who will be 27 and 28?

This news from Tuesday was quite unexpected, but undoubtedly most welcome for soccer-loving fans in the St. Louis area. There are still a lot of variables to factor into the equation involving the City and the State of Missouri, but both entities seem to be on the same page and receptive to the idea of MLS coming to St. Louis. Having deep-pocketed owners obviously helps this bid, but having a truckload of money isn't an end-all, be-all when it comes to snagging an MLS franchise, as Sacramento (so far) can attest.

 

True
But having
1. Money,
2. Stadium plan, location, funding
3. Political support
4. Majority female owned
are what MLS is more than MLS could hope far from any group.

STL now has them all.

 

This vaults St. Louis to the top for me, pending the soccer city vote.

24. Cincy
25. Nashville
26. Miami
27. Austin (Crew saved)
28. St. Louis

I think PSV could still screw Austin up or some issues could crop up with McKalla.

After Nov votes MLS will make a Columbus/Austin/Miami announcement and perhaps St. Louis before Christmas if it pans out.

 

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Just like Sacramento right?

Two things. The stadium will be Mostly privately financed. Also, the stadium will still go to a public vote as well..........that right there could kill it. They are still talking about the same sales tax being issued that scuppered the last stadium plan that went to a public vote.

For all we know all of the markets could be fighting over ONE spot, depending on the Columbus Crew/Austin saga shakes out.

Phoenix Rising's bid shouldn't be underestimated either.

 

Do you have a link for the public vote and the same sales tax being issued?

Everything I've read says they will not need a public vote, and the financing package is still being worked out, but I can't imagine they would make that mistake again. The article linked by SportBilly above mentioned a 3% site-specific tax, which is not the same as the last proposal.

 

I had heard on The USS show on SiriusXM FC that it would be a public vote, but that was mistaken:
https://www.houstonherald.com/news/...cle_9adc8c06-cc99-11e8-b3b0-57a696bf5cb8.html

Though, this is far from a done deal. It looks and sounds better than the last proposed one that failed. That said, these things are usually never smooth sailing, and there will be hurdles and opposition along the way.

 

This is inaccurate.
This will NOT require a public vote.
The only non-private money will be capturing the tax on concessions and tickets. - that happens everywhere.

 

This actually might be a very good move for MLS. Traditionally, the St. Louis media market is huge in the mid-Mississippi River region. Being from Indiana, I do know that Southwestern Indiana (that is, Evansville, Terre Haute & Vincennes) Hoosiers tend to have huge Cardinals loyalties. St. Louis would come into the league with built-in local rivalries with Sporting KC, Minnesota United, the Chicago Fire, Nashville FC, and FC Cincinnati. Since these cities are fairly close together, there certainly would be roadtrips galore if St. Louis comes into the league.

 

Well, we have clarity in Columbus. And in Cincy & Nashville. Less than a month until the Miami vote.

Is 2020 possible for Miami & Nashville stadiums? Do they start in temp facilities in '20 regardless?

I have my doubts about PSV getting over the line in Austin & think Austin footy fans would be better off with Epstein.

 

I have always been in the 32 (or even 34) team camp. At 32 you go 4 divisions of 8. Play div foes twice & everyone else once for 38 games. At 34 just play everyone one plus 'rivalry' games (1, 3, or 5) to get to 34/36/38 games. You could even get away with 36 with 3 rivalry games, but would be missing home&homes out east (NY/NY/Philly/Boston/DC). Could fix 1-2 & rotate the others. But I see 34 as the cap.

Handicapping it now, I would say Austin in the lead for #27 (but not a done deal) and St. Louis in the lead for #28. San Antonio for #27 is Austin stumbles. Phoenix & SD (if Soccer City passes) also in the running with Sac (ownership) & Detroit (stadium) also possible.

MLS at 32:

1) East/Atlantic: DC, NE, NYRB, Philly, NYCFC, Orlando, Atlanta, Miami (#25).

