30-year-old also has 15 goals in 53 career appearances for Canada.
The Seattle Sounders are poised to be a huge success off the field in 2009. With over 18,600 season tickets sold, Seattle will be in the top three in attendance this coming season and will even make a profit, which is today’s economic climate is very impressive. Microsoft is paying $20 million, according to the Wall Street Journal, to have its Xbox 360 Live brand prominently displayed on Sounders jerseys for five years. The Sounders are the first MLS team to have an agreement for all games to be broadcast on free, over-the-air television.
Speaking of Seattle, ECS is reporting that Chelsea will play the Sounders on Saturday July 18th in a friendly game.
LA Galaxy stars David Beckham and Landon Donovan are impressing on their loan spells. Donovan, who is on loan to Bayern Munich has scored 5 goals in 4 appearances for Bayern, fueling speculation that he will not return to the Galaxy. David Beckham, who is on loan with AC Milan is also reportedly interested in making his loan deal in Milan permanent. I expect that both Donovan and Beckham will move to Europe when the summer transfer window opens. This will really hinder the Galaxy’s 2009 season as they will have Donovan and Beckham for just the first half of the season and they will struggle to find adequate replacements for them both when the race for the MLS Cup heats up.
MLS Rumors reported this week that demolition of the Bannister Mall has begun in Kansas City, This is the first step in the development of a new 18,500 seat soccer stadium for the Kansas City Wizards.
Speaking of stadiums, SBI reports that the New York Red Bulls new soccer only stadium will not be ready for the 2009 season, and will now open in 2010. The delay means another season at Giants Stadium for Red Bulls fans.
