Yes, that's right, by the 2011 season, MLS will have its first real rivalry that stretches far beyond the short history of the league. With the Vancouver and Portland expansion teams joining, factoring in the already successful Seattle Sounders F.C., you are left with the "Triangle of Death", as Drew Carey has called it. Despite the fact that these three expansion teams are newcomers to MLS, for soccer fans in the Pacific Northwest, this rivalry is anything but new. You see, all three of these franchises competed in the USL, the second division of U.S. club soccer, and the previous top flight until the inception of MLS. Now, these clubs will once again be competing against one another at the forefront of the American soccer landscape. The geographical ties are obvious, but add in the fact that the Portland and Vancouver teams will most likely retain their current names (Timbers and Whitecaps respectively, Seattle has already retained its name, the Sounders), and you have for a perfectly linear continuation of the old USL rivalry. Frankly, MLS execs couldn't have made better selections regarding they're recent expansion teams. Toronto F.C. has a massive fan base, which has translated to successes on the field. Seattle is one of the best teams in the West in only their first season, and the franchise in the soccer rich city of Philadelphia, which makes its debut next year, will certainly help to spur another regional rivalry, with the equally historic cities of Washington and New York. The league has come a long way since the 1994 World Cup that spurred its creation, and with smart expansion like that which is happening, MLS will continue to grow in scale and popularity.
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