MLS to expand to 28 teams; will Las Vegas bid again?
Major League Soccer announced it will soon unveil a plan to expand to 28 teams during the league meetings on Saturday.
The question now is if Las Vegas investors will again try to bid for an MLS franchise.
The MLS move was announced after David Beckham's Miami franchise told the league board of governors that his group had secured land for a stadium, securing the 24th franchise. The announcement came prior to Sunday's MLS Cup title match.
Expansion franchises in Atlanta, Los Angeles and Minnesota are joining the league in the next three years.
"There is no shortage of demand for MLS expansion teams and we believe the opportunity exists to grow beyond our current plans," MLS Commissioner Don Garber said. "We will evaluate how to grow the league to 28 teams and establish a process and timeline for future expansion."
Las Vegas had been in the mix for the slot taken by the Minnesota franchise earlier this year. However, the lack of a clear stadium plan forced Las Vegas to drop out.
Since then, prospective MLS franchise owner Jason Ader has proposed redeveloping Cashman Field, current home of the minor-league baseball Las Vegas 51s, into a soccer stadium. For that to happen, Ader would have to negotiate a plan with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority while helping the 51s move to a long-sought new stadium.
The leading candidate for the four extra franchises is the FC Sacramento Republic of the United Soccer League that was the other finalist when Minnesota received a team. The Sacramento team has backing from the NFL San Francisco 49ers and NBA Sacramento Kings, and a privately funded stadium and infrastructure approved by the city of Sacramento. Other possible markets that would pose competition for Las Vegas would be St. Louis, San Antonio, Detroit and San Diego, which also have openly campaigned for an MLS team.
Reuters contributed to this report.
Bill Bradley is the sports editor of the Review-Journal. Contact Bill Bradley at bbradley@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2909. Follow him on Twitter: @billbradleyLV
