Kind of buried in the article but here is info on MLS being interested in an Oakland or SF team post 2024. https://blog.sfgate.com/soccer/2018...-committed-to-bringing-pro-soccer-to-oakland/ During the process, Oakland Pro Soccer even had conversations with Major League Soccer about possibly being a candidate for expansion after the current round of teams are decided in 2024. “They would prefer San Francisco because it’s a bigger market, but they understand the challenges that come with building a stadium in San Francisco,” Nagel noted. “They would be interested in an MLS Oakland team in the future if a stadium deal were put together.”
I think it would be smart. That is the biggest market without a team (counting SJ separately). Think MLS is headed for (at least) 32 teams. East/NE: DC, NE, NYRB, Phi, NYC Mid-east/west: CLB, Tor, Mtl/KC, Chi, Min SE: ORL, ATL, Mia, Nashville SW: FCD, Houston Mountain: Colorado, RSL West/Pacific: LA, SJ, Sea, Por, Van, LAFC Quibble with some of my geographic choices if you will (Nashville, MTL). 25 in right now. Cincy seems a safe bet for 26. Depending on how things shake out with Columbus/Austin, I would say the remaining 7 get split up thusly, and I would expect each region to land 1 more team save East coast/NE & Mountain, who do not have any candidates. 1) East/NE = zero. Zero expansion candidates currently. 2) Mideast/Midwest = 2-4 more. Current expansion candidates: Cincy, Detroit, Indy, St. Louis. Also Cleveland, Pittsburgh, & Milwaukee without current bids. Detroit the big fish & Cincy closing in. Cincy (#26)+ at least 1 more. 3) Southeast. 0-1 more. Current bids: Tampa, Charlotte, Raliegh. Though I do not think any of these is a must have along the lines of Detroit. 4) SW. 0-1 more. Expansion bids: San Antonio. Plus Austin. I think Texas gets three teams at some point. Neither is a must. Only a bunch of dummies would diss the Spurs, but MLS, so..... 5) Mountain. Zero. No bidders. 6) West/Pacific. 1-3 more. Bidders: Sacramento, Phoenix, San Diego. Also Vegas & SF/Oak.
San Fran isn't happening so the team would only be in Oakland and that won't happen if Sac gets in. No way MLS goes for SJ, Oak and Sac. Hopefully the Oakland/East Bay USL team does happen and is successful though.
There is a legitimate chance that the Oakland USL team could outdraw the Quakes if they get the right recipe.