The league had chosen to fold the Miami Fusion, in part because the Fusion's ownership reportedly lacked financial resources, had been trying to run the Fusion on a bare-minimum budget, and had asked the league to pay some of the club's expenses. [169] Additionally, MLS expressed concerns about Miami's lack of fan interest in an MLS franchise, the fact that USL team Miami FC was not doing well, and the plan to use FIU Stadium relegating the team to a secondary tenant in a college football stadium with an artificial surface. Strength training will be beneficial, but only until after puberty kicks in. On December 6, 2016, Carolina Railhawks (later rebranded as North Carolina FC) owner Steve Malik announced a push for Raleigh's minor league team to become an MLS team,[172] and build a privately funded $150 million, 22,000-seat stadium in Wake County. On May 11, 2009, it was announced that the team name would be Philadelphia Union. On May 7, 2010, Commissioner Don Garber announced that Saputo and the Impact group (now CF Montréal) would join the league as its 19th club for the 2012 MLS season with Stade Saputo being renovated to increase the seating capacity to around 20,000. [155] [13] Eventually 22 communities submitted formal bids to host an inaugural MLS franchise.[14]. [210], MLS announced in May 2010 the league's desire for a second franchise in New York. Miami owner Ken Horowitz paid a $20 million expansion fee for the right to join MLS. On February 17, 2016, the MLS2STL group was formed to bring an MLS team to the St. Louis area. [93] Nashville was the first confirmed team approved by the MLS during this phase of expansion on December 20, 2017 the team was expected begin to play in 2020 season. In 1998, the league expanded for the first time, rising from ten teams to twelve. Major League Soccer was established in 1993, as part of an agreement with FIFA that the United States set up a professional first division to gain the right to host the 1994 FIFA World Cup. [61], The league announced it was awarding an expansion franchise in Atlanta to Atlanta Falcons owner and Home Depot co-founder Arthur Blank on April 16, 2014, with plans to begin play in 2017. [189] On March 13, 2013, the Elk Grove city council voted unanimously to study potential sites for a soccer-specific stadium in the city that could host either an MLS or NASL team. [6] This record was surpassed by the ownership groups of FC Cincinnati and Nashville SC, which each paid $150 million to join MLS (FC Cincinnati in 2019 and Nashville in 2020). Due to rapid over-expansion and poor franchise placement, the NASL collapse led future MLS leaders to be extremely cautious of establishing new franchises. [194] Also in January 2015, the York family, owners of the NFL's San Francisco 49ers, agreed to invest in the Republic. [citation needed] Cooper instead launched a second division men's club and a Women's Professional Soccer franchise. Franchise in New York", "Investors targeting MLS club for Orlando", "Orlando City put MLS ambitions on show for Commissioner", "Dyer opens up about land purchase for new MLS stadium", "Mayors line up behind Orlando stadium deal 08/09/2013", "Orlando City determined to join MLS despite legislation impasse in Florida House", "MLS expansion team likely heading Atlanta's way", "MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER AWARDS EXPANSION TEAM TO ORLANDO", "Charlotte's MLS expansion fee reportedly a record $325M — two-thirds more than recent expansions", "MLS awards 2017 expansion franchise to Atlanta, owner Arthur Blank", "Atlanta Lands MLS Expansion Team for 2017", "Falcons owner Blank puts in bid for MLS franchise", "Major League Soccer team coming to Minneapolis", "United president expects team name, logo, coach to stay the same", "MLS Commissioner Don Garber Says Minnesota 'Goes on List' with New Vikings Stadium", "MLS Commissioner Don Garber: Minneapolis represents everything that is spurring growth of MLS", "MLS's stadium deadline passes, but Minnesota still in play for expansion", "With team and stadium, St. Paul savors soccer triumph – StarTribune.com", "Minnesota United to play inaugural MLS season at new home: TCF Bank Stadium", "Banc of California snags naming rights for L.A. Football Club soccer stadium", "Cincinnati set to welcome Commissioner Don Garber in push for MLS expansion", "FC Cincinnati unveils stadium design, emphasizes Newport at OTR event", "FC Cincinnati to join MLS as expansion team", "Soccer star David Beckham to bring MLS team to Miami", "David Beckham's Miami MLS plans on hold until stadium secured", "MLS All-Star Notes: Mark Abbott on expansion, Blatter; Training contrast", "Political will key to Beckham's MLS Miami plan: Garber", "Beckham