Commission Garber says Impact not ready to host MLS all-star game
MONTREAL — The Montreal Impact will need to start selling out their stadium regularly before they will be considered to play host to an Major League Soccer all-star game, commissioner Don Garber said Tuesday.
The Impact were promised an all-star game when they joined the league in 2012, but so far the MLS has found that local interest in its brand of soccer is not entrenched enough to guarantee it would be a success. The city has thousands of soccer fans, but most are more interested in following European leagues and teams.
The league considered it this year as part of the city’s 375th anniversary celebrations, but opted instead to have the MLS all-stars face Real Madrid Aug. 2 in Chicago.
“We realize we have a lot more work to do here in the community to get the kind of support and engagement with the city and others in the community to bring an event like our all-star game to Montreal,” Garber said at a news conference at the club’s training centre.