Major League Soccer is expanding faster than any other league in the United States. At only 15 years old, MLS is quickly coming up behind the four main leagues: NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL. Many would argue that it has surpassed NHL in a majority of the markets, same for the NBA and some MLB markets. The NFL is the biggest challenge, but MLS can easily become the #2.

Expansion clubs are becoming a trend in the league. 2009 saw the entrance of the instantly successful, instantly popular Seattle Sounders FC. 2010 welcomed Philadelphia Union. While not as successful, the Chester, PA-based club enjoyed great attendance at the new PPL Park. 2011 will welcome Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps FC. In 2012, Montreal Impact will join the league. There is also talks of another New York team bearing a familiar name, New York Cosmos, for 2013.

MLS is hitting the main target points of most professional sports areas. The league is now based in 18 cities: New York, Columbus, Los Angeles, Toronto, Salt Lake City, Dallas, Houston, San Jose, Denver, Boston, Philadelphia, Seattle, Montreal, Portland, Chicago, Vancouver, Kansas City, and Washington, D.C.

Commissioner Don Garber loves the expansion, but he is missing several great opportunities. Florida did not welcome teams in Miami or Tampa Bay in the 90s, but times have changed. St. Louis would love a club as well.

However, I seem to be the only one remembering a state that would welcome a club in a heartbeat: Connecticut.

Little old Connecticut. The third smallest state. My beloved home. Connecticut is in a peculiar situation when it comes to loyalties in sports. See, we do not have our own teams. We support the Connecticut Huskies athletic programs with a professional passion and our only pro team is the WNBA's Connecticut Sun. The only time I have been to the Sun's arena was to watch my old high school's girls basketball team play in the state championship.

Connecticut has felt the cold chill of loneliness ever since that fateful day. 13 days before my fifth birthday in 1997, Connecticut said goodbye to its beloved Hartford Whalers. The NHL team, which had been a center of culture in Connecticut since 1972, moved to Raleigh to become the Carolina Hurricanes. Whalers merchandise continues to be a hot buy.

We are the college basketball capital of the northeast, and one of the basketball hot spots nationally, however, Connecticut also loves its soccer. It is the perfect place for a new MLS franchise.

This slideshow gives several reasons as to why Connecticut would be a great spot for an MLS team as the league looks to expand its popularity.

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