Around the Forest: Peter Vermes calls out VAR referee

Timbers/Thorns

For a sign that MLS growth is exerting pressure on more established teams, look to Portland’s stadium renovations – The Athletic ($)
Merritt Paulson says his investments were motivated by the need to keep pace in an increasingly competitive league

Slow start reversed, Thorns take point, lessons from Sky Blue | Portland Timbers

Warshaw: Portland Timbers have an identity, and they're getting back to it | MLSsoccer.com

Major League Soccer

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Nedum Onuoha react after fateful clash in Galaxy-RSL | MLSsoccer.com

Hudson: Colorado Rapids can't overcome "massive gap in class" in MLS | MLSsoccer.com

MLS expansion: Some new team spots have been added
MLS expansion plans have risen to total 30 teams. That’s with Sacramento Republic FC in the lead and a surprise return contender officially in the mix.

Former soccer star Kyle Martino: 'Why have we turned it into a rich kid's game?'
Former MLS star Kyle Martino wants to make U.S. soccer more accessible to kids.

Were the Quakes deprived of a PK at Dallas? | You Make the Call | MLSsoccer.com

Sporting KC coach Peter Vermes calls out ref on VAR decision - The Blue Testament
Sporting Kansas City coach Peter Vermes didn’t hide his anger with the video assistant referee and head referee Baldomero Toledo, who awarded the Revs a controversial penalty after video review.

Solidarity payments dispute sets the stage for CBA battle between MLS and the Players Association - Stars and Stripes FC
It’s not just about academies getting their share

Austin FC stadium designers looking to create 'indoor-outdoor' experience | Pro Soccer USA
Austin FC hosted a session for fans on Wednesday night, with Gensler principal Jonathan Emmett discussing the team's new soccer stadium, opening in 2021.

Cristian Roldan: Hands to face that led to red card "completely accidental" | MLSsoccer.com

Souhan: Ibarra reminds Loons fans of what he can bring to team - StarTribune.com
The Minnesota United star from the team's pre-MLS days provided a spark when he entered in the second half.

In Defense of Yohan Croizet - The Blue Testament
Just hear me out!

The KC Cauldron Issue a Statement on the Kaku Suspension - The Blue Testament
Let’s just say, they didn’t care for the punishment.

How LAFC supporters brought an end to an offensive goal kick chant – The Athletic ($)
LAFC supporters got bad publicity for the use of an offensive chant. One year later, it's been all but eliminated.

MLS club execs: Fixing major markets more important than expansion – The Athletic ($)
'The biggest expansion projects for the league aren’t in Miami or Nashville—they’re in places like Dallas and Chicago'

With the expansion era ending, MLS needs to improve its product to find new revenue - Stars and Stripes FC
The end of the expansion era is nigh

Armchair Analyst: All 24 MLS teams in review | Week 9 analysis | MLSsoccer.com

MLS is a TV ratings disaster in New York City - World Soccer Talk
In the same city that Major League Soccer calls home, which is also the number one TV market in the United States, MLS's two teams in the New York region have been a TV ratings disaster. Despite the two MLS teams being accessible in more than 7.3 million homes in the New York area, TV ratings for