VANCOUVER — Vancouver's outgoing mayor Sam Sullivan was in New York to shore up support for his city's bid for a new Major League Soccer franchise on Tuesday. Two new franchises are set to be awarded in 2011. The Vancouver Whitecaps, in partnership with Canadian NBA star Steve Nash are backing a bid for Vancouver to be one of them. "We have a multicultural city and many, many people come from countries where they have a really strong soccer culture," said Sullivan, who met with MLS commissioner Don Garber and president Mark Abbott. The MLS currently has 14 teams, with Seattle becoming the 15th team next season and Philadelphia joining in 2010. The other potential expansion cities include Montreal, Ottawa, Atlanta, Las Vegas, a second team in the New York area, Portland, Ore., and St. Louis. "There certainly is a lot of competition, and that's why I'm here," said Sullivan. Canadian Press
