MLS chief Don Garber surprised many when he said Montreal's bid didn't reach the next round of the expansion selection process. (Dave Sandford/Getty Images)The group behind Montreal's bid for a 2011 Major League Soccer expansion franchise has taken pains to state they didn't withdraw from the process.
League commissioner Don Garber said in his state-of-the-union address on Friday that the Montreal group was out of the running.
The Montreal bid was tabled by Joey Saputo, owner of the Montreal Impact of the United Soccer League's First Division, and George Gillett, owner of the NHL's Montreal Canadiens and part-owner of Liverpool of the English Premier League.
The group said in a statement late Saturday that it was the league, not them, that withdrew the bid. Saputo is scheduled to meet with the media on Monday morning to further address the issue.
Garber had said Montreal's delegation informed him within the past week of possible trouble.
"Montreal has had to evaluate what kinds of private capital they needed to refinance their stadium, to fund the expansion fee, and what kind of public support would be available," the commissioner said.
"I'm not sure they were able to come to terms in this economic environment."
Ottawa and Vancouver are also angling for a team, as are U.S. cities Miami, Portland, Atlanta and St. Louis.
Garber said he hopes to make an announcement in early 2009 about which two cities will be awarded expansion franchises.
