This document proposes an expansion team for Major League Soccer in Hamilton, Ontario called Hamilton FC (HFC). HFC would share Ivor Wynne Stadium with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats football team. With yellow and black colors matching Hull City FC, HFC aims to unite soccer and football fans in Hamilton. The proposal argues HFC could be financially successful like Toronto FC and help develop Canadian soccer talent for the national team.

1. #05051802 A Ferocious Proposal
A Major League Soccer Expansion Team Request

2. Expansion Request Outline
Every year the MLS allows an expansion team to join the league. The MLS currently has 14 teams. Also,
the MLS has accepted proposals from 2 more teams to join the league within the next two years; the Seattle
Sounders in 2009 and the Montreal Impact in 2010. With these additions there league will have 16 teams,
4 less than the traditional league. This means that there is only 4 more spaces available for expansion
teams. The competition for the possible explanation team slot is now very competitive.
There is currently only one Canadian team in the MLS, Toronto FC, however the Montreal Impact have been
accepted by the MLS as a new expansion team and will begin playing in the highest level of North
American soccer within two years. This is the goal for the possible Hamilton franchise. Hamilton FC
would be suitable candidates for one of the remaining expansion slots for many reasons. Currently there
is no USL or ASL (American Soccer League) team in Hamilton, meaning the soccer fan population is
untapped. As shown two years ago with the creation of Toronto FC, Canadians are very passionate about
soccer, despite the heavy criticism from the Canadian media. Toronto FC has shown this through their
record breaking profits (second only to Los Angeles).
The city of Hamilton would not have to build a soccer specific stadium. HFC could operate like many other
MLS teams by sharing a venue with another professional team. This other professional team would be the
Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the venue would be the Ivor Wynne Stadium.
The team crest would include a yellow and black tiger, and would resemble that of Hull City Football Club
from the English Premiership. The colours would be yellow and black, this would help to keep the ‘tiger-
town’ motif. This would help unite the CFL and MLS teams in Hamilton.

3. Jerseys
The team colours for HFC are Yellow and
Black.
The home jerseys consist of both team colours
(Right). The away jerseys are Orange and
Black (Above).

4. Stadium Information
The city of Hamilton would not have to
build a stadium like many other
expansion teams had to do in previous
years because they could use the Ivor
Wynne Stadium. There are positive
aspects to sharing one venue for two
teams. For example, as we have seen in
other MLS teams such as the Kansas
City Wizards (who play in a minor
league baseball stadium), joining teams
can increase home game attendance
significantly for both teams. If the
franchise is successful within the first
two seasons it is highly possible that a
soccer specific stadium could be built in
Hamilton. We have seen many examples
of this in the United States with teams
such as the Colorado Rapids.

5. Toronto FC - Financial
Breakdown 2007
Value $44 Million Revenue $17 Million
Operating Income $2.1 Million Sponsorship $4 Million
3% 6%
25%
66%

6. MLS Profit Comparison 2007
LA Galaxy - $36 Toronto FC - $17
Chicago Fire - $16 FC Dallas - $15
New York Red Bulls - $10
40
30
Million USD
20
10
0
Revenue/2007

7. HFC vs Ti-Cats
With the introduction of a second professional
sports team in Hamilton we expect an increase in
game attendance and merchandise sales. These
increases should come from an increasing fan base.
At one time Hamilton was home to two football
teams at once, the Wildcats and the Tigers. The
teams could not reach financial stability because of
the rivalry between fans, dividing the city. This
introduction should not repeat the failure because of
the contrast between the teams. The problem with
two football teams in the same town was a
separation of fans because both teams played in the
same league. Now that the two teams play in the
CFL and MLS respectively, there should no longer
be a rivalry between fans. Instead there should be
an overall increase in profits because of a unified
city of fans.

8. Hamilton, The Next Big Thing
The proposal to bring an MLS team to Hamilton
will have many positive affects, not only in
developing Canadian soccer, but also in the city of
Hamilton itself.
First, by creating a third MLS team in Canada, our
country will be closer the participating in the
UEAFA Champions League. 2007-2008 was the
first time that there was a UEAFA tournament held
in Canada, but with only one MLS team at the
time, it was not a proper tournament. Now with
three Canadian teams there can truly be a North
American Champions League.
Also, by expanding the MLS to Hamilton, the city
will see waves of tourists and investments coming
into the city. This was the case for Toronto FC and
most other MLS franchises. There will be a
constant stream of away fans who will travel to
Hamilton approximately 20 times a season. Also,
the addition of such a team would surely raise the
profile and knowledge of the city of Hamilton
across the continent.

9. Team Canada
One major factor that could lead to the expansion of a
Hamilton team is development. Once an MLS team
is created, they begin to develop local talent and
players. Some teams, such as Toronto FC, create
academies devoted to the development of young
players.
These academies heavily focus on the development of
young Canadian players. This is a very positive
process because is has several benefits. First, it
strengths the MLS team itself with home-grown
players, reducing the need to spend money to buy
players. Also, it helps to strengthen the Canadian
nation soccer team by adding skilled Canadian
players.
These benefits have already been noticed across
Canada thanks solely to the efforts of Toronto FC.
With the creation of another Canadian team we will
ensure that Canada qualifies for the next major soccer
tournament (2010 World Cup in South Africa).

10. Citations
Slide 1: Hull City Football Club Crest Slide 6: Financial Information {http://
{http://oldhamathleticarethereallatics.blogspot.com/ www.forbes.com/sportsbusiness/2008/09/09/mls-
2008/05/your-complete-guide-to-football- soccer-beckham-biz-sports-
league_11.html} cz_kb_0909mlsvalues_slide_6.html?
thisSpeed=30000}
Slide 2: Mls Information {www.mlsnet.com}
Slide 7: Hull City Football Club Crest
{http://oldhamathleticarethereallatics.blogspot.com/
Slide 3: Jerseys {http://fantasy.premierleague.com/} 2008/05/your-complete-guide-to-football-
league_11.html}
Slide 4: Ivor Wynne {http://
www.yourcanadianconnection.ca/images/ Slide 8: UEFA Champions League {http://www.
hamiltonphotos/IvorWynneStadium_Hamilton.jpg} 1000goals.com/wallpapers/champions-league-5.jpg}
Slide 5: Financial Information {http:// Slide 9: Team Canada {http://
www.forbes.com/sportsbusiness/2008/09/09/mls- www.sportsknowhow.com/images/soccer-canada.gif}
soccer-beckham-biz-sports-
cz_kb_0909mlsvalues_slide.html}