United & Miami mayor agree on new MLS stadium plan", "Beckham reportedly throws in towel on soccer stadium alongside Marlins Park", "Beckham announces Overtown site for soccer stadium", "Major League Soccer approves David Beckham's expansion team in Miami, Overtown location – South Florida Business Journal", "David Beckham group buys private land needed for Miami soccer stadium", "David Beckham stadium talks with Miami-Dade hit a snag", "Beckham-Miami deal one step closer; local visit plans revealed", "Tennessee legislature proposes bill to help fund Nashville MLS stadium", "Nashville business leaders form group to bring MLS to the Music City", "Soccer stadium backers detail redevelopment plans", "Nashville soccer fans come out in force for $275M MLS stadium proposal", "Nashville MLS expansion bid gets boost from $275m stadium approval", "MLS confirms Nashville will be home to its latest expansion franchise", "Miami MLS expansion team to begin play in 2020", "Commissioner Don Garber: More details on MLS in Austin soon", "Charlotte Leaders Negotiating Deal to Bid for Major League Soccer Team at Memorial Stadium", "Charlotte's Major League Soccer dreams are dead for now. [114] On November 30, 2018, the vote was taken to the board of aldermen and passed by 26 out of the 28. Please try again. The game schedule is being announced in four-week increments because of the coronavirus pandemic. On May 21, 2013, MLS announced New York City FC as the next expansion team. [162], MLS announced in 2004 that Cleveland would be getting an expansion franchise for the 2005 season, as area businessman Bert Wolstein had signed a letter of intent to launch an MLS club. [19] Both teams were withdrawn from the league and folded. Step by step, we’ll get to April 16. [199] Should the city's bid for an MLS expansion team succeed, it will indeed enter the league as Sacramento Republic FC. In March 2014, Garber said that expansion in the immediate future was "premature" for both San Antonio and Texas, though it was "something that is likely to happen". [142] MLS Commissioner Don Garber has said that Detroit is on the list of cities that could get an expansion team in 2020, and has stated that MLS' interest in Detroit hinges on the fate of the 15-acre site of the stalled Wayne County jail development, which can connect the Greektown Entertainment District, Eastern Market and the three other sports facilities – Comerica Park, Ford Field, and Little Caesars Arena. Expansion of Major League Soccer has occurred several times since the league began play in 1996. [115], On August 20, 2019, Garber appeared at a press conference in St. Louis to announce that the city had been granted a franchise to begin play in 2022. They also set the league's single-game playoff record for attendance with 30,187 spectators on October 2. [94], On January 29, 2018, the MLS officially approved Beckham's expansion team in Miami with play expected to start in 2020. St. Louis announced in late 2014 that it was planning a new stadium to host both American football and soccer. The team had been expected to begin play in MLS in 2018, though the timing of their start date was described as "fluid. [144], Detroit was considered by MLS to be one of the frontrunners for a 2020 bid, but MLS soured on Detroit when the ownership group decided not to build a soccer-specific stadium and to use Ford Field instead. [23], The league also announced Real Salt Lake in 2004. [161], This section includes cities with bids that have either failed or stalled, or are otherwise not explicitly included in the MLS expansion roadmap, the latest of which was announced in December 2013. [53] [170] However, Garber said that Miami would be an expansion target in the future. [214] For example, MLS held talks with New York Mets owner Fred Wilpon. Casa Grande, AZ – Barça Residency Academy teams will compete in four different league competitions this year, highlighted by the newly-launched MLS NEXT league. Back in December, MLS commissioner Don Garber announced the league would be making the announcement of two more expansion teams later this year with two more teams being announced at a later date. ALBION SC San Diego *. [209] On June 20, 2011, Ottawa was awarded a NASL expansion franchise which began play as Ottawa Fury FC at TD Place Stadium in 2014; Fury FC moved to USL after the 2016 season. [24] Real Salt Lake initially played its home games at Rice-Eccles Stadium on the University of Utah campus before moving to Rio Tinto Stadium in the suburb of Sandy in October 2008.