It's amazing that MLS took as long as it did to place teams in the Pacific Northwest. The numbers from the old NASL were always above the league average for the Cascadia trio and they are the best supported teams in MLS. Of course the MLS brass must feel a little embarrassed that this has been done in the face of the league's original mandate in 1997 to steer clear of any references to the original NASL. Maybe if the founders of the league had reincarnated the Rowdies and Strikers, instead of creating the Mutiny and Fusion, MLS may have lasted in South Florida. The future of MLS lies in fan loyalty and meeting the needs of the fans. If the fans want Earthquakes instead of a Clash, give it to them. I can understand places where the NASL team did not catch on, the Colorado Rapids have easily erased any memories of the Dynamos or Caribous and Houston Dynamo have more than eclipsed the forgettable existence of the Houston Hurricane. Where an established and respected name is there, why not take advantage of it. Whitecaps, Sounders, Timbers and Earthquakes are revered names in their respected cities and, as has been demonstrated in the Pacific Northwest, the fans have bought into the nostalgia to create a history. Both Vancouver and San Jose have proudly placed the year 1974 on the backs of their jerseys, and the fans identify. Pro soccer is a business and the best businesses give the customers what they want.