MLS Expansion update for November 2017

[MadCardDisease]

https://www.thebluetestament.com/20...shville-cincinnati-san-antonio-power-rankings

Expansion Timeline & Top Three Teams
We’ve known for a long time that the first two teams will be announced after the MLS Owners meet on December 14, 2017. Grant Wahl of Sports Illustrated is reporting that there are only three cities in the running for those two spots. Those cities are Sacramento, Nashville and Cincinnati. He typed them in that order so I’m repeating it that way. Reverse alphabetical. I’m sure there is no reason for that order.

 

[Ronin]

Ugh

 

[bankybruce]

Don't fret, it took the Timbers 5 years before they went to the MLS or 7 if you count the two years after the announcement. It takes time and if you look at the cities they have listed, they have a similarity to Portland. They all have 1 pro team, unless you could the Bangles, then Cincinnati has two. Phoenix has all four and other than the Cardinals, attendance for the other three aren't great right now. They want cities that need the MLS more than the MLS needs them.

 

[Ronin]

Detroit came out of nowhere.

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[Ronin]

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[gmabel830]

Detroit came out of nowhere.

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always had the owners with deep pockets, just needed the stadium plan in place

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

[MadCardDisease]

https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/11/29/four-finalist-cities-named-next-two-mls-expansion-teams

Bummer, I guess Phoenix is officially out for this first round.

 

[MadCardDisease]

Cincinnati is stepping up for their stadium project:

https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017...-local-government-backing-mls-stadium-project

 

[MadCardDisease]

Another update from thebluestatement with info on Phx Rising FC:

https://www.thebluetestament.com/20...-columbus-miami-lafc-and-sacramento-Nashville

Phoenix Rising FC
In a bit of news that should have been in the last update, ESPN’s Carlisle is also reporting there is a potential snag in Phoenix and it goes back to the theory I laid out in the October update. PRFC simply may not have enough money on hand to convince MLS to commit. In Carlisle’s own words:

“MLS won't grant a bid until the ownership group is bolstered.”

Berke Bakay’s net worth is unknown, but it’s definitely not in the billions like Nashville, Cincinnati and Detroit, which could be why Phoenix was left out of the party. They own their land, they have financing in place and they have previously reported they have multiple stadium renderings and plans and were just waiting to make a final selection. The rush to do so can calm down as there is no timeline currently laid out for teams 27 and 28. Phoenix still has a ton going for it, but it may need to hope expansion goes beyond 28 to have a chance as Cincy and Detroit seem like good bets to get in not to mention an extended timeline will let San Diego and St. Louis get back in.

 

[Dback Jon]

This sucks.


Still think having two LA and two NYC teams is foolish

 

[gmabel830]

This just screams for a tiering/promotion-relegation system, that sadly will never come

 

[MadCardDisease]

The Four selected finalists make their final presentations to the MLS:

https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017...-presentations-mls-headquarters-new-york-city


my money is on Cinci and Sacramento

 

[MadCardDisease]

Technology mogul Meg Whitman and her husband Griffith Harsh, a neurosurgeon, on Wednesday announced they have joined the ownership group for Sacramento Republic FC's bid for an MLS expansion franchise:

https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017...join-sacramento-expansion-bid-ownership-group

 

[MadCardDisease]

If Phoenix Rising wants one of the 2 remaining expansion slots they better bring in a Daddy Warbucks type of billionaire to join the ownership group.

 

[Shaggy]

If Phoenix Rising wants one of the 2 remaining expansion slots they better bring in a Daddy Warbucks type of billionaire to join the ownership group.

So who won the bids?

 

[Chaplin]

6th largest city in the US and without an MLS club. In a very Latino area. Shameful.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

6th largest city in the US and without an MLS club. In a very Latino area. Shameful.

Phoenix itself is the 6th largest city however by metro area we're 17th in GDP and 12th in population. And it's insanely hot here in the summer. I honestly don't think this ever gets done without a climate-controlled stadium.