[25]. The city's bid was boosted by the proposed construction of the Whitecaps Waterfront Stadium, with an initial capacity of 20,000 and the potential for further expansion. Alexandria … [107], On January 12, 2016, The NFL's Rams relocated to Los Angeles from St. Louis and the Rams relocation initially accelerated the talks of an MLS expansion team. One of three Canadian cities in the running for 2011 MLS expansion, Vancouver's bid was led by local businessman Greg Kerfoot, at that time owner of the Vancouver Whitecaps FC in USSF D2 Pro. The team began play in 2018 in a new soccer-specific stadium,[48] Banc of California Stadium. [66] Club president Nick Rodgers said he expected much of the team, including the name, logo, coach and some players, to remain intact. The idea is to get involved in the purchase of the Las Vegas Lights and change its name to Fla USA or Fla Vegas. This premium subscription level includes Soccer America Daily, Soccer on TV, Soccer Talk, the Game Report and Soccer America Confidential. The team's expansion rights were purchased by the English Premier League club Manchester City and the New York Yankees baseball team for $100 million, and the team began play in 2015. The new teams were the Chicago Fire SC (now Chicago Fire FC) and Miami Fusion. Guadalajara owner Jorge Vergara, and took the name and colors from the Mexican club with the aim of appealing to the Hispanic community in Southern California. [105] Garber stated in January 2015 that: "St. Louis has got a lot of activity going on with a stadium that they’re trying to get done for the NFL Rams". Austin FC became the 27th team in the league in 2021. [48], In May 2010, league commissioner Don Garber announced the league's desire to place its 20th team in New York City[49] On June 27, 2012, MLS announced plans to build a new soccer-specific stadium in Queens, New York, with a seating capacity of 25,000 and located near the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows. [167], In December 2014, Garber stated that the league was continuing to evaluate and receive updates on developments in San Antonio. [135], In 2017, Phoenix entered the race for an expansion team. [112] Following speculation of a new ownership group and stadium proposal, on October 9, 2018, the bid was effectively re-launched, with Carolyn Kindle Betz and other members of the Taylor family, principal owners of the Enterprise Holdings car rental company, as primary investors in the proposal. The odds of your city landing an Major League Soccer club just got a little bit better. There was a problem with your email address. MLS NEXT is now home to 118 clubs, 521 teams and over 11,000 players. [68] The Wilfs would later become investors in Nashville's successful MLS bid. [201], On January 22, 2019, billionaire Ron Burkle was announced as the Republic's new lead investor to satisfy MLS requirements. Teams can stop play only three times during the 90 minutes to make changes. It's just a matter of when. [15] The league chose to fold the Tampa Bay Mutiny, in part because the team was operated by the League instead of by an individual owner, meaning that the League had to absorb 100% of the team's operating losses. [128] The potential for a Las Vegas team was revived in January 2017 by the city council approaching a sports investment bank but an official bid was not reported by MLS. [83], In December of that year, Beckham United announced that a new stadium site, mostly private land but also containing a tract owned by Miami-Dade County, had been selected in Miami's Overtown neighborhood. [38] Don Garber called the bid presentation by Vancouver "one of the best I've ever seen. Major League Soccer is back, but incoming cities will have to wait longer for new teams to arrive due to Covid-19. [182] But the league continues to monitor progress and efforts toward expansion in San Antonio.[183]. The NFL's Chargers 2017 relocation to Los Angeles has accelerated the chances for an MLS expansion team in San Diego.[156][157][158]. As of January 2015, the club had nearly 10,000 ticket deposits as part of its "Built for MLS" campaign. [166], In March 2014, Commissioner Garber said there had not been any developments regarding MLS expansion in Cleveland since talks were held "many years ago."