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Template:MLS team Inter Toronto FC (short for International Toronto Football Club), is the speculative name for a new Major League Soccer franchise in Toronto. They are to begin play in the 2007 season as the first non-U.S. team in the MLS. The team's owner, MLSE, says that no name has yet been selected, but various sources, including the Toronto Star, have noted several legal activities involving the name, including trademarks and Internet domain name registration .

History of the name

The speculative name is similar to that of an Italian team, Internazionale Milano F.C. (Inter Milan for short) and is presumably meant to appeal to the large Italian community in Toronto. The name would also be appropriate, as the team will be the first international team in MLS. As well, the original Milanese club was started when the only Milan team at the time, AC Milan, refused to allow non-Italian players on the team. This name may also attribute to the fact that MLS is unfairly placing different rules on how many international players the Toronto team may have, a problem similar to that of the original Inter. Other names being speculated include Toronto Northmen FC, Toronto FC, Toronto Nationals and Toronto Reds. A website has been set up to allow fans to vote on the various names and come up with their own names.

Current Roster

TBD

Owners

Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) are the owners and operators of the Toronto Maple Leafs National Hockey League hockey team, the Toronto Raptors National Basketball Association team and now a Major League Soccer franchise in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Along with owning professional sports teams, the company is also involved in real estate and property management. Richard Peddie, CEO of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd. has stated that he and the ownership expect between 13,000-15,000 fans per a game at Inter Toronto FC home games.

Home Stadium

Construction has begun on a new stadium at Exhibition Place in Toronto called Exhibition Place Stadium where the new team will play. The stadium will hold roughly 20,000 people and will be the largest soccer-specific stadium in Canada. It is due to be finished in spring 2007, in time for the FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007 (formerly the FIFA World Youth Championship). The stadium will be owned by the City of Toronto while MLSE, the team's owner, will operate it. The cost of the stadium is estimated at $62.5 million. MLS commissioner, Don Garber, has stated that the 2008 MLS All-Star Game will take place in Exhibition Place Stadium, as will an MLS Cup by the year 2012.

External links

• Official website of MLS
• Official webiste of FIFA
• Under construction website of Inter Toronto
• MLS Toronto Site to vote on team name

• Canadian football (soccer) clubs