Power Rankings: Top 10 Potential MLS Expansion Cities
2015 will go down as a pivotal year in the history of Major League Soccer, as Orlando City SC and New York City FC will enter the league as the 20th and 21st teams respectively. MLS expansion marches on!
MLS commissioner Don Garber is on record stating that the aim is to have 24 teams by 2020. Atlanta is officially the 22nd, slated to enter the MLS in 2017, while Miami is unofficially the 23rd, pending the completion of a deal for a downtown stadium. Count me among the unconvinced, but that’s a conversation for a different day.
But which city is up next to host an MLS franchise?
Contrary to MLS procedure regarding transfers and allocations, Garber has been fairly open about which cities are being considered. Late last year, MLS named five cities officially being considered for expansion. Recently, we’ve also seen groups from Sacramento and Las Vegas join the fray.
With that in mind, let’s rank the top 10 potential cities for MLS expansion teams! (Click NEXT to view the list)
2015 will go down as a pivotal year in the history of Major League Soccer<\/strong>, as Orlando City SC<\/strong> and New York City FC<\/strong> will enter the league as the 20th and 21st teams respectively. MLS expansion marches on!<\/p>\n MLS commissioner Don Garber<\/strong> is on record stating that the aim is to have 24 teams by 2020. Atlanta<\/strong> is officially the 22nd, slated to enter the MLS in 2017, while Miami<\/strong> is unofficially the 23rd, pending the completion of a deal for a downtown stadium. Count me among the unconvinced, but that’s a conversation for a different day. But which city is up next to host an MLS franchise?<\/p>\n Contrary to MLS procedure regarding transfers and allocations, Garber has been fairly open about which cities are being considered. Late last year, MLS named five cities officially being considered for expansion<\/a>. Recently, we’ve also seen groups from Sacramento and Las Vegas join the fray.<\/p>\n With that in mind, let’s rank the top 10 potential cities for MLS expansion teams! (Click NEXT to view the list)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>"},{"title":"Power Rankings: Top 10 Potential MLS Expansion Cities","permalink":"https:\/\/playingfor90.com\/2014\/08\/14\/top-10-potential-mls-expansion-cities\/2\/","shortCodeTitle":null,"content":"<\/a> Viva las Vegas soccer?\n 10. Las Vegas, Nevada<\/strong><\/p>\n Is Vegas a good city for a new MLS expansion team? Absolutely not, but what sort of madman makes a ‘Top 9’ list?<\/p>\n That said, it’s hard to ignore the ownership groups in Sin City<\/a> throwing some serious weight behind the idea. Discussions with MLS and the city have taken place already.<\/p>\n However, the stadium would need a retractable roof and perhaps the most powerful A\/C unit ever conceived to deal with the blistering desert head. Not only that, but we have no evidence that the tourist town would be able to support a professional sports franchise at all.<\/p>\n The very essence of Vegas goes against the slow, controlled growth that has made MLS such a success so far. Still, if there’s one city that could make such an outlandish gamble pay off, it’s Las Vegas.<\/p>"},{"title":"Power Rankings: Top 10 Potential MLS Expansion Cities","permalink":"https:\/\/playingfor90.com\/2014\/08\/14\/top-10-potential-mls-expansion-cities\/3\/","shortCodeTitle":null,"content":"<\/a> Supports of NPSL team Detroit FC cheer on their squad\n 9. Detroit, Michigan<\/strong><\/p>\n On the surface, Detroit has too many sports teams and too many problems to be a viable option. Short term, this is probably true.<\/p>\n However, it’s still the 11th largest TV market in the US. Not only that, but they have ready and willing ownership with a downtown stadium already in place. Greek investor Andreas <\/strong>Apostolopoulos<\/strong> owns the Pontiac Silverdome<\/strong>, and reportedly has an interest in bringing an MLS team to the city.<\/span><\/p>\n MLS in Detroit is probably more than a decade away, and the city certainly needs to sort out its bankruptcy issues first. However, a huge television market and a solid sports town is nothing to scoff at as MLS continues its expansion.<\/p>"},{"title":"Power Rankings: Top 10 Potential MLS Expansion Cities","permalink":"https:\/\/playingfor90.com\/2014\/08\/14\/top-10-potential-mls-expansion-cities\/4\/","shortCodeTitle":null,"content":" <\/a>8. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma<\/strong><\/p>\n The Midwestern city has been a trendy spot for expansion talk of late. It’s the home to new teams in both USL Pro and NASL, and it’s worth noting the general success of the Oklahoma City Thunder, the city’s new NBA team.<\/p>\n However, as only the 45th largest TV market in the country, it’s likely still behind other Midwestern metropolises like St. Louis and Indianapolis. Also, USL side OKC Energy FC partnered with MLS squad Sporting KC late last year, indicating the ownership may not envision an MLS move any time soon.<\/p>"},{"title":"Power Rankings: Top 10 Potential MLS Expansion Cities","permalink":"https:\/\/playingfor90.com\/2014\/08\/14\/top-10-potential-mls-expansion-cities\/5\/","shortCodeTitle":null,"content":" <\/a>7. San Diego, California<\/strong><\/p>\n Another team in California? Sure why not! Great weather, a good soccer town, and Liga MX squad Club Tijuana<\/strong> right nextdoor. As recently as February, MLS boss Don Garber stated<\/a>, “There have been some discussions”.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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