[167]. Become a Soccer America Pro member today to get complete website access to all articles and all discussions and receive all of Soccer America’s newsletters for just 99¢. The club had suffered poor performance on the field, low attendance and a series of discrimination lawsuits against the ownership. [136] The bid for expansion is led by the ownership group of Phoenix Rising FC of the United Soccer League including Chelsea and Phoenix Rising FC player Didier Drogba. After a two-year hiatus, the San Jose Earthquakes were reactivated in 2007 and resumed play in MLS in 2008 under new ownership. [109], On January 26, 2017, a funding plan for a soccer-specific stadium adjacent to Union Station in downtown St. Louis was approved by the city's Aldermanic Ways and Means Committee. The establishment of the club, along with the concurrent purchase of Toyota Field by the city of San Antonio and Bexar County, is part of a plan by local officials to obtain an expansion franchise in Major League Soccer. [89] The group, led by Bill Hagerty, pursued an MLS team immediately rather than work up the soccer pyramid. [103], On July 17, 2020, MLS announced that the Charlotte expansion team's debut would be delayed by a year to 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[104]. Regular Admission will be revealed in May and Waitlist Admission in July. Soccer America Pro members may read, share and comment on all articles from these paid premium newsletters. MLS began playing with 10 teams in 1996, grew to 12 teams in 1998, but put expansion plans on hold and then eliminated two teams following the 2001 season to return to 10 teams. [204]As a result, the bid was considered to be on indefinite hiatus, and on March 1 the Republic's logo was removed from the banner at the top of MLSSoccer.com. [59], MLS has continued to expand at an increased rate and is scheduled to add 10 teams in seven seasons between 2017 and 2023. [151], Commissioner Garber mentioned San Diego as an expansion candidate in February 2014,[152] and again in April 2016. [163] However, Wolstein ran into delays in trying to obtain public financing for a stadium, and died in 2004. Upon their debut in 2014, the Republic set a USL single-game attendance record by selling out their first-ever home game at 20,000-seat Hughes Stadium;[196] since moving to the smaller, soccer-specific stadium now known as Papa Murphy's Park midway through 2014, the team has continued to play in front of capacity crowds. [95][96], On December 7, 2018, Garber announced in his annual State of the League news conference that "within the next few years MLS will become the first major sports league to have a team in the culturally dynamic city of Austin". MLS NEXT is now home to 118 clubs, 521 teams and over 11,000 players. In 2004, MLS awarded a second franchise to the Los Angeles area, Chivas USA. On October 30, 2014, the league announced the formation of a new Los Angeles-area team to replace Chivas USA, which shut down operations following the 2014 season. ©2021 Soccer America. St. Louis was announced as the 28th team in August 2019, while Sacramento was announced as the 29th team on October 21 of that year[120] and Charlotte was announced as the 30th team on December 17. [176] The city's North American Soccer League franchise, the San Antonio Scorpions, launched in 2012 and led the league in attendance in 2012 and 2013 seasons. [73], On November 29, 2016, Don Garber visited with Cincinnati's mayor John Cranley, officials from FC Cincinnati of the USL, and civic and business leaders of the city to talk about a possible expansion. In October 2017, however, the Charlotte city council confirmed that they would be unable to come up with the financing needed for the MLS deadline for expansion proposals, at which point the bid was effectively dead. The group fully supports the recently awarded USL expansion team, Nashville SC, which began play in 2018. The vote was 87% in favor of Al Lang Stadium redesign/expansion, and 13% against. [149][150], In June 2020, the Mayor of Louisville's office confirmed that the city has been in contact with the Major League Soccer, in coordination with the Louisville City Football Club, for a possible expansion in the future. [130], In August 2020, the Brazilian newspaper O Globo stated that Rodolfo Landim, president of Clube de Regatas do Flamengo, is interested in Las Vegas' pursuit of a Major League Soccer franchise. [206] In 2006, Don Garber stated: "At some point we want to find a way we can have an MLS team in Rochester. On October 16, 2017, Columbus Crew owner Anthony Precourt announced his intentions of moving his club to Austin in 2019 if a new stadium in downtown Columbus is not built. The former LA Galaxy striker Landon Donovan joined the San Diego ownership group on March 3, 2017. ", "Twitter / AndrewDasNYT: Garber says @NYCosmos aren't", MLS performance in the CONCACAF Champions League, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Expansion_of_Major_League_Soccer&oldid=1010773103, Articles with unsourced statements from December 2019, Articles with unsourced statements from January 2015, Articles with unsourced statements from February 2020, Articles with unsourced statements from February 2016, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Owners that are committed to MLS and have the financial