2) Great Lakes/Central: Columbus, Chicago, Toronto, Montreal, Minnesota, Cincinnati (#24), Nashville (#26), Detroit (#31).

3) Midwest/Mountain West: SKC, FCD, Colorado, RSL, Houston, Austin (#27), St. Louis (#28), San Antonio (#29).

4) Pacific/West: LA Galaxy, SJ, Seattle, Portland, Vancouver, LAFC + pick 2 from PHX, SD, Sac, Vegas, SF-Oak for #s 30&32.

 

Would love to see a soccer hotbed like St. Louis finally get accepted into the MLS Fraternity...Also another city that would be cool is Sacramento, CA...The big question is the following...Not sure if there will be a team in Vegas, but you never know...Would also like to see a team in San Diego and maybe even Rochester, NY...MIGHT even need to switch to a single table system, like they have in the rest of the world...

 

I believe reading the tea leaves that teams 27 and 28 are petty much set as being Austin as 27 and St. Louis as 28. I get the feeling that MLS is not as in love with Sacramento as much as Sacramento is in love with MLS. Sacramento may also be getting some kick back from San Jose as to territorial rights. Granting a team to PSV in Austin takes care of a messy situation in Columbus.

MLS has always been in love with St. Louis but could never find the right dance partner to make it a reality. Now they have the prefect partners in the Taylor family, which have very deep pockets, and to top it off that they are the most local ownership group you could ask for in St. Louis. Also, it doesn't hurt that it's a mostly female ownership group, which plays very well in today's political climate. Add the fact that local government seems to be bending over backwards to make this happen. This makes St. Louis a shoe-in for team 28.

 

IMO St Louis is certainly a viable candidate now but hardly a lock. Expansion is largely about adding eyeballs to make the future media deals more valuable.

 

Well it seems that Precourt is well on his way to making Austin FC a reality. Even Fanatics the official web shop for MLS thinks so.

https://www.fanatics.com/?query=Austin FC

 

I think we will be set on #27-#28 before next season kicks off.

1. Cincy (#24) & Nashville (#25) are set. Miami (#26, what # were they when Becks announced originally?) is virtually so once the NIMBY/Lobbying thing goes away.

2. Columbus staying in and Austin at #27 are not quite over the line, but will be shortly. Announcements & ball spiking next week or two. I's dotted & T's crossed before new years. Stadium/site soecifics get worked out as we go.

3. St. Louis before season starts as #28.

Then they just sit back & wait for the teams & new stadiums to roll in.

2019: FCC & Minny stadium. Portland upgrades.

2020: Nashville & Miami.

2021: Stadiums in Columbus, Cincy, Miami, and Nashville.

2021 or 2022: Teams & Stadiums in Austin & St. Louis.

Booming.

 

Austin and STL

 

Having 28 teams by 2022 as compared to 22 teams in 2018 is a huge leap. It also enhances the "major" image of MLS. Lacking now are 2 Big-4 cities: Detroit and Phoenix, plus teams in North Carolina Las Vegas. Or perhaps SD, Sacramento, San Antonio, Indy, etc will step up.

 

Garble today said Austin is likely for 2021. Still some hurdles there.

So too in Columbus, but thosexapoearxa formality, and the Crew are playing next year. March 2 v NYRB home opener.

 

https://mlsmultiplex.com/2018/12/27/phoenix-rising-heat-no-problem-bid-mls-expansion/

Hopefully we aren't counting out Phoenix just yet. I know St. Louis has history, but if I'm looking at current market size, what the market will look like in 10 years, etc., etc. I'd much rather have Phoenix, (which projects to add another million people by 2028) than St. Louis. No need for any gov't approvals in Phoenix (reservation land) and the location is pretty much ideal.

 

I think whomever does not get #28 gets #29 (PHX/STL). #29 I think is getting close. Perhaps #30 as well.

 

Sounding like a public vote may become a thing.

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Was a Public Vote was one of Precourt's "Get out of Contract" Clauses?

 

I was talking about STL, not Austin