MLS Expansion: Four cities make first cut for first stage

• by Paul Kennedy  @pkedit, Nov 29, 2017

MLS has cut the field for the two expansion teams that are slated to be announced in mid-December from 12 groups to four: Cincinnati, Detroit, Nashville and Sacramento.

Since August, all four cities have been the first ones cited by MLS commissioner Don Garber when he has discussed expansion.

Garber and MLS's expansion committee will hear presentations from owners and officials representing the four markets in New York on Dec. 6. A decision on expansion should be made at a meeting of MLS's board of governors on Dec. 14 in New York. The two teams are slated to begin play in 2020.

Essential MLS expansion reading:
April 15, 2016: MLS expansion, immediate and long term, taking shape
Dec. 16, 2016: Expansion Timeline: Who's who of the MLS expansion race
March 15, 2017: Who stands where in stadium race
April 21, 2017: How does race stand post-St. Louis?
May 5, 2017: Bidders take stakes in local clubs
July 31, 2017: Our summer attendance meter

MLS plans to award two other expansion teams at a later date. No timetable has been set for when those cities will be selected or when they will begin play.

Complicating the expansion picture is the uncertain situation in Miami, where MLS has yet to give the green light almost four years after David Beckham was introduced as the Miami investor. The delays in Miami will leave MLS with only 23 teams in 2018.

Other cities in the original group of 12 expansion bidders are Charlotte, Indianapolis, Phoenix, Raleigh, St. Louis, San Antonio, San Diego and Tampa/St. Petersburg.

Cincinnati
Investor group: Carl H. Lindner III – co-CEO of American Financial Group and owner, chairman and CEO of FC Cincinnati; Scott Farmer - CEO of Cintas Corporation.

Pro team: FC Cincinnati (four seasons in USL, 2017 average attendance: 21,199).

Stadium plan:
-- 21,000-seat soccer stadium to be built in Oakley neighborhood.
-- Cost: stadium -- $200 million; infrastructure -- $75 million.
-- Funding: Public-private

Detroit
Investor group: Dan Gilbert – owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers and founder and chairman of Quicken Loans, Inc.; Tom Gores – owner of the Detroit Pistons and founder, chairman and CEO of Platinum Equity.

Pro team: none.

Stadium plan: Ford Field (NFL Lions' home stadium).

 
Nashville
Investor group: John Ingram – chairman of Ingram Industries Inc. and CEO of Nashville Soccer Holdings; Wilf Family – owners of the Minnesota Vikings; Turner Family – managing partners of MarketStreet Enterprises.

Pro team: Nashville SC (to begin play in USL in 2018).

Stadium plan:
-- 27,500-seat soccer stadium to be built at Fairgrounds Nashville.
-- Cost: stadium -- $225 million; infrastructure -- $50 million.
-- Funding: Public-private

 
Sacramento
Investor group: Kevin Nagle -- Managing Partner of Sac Soccer & Entertainment Holdings and minority owner of the Sacramento Kings. Jed York – CEO of the San Francisco 49ers. Mark Friedman – President of Fulcrum Property Group and minority owner of the Sacramento Kings, and other limited partners.

Pro team: Sacramento Republic FC (four seasons in USL, 2017 average attendance: 11,569).

Stadium plan:
-- 20,000-seat soccer stadium to be built at the Railyards.
-- Cost: stadium -- $245 million; infrastructure: $46 million.
-- Funding: Public-private.