Some teams, like the Seattle Sounders, the Portland Timbers, and Atlanta United, are thriving. That’s why a dozen ownership groups with net worths extending well into the billions are desperate to spend hundreds of millions to make a bet on the future of the world’s most popular sport.īut the success of MLS is far from guaranteed. Even the Las Vegas Knights, the first NHL expansion franchise since 2000, went for $500 million. NBA, NFL, and MLB teams don’t come on the market often, and they cost billions when they do. It’s also the easiest and cheapest way into professional sports. Buying into MLS now - when franchises are relatively cheap and the league is relatively young - presents an opportunity to earn a significant return on investment, capitalizing on the sport’s rise in the U.S. On the surface, this might not sound like a good deal. If they secure either, they’ll earn the right to cut MLS a check for at least $150 million to join a league that loses money every year. Phoenix Rising remains in the mix for the 27th or 28th spot. In the coming weeks, league commissioner Don Garber will announce teams 25 and 26, widely expected to be Sacramento and either Nashville or Cincinnati. Over the past year, 12 ownership groups in 14 cities have announced their desire to be a part of the U.S first division. (Los Angeles FC and a Miami team have already been awarded franchises.) Bakay and Drogba’s ultimate goal with Phoenix Rising is to gain entry into MLS when the league expands from 24 to 28 teams between now and 2020. He bought into the vision of majority owner Berke Bakay, becoming a minority partner in April. Instead, this highlight occurred while the man once credited with bringing peace to the Ivory Coast was playing for a second-division team based in Phoenix that, on the day of his goal, had existed for less than a year.ĭrogba moved to Phoenix Rising FC to play but also to be an owner. The tally didn’t come in a lesser European first division, like the Turkish Süper Lig, where he played from 2012 to 2014, or even in Major League Soccer, where Drogba scored 22 goals in just 39 games for the Montreal Impact in 20. It was a world-class effort, but Drogba, now 39, didn’t score it in front of tens of thousands of Premier League fans. Below are the attendance numbers for the two existing Texas clubs.OH MY GOODNESS ⚽ absolute laser from the man from #SCTop10 #LAvPHX /4J8GyD5P7l- USL August 6, 2017 It seems Phoenix may have to wait for the expected next round of expansion.Īlthough Austin appears to be a done deal, I simply don’t understand why MLS would think that Austin is a strong candidate city. While that would be a West based team, Sacramento is acknowledged as the leading city for that place, and a strong San Diego bid would be competing with Phoenix. And even though a new group has bought Columbus and will keep it in place, word is that Precourt is promised a franchise in Austin, leaving only one expansion place to be added. So instead of MLS adding two teams to the West, one would be added to each conference. When Precourt bought the Ohio franchise license, he had a proviso that enabled him to move the club to Austin which naturally would be in the West. That brings up balancing the league to 14, meaning another two teams to the West and Phoenix’s hopes for selection. Nashville also joins in 2010 or 2021 which you would expect to join the East, bringing the count to 14. FC Cincinnati will begin play in 2019 and is expected to join the East as will Miami in 2020 or 2021. MLS is currently on track to expand to 28 teams, although most folks expect that there will be another round of growth to 32, but that’s for another time.Īs of the 2018 season, the Western Conference has 12 teams and the East has 11. Soccer Stadium Digest: Playoff Run Boosting Phoenix Rising FC MLS Expansion Chances?.101ESPN: A Tale of Several Cities Looking For MLS Expansion.Crain’s Detroit Business: Deal to save Columbus Crew may harm Detroit’s chances at an MLS expansion team.Ives Galarcep: MLS expansion: Ranking the remaining potential markets.From Reddit contributor: Last 2018 MLS Expansion Ranking Update Dec 2018.MLS Multiplex: Phoenix Rising: Heat no problem in bid for MLS Expansion.Phoenix Rising FC will be in the group looking to be picked. More articles about MLS expansion city hopefuls as Phoenix Rising FC and several other groups compete to join the league. December 29th, 2018 // No Comments » // Major League Soccer
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