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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted at 7:19 a.m., Friday, March 20, 2009

Soccer: MLS adds Portland franchise

Associated Press

PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland has won its bid for a Major League Soccer team.

League officials joined new franchise owner Merritt Paulson on Friday for the widely expected announcement that the league will have a team in Portland, with play expected to begin in 2011.

Last week, Portland city officials approved a financing deal that would renovate PGE Park for soccer and build a new ballpark for the Triple-A Portland Beavers baseball team.

The city still must come up with a plan to raise $15 million of about $89 million needed for the project.

Portland will join a new franchise in Vancouver, British Columbia, as part of the MLS expansion.