MLS commissioner Don Garber impressed by Sounders FC's fan support

The celebrated Sounders FC "March to the Match" had a high-profile participant Tuesday: Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber.

Surrounded by fervent Seattle supporters before the 1-0 loss to Los Angeles, it only confirmed what Garber already knew about the local following.

"This fan base loves its team, and it never ceases to amaze me when I come into town and do that march to the match and come into the stadium how special it is here in Seattle — a great way to start the season," Garber told a group of reporters in the Qwest Field press box.

But Garber wasn't quite willing to commit future season openers to Seattle.

"We'll see," he said. "Many other markets, I think, earned the right to deserve the opening match. But it's pretty darn good here."

With Portland and Vancouver joining MLS, increasing the league to 18 teams, much attention has been placed on future expansion franchises. Montreal will join in 2012, and Garber said the hope is that team No. 20 will play in New York.

"We still have a lot of work to do (before we) finalize that," Garber said. "We'll see where we go from there. My guess is we'll have more than 20 teams at some point, I just don't know when."

Other expansion possibilities include the Southeast, where there are no MLS teams.

"I've said many times, 'We need to be south of Washington D.C.,' and we'll continue to work hard to, at some point, be able to achieve that," Garber said.

Short-handed Galaxy

The Galaxy was far from full-strength in Tuesday's opener against Seattle, going without three starters: goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts (hamstring strain), forward and designated player Juan Pablo Angel (illness) and defender Omar Gonzalez (shoulder sprain).

Notes

• Sounders FC midfielder Steve Zakuani made the start after suffering an adductor injury last Wednesday against Colorado. But midfielder Brad Evans was inactive with a hamstring injury. Forward Nate Jaqua (hip surgery recovery), midfielder Mike Seamon (leg neuritis) and forward/midfielder Mike Fucito (adductor strain) were also unavailable for Seattle.

• Federal Way native Lamar Neagle made his debut for Seattle in the 79th minute.

• Despite the MLS season always starting around the same time as the NCAA men's basketball tournament, Garber said there wasn't much that could be done. "It's a crowded sports market in North America, and we've got to find our own position," Garber said. "Hopefully, our fans are committed to us and are soccer people first."

• Before kickoff, several fans in the south end of Qwest Field had a tribute to Japanese victims of last week's earthquake and tsunami.

• Sounders FC hits the road for a 4:30 p.m. Saturday match against the New York Red Bulls.