MLS to expand to 30

[Dback Jon]

https://www.usatoday.com/story/spor...s-announces-plans-expand-30-teams/3515131002/

 

[Folster]

Sounds like Phoenix is not being considered for expansion.

 

[Dback Jon]

Sounds like Phoenix is not being considered for expansion.

Other sources say that Phoenix is one of the three or four cities in final consideration

 

[Folster]

Other sources say that Phoenix is one of the three or four cities in final consideration

You'd think so considering they were a finalist the last time around.

 

[Ronin]

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[MadCardDisease]

https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2019/04/18/mls-announces-plans-expand-30-teams

https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2019...top-30-teams-commissioner-don-garber-explains

“Of late, we have been in very positive discussions in Las Vegas and in Charlotte. We still believe Phoenix is a good market. We’ve been in discussions in Detroit. I’m regularly speaking to Mayor [Mike] Duggan in Detroit. I think that’s a great soccer market. So what we really need to determine is what it all means for our league 10 years from now or 20 years from now.”

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Next time it comes around, we will get it.

 

[MadCardDisease]

https://www.goal.com/en-us/news/mls...-potential-markets/1r8xo6ok3s4ee1p5ob31e779pf

3. PHOENIX


Once considered a bit of a long shot, the owners of USL side Phoenix Rising have been working hard to build an enticing expansion project for MLS to consider and have ticked several boxes. The group has a diverse and high-profile list of owners, including Didier Drogba, who recently wrapped up his illustrious playing career with a run to the USL final. Phoenix also has a stadium project lined up.

What's working against Phoenix? It doesn't have much in the way of professional soccer history, though it has drawn large crowds to the area to see the U.S. and Mexican national teams. It is a large market, the largest among the current expansion contenders, but it's also a market loaded with professional sports, meaning more competition for dollars and eyeballs.

With San Diego falling out of the race, Phoenix has received a major boost, but officials tied to the expansion bid tell Goal that they see a more realistic push for MLS expansion coming after the league reaches 28 teams. That long-term approach could position Phoenix perfectly to be lined up to take aim at that 30th expansion slot.