wherewithal to invest in a team, A stadium or approved plans for a stadium (preferably a soccer-specific stadium) that allows the team to control revenue streams such as parking and concessions, The size of the market of the metropolitan area, This page was last edited on 7 March 2021, at 07:05. [120], On July 17, 2020, Sacramento Republic and MLS announced that the team would instead begin play in 2023, due to delays from the COVID-19 pandemic. [184] On December 22, 2015, the USL announced that Spurs Sports & Entertainment would operate the league's 31st team, San Antonio FC. MLS began looking to expand once more with a number of cities interested in hosting new teams. Follow @SKCAcademy on Twitter for live updates this weekend and throughout the MLS NEXT season. As downtown Austin is approximately 75 miles (120 km) north of downtown San Antonio, the proposed relocation would be in direct conflict with expansion efforts in San Antonio. In April 2013, the City of Orlando purchased downtown land to be used towards the construction of a $110 million MLS soccer stadium. The league plans to reach 30 teams[1] with the addition of Charlotte FC in 2022, and Sacramento Republic FC and St. Louis City SC in 2023; however, Sacramento's addition was put on indefinite hold. Kick-off Times; Kick-off times are converted to your local PC time. [177][178] This planned neighborhood included 150,000 square feet of office space, 100,000 square feet of retail, 600 apartment units, a 200-room boutique hotel and was anchored by a 20,000-seat multi-purpose soccer stadium. [82] However, the plans for the Orange Bowl site fell through later that year after Beckham United was unable to secure deals with private owners of adjacent land. [18] [6][a] The same amount was paid as an effective entrance fee by a group that bought Columbus Crew SC in 2018, which led to that team's previous operator receiving a new team in Austin, Texas, that will join MLS in 2021. [123] Las Vegas Mayor, Carolyn Goodman, and the Findlay group expressed preference for a downtown stadium. In February 2020, Garber stated that are more cities aiming to join the league and at some point they will expand further. Both groups support each other in their common vision to grow the sport in Tennessee. [80], Commissioner Garber said he hoped to see Miami join the league with Atlanta in 2017, but repeated that the team would not play without political support for a downtown stadium. This contraction left the league with 10 teams, the same number as when MLS began.[20]. [77], On February 5, 2014, the league announced that it would award a franchise in Miami to an investment group led by former player David Beckham, his business partner Simon Fuller, and Miami-based businessman Marcelo Claure, assuming that stadium financing and location could be agreed upon. [75] FC Cincinnati was awarded an expansion on May 29, 2018, to start play in MLS in 2019. On February 20, 2017, a new plan for the Mission Valley site of the facility then known as Qualcomm Stadium was unveiled by a La Jolla investment group that's trying to lure a Major League Soccer team to San Diego. In March 2012, Garber met with Orlando city and county officials, and said, "It's not a matter of if, but when", when addressing Orlando's chances of joining MLS. Beckham's MLS project could be based in Las Vegas Atlanta United and Minnesota United FC will bring the total teams in MLS to 22 in 2017, with LAFC set to make it 23 clubs in 2018. The U-16s and U-19s will kick off at 1 p.m. CT, followed by the U-17s and U-15s at 3 p.m. CT. [16][17] During the winter break between the 2000 and 2001 seasons, reports began circulating that MLS was considering trimming the league from 12 teams back to 10 teams. [15], Major League Soccer had reportedly lost an estimated $250 million during its first five years. [111], On September 27, 2018, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that officials with the Missouri Department of Economic Development met with Major League Soccer representatives on a stadium proposal and St. Louis mayor Lyda Krewson confirmed there is a group trying to bring a team to St. [164] [101], MLS officially announced, on December 17, 2019, that Charlotte will be awarded with an MLS franchise and will begin play in the 2021 season. The Rhinos won the US Open Cup in 1999 – the only non-MLS team to win the Cup since MLS began play three years earlier – and the Rhinos averaged over 10,000 fans from 1999 to 2005. Major League Soccer was established as the top level of professional soccer in the United States in 1993 with 10 teams and began play in 1996. [143] Their plan received a boost at the end of July when Wayne County Executive Warren Evans announced