The effort to bring an MLS team to Detroit has been, like that of all other 11 bidders, dependent on getting a stadium deal done. In the case of billionaire developer Dan Gilbert’sRock Ventures, that gets even more complicated as its 23,000-seat stadium stadium deal is contingent on doing a deal for the construction of […]
expansion
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Zappos founder pulls plug on bid for San Francisco pro team
Want to start a pro soccer team? As Zappos founder Nick Swinmurn discovered, it’s very complicated. Plans to bring a second pro team to San Francisco collapsed when Swinmurn’s SanFrancisco Football Club withdrew its bid to become a USL team after it failed to find a home. With that decision, SFFC also pulled the plug […]
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Nashville mayor pushes plan for $250 million soccer stadium
Nashville mayor Megan Barry revealed the deal she hopeswill land an MLS expansion team. The MLS group led by local businessman John Ingram would build a 27,500-seat soccer stadium at the Metro-owned Fairgrounds Nashville. Between theconstruction costs of the stadium and infrastructure work, the project is expected to cost $250 million. Barry is selling the […]
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Decision on Detroit soccer and jail projects expected soon
The picture is looking brighter for Detroit’s Wayne County. Its credit rating has improved, which should lower its borrowing costs. And it might be moving closer to getting its messy jailproject back on track. That would lessen the burden for Wayne County, which is reportedly paying $1.3 million a month in debt service and legal […]
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Atlanta United, best MLS expansion team ever? Not so fast
Atlanta United is on course to set an attendance record in its first MLS season and is playing some of the best soccer ever seen in the league. But how does it rank among expansion teams? With the additions of Minnesota United and Atlanta United, MLS has grown by 15 teams since the first expansion […]
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FC Cincinnati's 'Build It Here' faces competition
Of the 12 MLS expansion candidates, none currently draws more fans than FC Cincinnati. It has shattered all kinds of USL and Open Cup attendance records in 2017, but it has one big problem. It is atenant at its home field, the University of Cincinnati’s Nippert Stadium, and needs a home of its own. Backed […]
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Plans for Louisville City stadium are unveiled
Louisville mayor Greg Fischerannounced plans for a development project that will include a 10,000-seat soccer stadium for the USL’s Louisville City FC. Home of theirown. Lou City has been playing at Louisville Slugger Field, a Triple-A baseball stadium, for its three seasons. It has averaged 8,805 fans for 13 games this season — third in […]
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What They're Saying: Jill Ellis
“I’m sure I just pissed someone off saying that. Sorry.” — U.S. women’s national team Jill Ellis, saying she was sure FC Cincinnati would get an MLS expansion team, beforeTuesday’s friendly against New Zealand in Cincinnati. (Cincinnati Enquirer)
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Emails pull back curtain on options of NYCFC's owners
The release of #Otaibaleaks — the hacked emails belonging to Yousef Al Otaiba, the United Arab Emirates‘ U.S. ambassador — offered insights into what was the thinking of the now ownersof New York City FC as they debated their final decision about joining MLS. Ferran Soriano and David Villa. MCFC/CFG/UAE/AD. The key to understanding their […]
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Report: St. Louis MLS expansion group still active
St. Louis was viewed to be at the top of MLS’s list for expansion prospects but seemingly dropped out of the race early when a soccer stadium funding plan was defeated by city voters. But PaulEdgerley, the chairman of the soccer ownership group, told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that it stillseeking a solution.