http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2014/02/20/major-league-soccer-purchases-chivas-usa NEW YORK (February 20, 2014) – Major League Soccer today announced it has purchased Chivas USA from Jorge Vergara and Angelica Fuentes. Effective immediately, MLS will assume responsibility for operating the club. MLS will appoint an experienced sports executive shortly to serve as the president of Chivas USA during this interim period. Head coach Wilmer Cabrera, who joined the club January 9, will continue in his position and report to the new president.
I wonder if they're forced to rebrand immediately with Vergara gone. edit -- Looks like it's Chivas USA for at least this year.
And then possibly LAFC or LASC, based on the earlier reports (but then those were registered through Chivas Guadalajara, so maybe even those are defunct? I don't know how this type of stuff works).
I was hoping for an immediate rebrand but it does make sense to let the eventual new owners decide to call their team.
Surely if the new owners come on board mid-season, they won't re-brand. Will they? Edit: I reed goot, noticed the re-branding will happen after 2014. Still, YUUUUUUUUUUUUUGE news. And about time!
And 2015 just became the biggest year in MLS history. NYCFC, Orlando, Chivas rebrand w/ new owner, new TV deal.
Oh, the hilarity ... MLS, please buy Chivas Guadalajara. Thanks. #BuyInBulkAndSave— TSG (@thestraygoat) February 20, 2014
Outstanding news!!! Best news of what's already been an exciting off-season by far. To CUSA fans: this is almost undoubtedly the best thing you guys could've asked for. A new ownership group that will almost certainly be more concerned about your club than the former ownership, who is going to keep your club local, and in time you'll have your own identity (probably after this season). Really, this is the best news that could possibly have come.
I am honestly surprised by this news. This is a great day for the league. My guess is they will. I doubt Vergara will allow them to use the Chivas name and logo after this year.
Absolutely. This has been a great, GREAT off-season and past 12 months for MLS, and The Don. The stuff mentioned above set in place for next year plus a new stadium almost ready for the Quakes, the Miami Beckhams, the acquisitions of Bradley and Defoe and so on and so forth... But this might well be the icing on the cake.