Not really. Next to The Domain, a well developed commercial district. That’s why I didn’t say “downtown.”
The stadium currently under construction is meant for USL Championship, not MLS. It is my understanding that whole new stadium would be built when or if they are granted an MLS expansion franchise.
they have the chump change to build a USL stadium AND an MLS soccer specifice stadium? Thats a pretty imposing pocket book
I'd love to see MLS go up to 40 teams one day. I know some might say the talent pool would be diluted but I honestly don't believe that because the amount of talent in soccer internationally is unmatched by any other sport and every other North American league has more than 30 teams .. Split it into 8 divisions of 5. (4 per conference) 20 teams per conference - The teams do not necessarily need to be closest to each other geographically as long as they are within the same conference. For ex: NYCFC, Orlando. Columbus, New England, and Montreal. Every team plays each team in their division home and away (8 games) They play 1 game against every division opponent within their conference. This could be home or away. (15 more games - Total: 23) They play against every team from 2 divisions in the opposing conference, games could be either home or away (10 more games. - Total: 33). - Right now a regular season is 34 games. (Every year they play 2 new divisions Top 4 teams per conference (Division winners) get a BYE to the R16 with teams 5-12 playing the first round. 5v12 6v11 7v10 8v9. Winners progress and reseeding done with division winners for the R16. Having 1 less game in the regular season will allow for this extra round or "play-in" with the division winners. Rivalries will be formed with teams in your division because of the importance of those 8 games (Right now there aren't that many regular season games that are THAT important). That said, teams still have a very fair shot of making the playoffs (or even finishing ahead of a team in their division who might have a better Divisional record) with 25 more games against teams outside of their division to come top 12 within their conference. The bottom 8 within both conferences (16 total) are put in a weighted lottery draw for the #1 draft pick, the teams that came top 12 per conference (24 total) will be seeded by ranking 17-40th. Obviously we are FAR from seeing a MLS with this amount of teams and this wasn't meant to be something I think SHOULD be done, it's more of a dream really because I think this would be pretty cool and fun to see.
Now that Sacramento seems to be roadkill. Everyone seems to think Las Vegas and Phoenix are the front runners for team 30. Don't be surprised if Detroit comes out of no where to capture the 30th franchise. Detroit have a very powerful ownership group which has been patience, waiting for their opportunity. The Don has already stated that the franchise fee has gone up, therefore they are a group that could easily fork out 350-400M for the expansion fee.
Im thinking its going to be Vegas just given the current sports market and climate, I suppose any of the aforementioned are just as reasonable. Can San Diego pull something together possibly/
I think San Diego is a nonstarter at this point. Losing the Chargers won't help them because it's almost like they lost their "major league" credibility. Sure, they still have the Padres, but I think the market is pretty much dead for MLS (or the other sports' major leagues) now that that happened. Having sexier markets like Vegas and Phoenix nearby doesn't help their case any.
I'm fine with any of the franchises listed above. San Diego would be cool but I think Vegas or Pheonix should be given a franchise first. I'd also like to see a Detroit team enter the league. I can see all 4 cities getting franchises by 2030.
St Louis is a different beast altogether. Kroenke was the primary driver behind that move. StLbis a traditional soccer "hotbed" close to, yet far away from regional rivals; the city was a big hole in the map. Plus they still have the blues and Cards.
The Athletic has an expansion article up, but it is paywalled. https://theathletic.com/2442908/2021/03/11/mls-expansion-update/ They say 5 cities in competition for Sacs spot. I'd assume Phoenix and Vegas. Anyone who subcribes chime in on the other three. Sacramento? Indy? Detroit? SD? Raleigh? Tampa?
The map thing might be a fair point, but San Diego also still has other pro sports aside from the Chargers, so the Blues&Cards aren't a big differentiating point. I'm not a subscriber, but it was shared in another thread I watch: If you're aiming for 32, then three of those five seem the likely candidates.
I would have to say I disagree with you about San Diego. It is my understand that Landon Donovan's have been in regular contact with MLS expansion committee. The issue last time was the stadium. Well the stadium is no longer an issue with the new SDSU stadium under construction. In addition SDSU is interested in letting the MLS group management the stadium events, so it sounds similar to the arrangement that the LA Galaxy have with CSUDH. The next step to see how the ownership group would be made and if they are willing to pay a 300M expansion fee. I have all from the initial group except for Nick Stone and Steve Altman, and have added Andrew Vassiliadis and Warren Smith from the San Diego Loyal.
If they are aiming for ultimately 32 clubs then I would hope the three would be Detroit, Phoenix and San Diego.
FWIW, I think 36 is the ultimate goal. 4 divisions of 9. Play div foes twice (16) + conference foes once (9) + one division in the other conference once (9) = 34 games. Taking our 29 + the 5 listed above + 2 (Indy + SA) Western Conference: Pacific: LAG, LAFC; SJ; Sea, Port, Van + SD, Sac, Vegas. Mountain/Plains: COL, RSL; FCD, Hou, Aust; SKC, STL + Phx + 1 (SA?). Atlantic: DC, NYRB, NYCFC, Philly, NE, Orl, Mia; Atl, Cha. Central: CLB, FCC, Nash; TFC, Mon; Chi, Minny + Detroit & Indy. Obviously, depending on who is added, and who is not, you can switch the divisions around. ------- You could keep the same schedule format with 40 teams, but would need 38 games (18+10+10). Pick 4 from: TB, Raleigh, SF/Oak, Balt, Cle, Pitt, Mil, OKC, Louisville, NO, Memphis, etc.
But Garber has said that he doesn't want any more conferences. In two leagues of 18, teams could meet each other twice for 34 games then only play inter-conference games in the playoffs. However, I can't see the owners approving a system where New York never gets to play LA in the regular season. If only someone could think of an alternative way of splitting 36 teams into two divisions
WTF, Why do you guys keep think the league will expansion above 32 clubs. Their are not enough Billionaires to support that kind of expansion. By then you are talking about expansion fees above 600M to 1B. The reason that MLS has so much interest currently is because the expansion fees and startup costs are considered to be reasonable compared to the other four North American professional sports leagues. But when expansion fees head north of 400M your pool of candidates shrinks dramatically. I think the expansion fee for clubs 29 to 32 will stay around 300M. So, with this in mind in order to reach 32, me thinks it will be Phoenix in 2024 (after the Qatar World Cup), easing worries about playing in the heat due to new cooling technology. Followed by San Diego and Detroit or perhaps a darkhorse candidate like Tampa, Indianapolis or Louisville in 2028.
Sacramento’s only saving grace is they seem just as far back as everyone else right now, but with all the legwork done. Not one City or owner even in the Tampa bay orNew Mexico range has issued a come and get me plea to the league . No “mls ready” Twitter announcements. Silence. Unless something changes MLS might actually be fine with a 2024 entrance to the league assuming they can find new investment.
Bill Edwards was shovel ready at Tampa. They even had a local referendum to approve the MLS stadium plans. But he sold to the Rays organization.
I’m a little surprised Tampa wasn’t given more due diligence . The Mutiny ptsd is real. Freely admit they had my favorite uniforms when I was a kid
I noticed your quote "But Garber has said that he doesn't want any more conferences" Can you please share a web link to support this statement. This is the first time I have ever heard such a statement for the Soccer Don about future alignment. Also I have never heard the Soccer Don, speak of expansion past 32 clubs. In fact he has been pretty adamant about expansion ending at 32.
He said it some time ago. I don't have the quote to hand and if I search on "Don Garber conferences" Google gives me a million press conferences. I was disappointed when he said it as I think the current travel burden is a bit much for the Texan and Cascadia teams.