Another New MLS Stadium

There is a lot of debate in the sporting circles of North American about the potential growth of Major League Soccer. The MLS is North America's top flight soccer league and features players like David Beckham, Thierry Henry, and Landon Donovan.

The league averaged around 16,000 fans per game last year with the Seattle Sounders FC averaging over 36,000 fans per game (better than a lot of European teams!).

Houston Dynamo averaged just about 17,000 fans per game last year but that was only filling the stadium to 73% capacity. However in 2012, the Dynamo are set to open a new stadium in Houston. The stadium is being developed by Populous (same company that built the Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg for the 2010 World Cup, and is currently building a new stadium in Natal Brazil for the 2014 World Cup)

The new Dynamo stadium will seat 22,000 fans and proves that the MLS is indeed here to stay and forecasts it will continue to grow in popularity in the USA and Canada. 

Sporting Kansas City is finishing set to open this years season in its brand new soccer stadium which is also be build by Populous. The new expansion franchise the Portland Timbers have completely renovated their old stadium into a soccer specific stadium for this season.

Canada will have it's second MLS franchise join the league this year (my Vancouver Whitecaps FC) and will have a third franchise join in 2012 with the Montreal Impact making the jump from the tier 2 level. The Whitecaps will be moving into the newly renovated BC Place Stadium (site of the opening and closing ceremonies for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games) and will feature a retractable roof! The Whitecaps are also hoping to build a soccer specific stadium (they share BC Place with the CFL's BC Lions) in the near future. 

So with all these clubs spending millions on new stadiums, you have to think that the MLS is here to stay and quite possibly could become a major sport in the 4 sport North American system (NFL, NHL, MLB, NBA).