that he had instructed his team to work towards a final deal on moving the jail and allowing Gilbert and Gores to build the stadium. Each team is allowed up to 30 players on its first team roster. It will probably continue to grow shortly thereafter. [195], Sacramento's bid is also strengthened by its fan support. MLS awarded the second New York franchise to New York City FC in May 2013. [26], Seattle was awarded a franchise in 2007, and following a write-in vote by supporters,[29] the team chose the name Seattle Sounders FC, after the Seattle Sounders that played in the North American Soccer League in the 1970s and '80s. On March 25, 2015, the league announced that it had awarded the 23rd MLS team to an investor group in Minneapolis–Saint Paul led by Bill McGuire, owner of the NASL team Minnesota United FC. [2][3] It may expand to 32 teams at a later date. San Diego, CA. It’s not the real thing, but it’s not nothing. [34] Philadelphia was appealing to MLS because Philadelphia was the largest metropolitan area in the U.S. without an MLS franchise, and it had a strong ownership group. [citation needed] The proposed tax would only go into effect if MLS awards a team to St. Louis by December 20, 2020. Body weight exercises are plenty of "strength training" at this age. [5], In 2013, New York City FC agreed to pay a record $100 million expansion fee for the right to join MLS in 2015. But below we focus solely on which cities are in line to get the next three expansion spots and rank them accordingly. [90] In October 2017, the group unveiled their plans for $275 million stadium and redevelopment project,[91][92] which was approved by the city in November. [113] On November 28, 2018, the eight aldermen from the Housing, Urban Development, and Zoning Committee unanimously voted to approve the stadium plan. St. Louis had a stadium deal in Collinsville, Illinois, but lacked sufficient financing.[35][36]. [79], In an August 2014 Q&A session, deputy commissioner Mark Abbott said Miami would be the 23rd team as long as a downtown stadium deal could be reached. Anonymous As the parent of U15 and U18 boys playing at a high level, the answer is no. Update on New England Revolution Academy. By entering your email address, you agree to receive Soccer America Today newsletter and other email messages from Soccer America. – The four New England Revolution Academy teams continued the MLS Next season on Saturday, with the Under-19s, Under-17s, and Under-15s facing Empire United on … As a result, the Scorpions franchise was shut down. Forgot? The playoffs are expected to be played from July 25, with teams qualifying for the next round of the competition from the existing six groups divided for the first-stage, although unequally with 25 teams participating at Orlando. [18] Miami ownership had reportedly experienced $15 million in operating losses since Miami joined the league. [58], Atlanta became the third city in the southeastern United States in five months to announce an expansion team, following Orlando City in late 2013 and Miami, whose tentative approval was announced earlier in 2014. Burkle also purchased the Republic's proposed stadium site at the Sacramento Railyards, along with an additional 14 acres to be developed into an entertainment district. [3][205], Rochester, New York, had been mentioned as an expansion candidate due to the success of the Rochester Rhinos. [51], On October 25, 2010, Phil Rawlins and his investor group of Orlando City SC, announced their intentions of joining Major League Soccer within the next 3 to 5 years. [216] Garber confirmed in April 2014 that there would not be a third New York team after the New York Red Bulls and New York City FC. After MLS announced that they would be expanding to 30 teams, the Panthers officially reactivated the bid. The team was owned partly by C.D. [74] On June 12, 2017, FC Cincinnati revealed designs for a soccer-specific stadium to be built in conjunction with an MLS bid. [86] Negotiations with county officials to assemble the final section of the stadium site are ongoing. [43] The MLS Timbers would play in a renovated PGE Park, which was renamed to Jeld-Wen Field by the time the team made its MLS debut in 2011 and is now known as Providence Park, sharing with the Portland State University football team. The league also met with other prospective ownership groups for a New York expansion team. [193] Kings owner Ranadive announced in January 2015 that he had joined the Republic ownership group, in a move seen as bolstering the city's chances of landing an MLS berth. [41], On July 31, 2008, Merritt Paulson announced that he would apply for an MLS franchise for Portland as an MLS continuation of the Portland Timbers.