Beckham-mania sparking MLS expansion

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MLS commissioner Don Garber on Friday listed nine cities as candidates for expansion, with the Philadelphia and the St. Louis at the top of the list.

Influential: Attendances rise and expansion planned for MLS thanks to Beckham

"Our focus today is more than likely on those two," Garber said in his state of the league address at the National Press Club.

With the decision earlier this season that San Jose will begin play next year and Tuesday's announcement that Seattle will start in 2009, MLS has grown to 15 teams. Garber said the goal is to add a "16th by the end of the year."

He also said the league is seeking to have 18 teams by 2010-11.

Besides Philadelphia - which had two teams in the old North American Soccer League - and St. Louis, which has been a traditional base of support for the sport, Garber noted interest from Arthur Blank, owner of the Atlanta Falcons in the NFL, and Fred Wilpon, owner of Major League Baseball's New York Mets. Las Vegas, Miami, Montreal, Portland, and Vancouver, British Columbia are also possibilities, he said.