An updated, tiered look at the MLS Expansion race

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http://sbisoccer.com/2017/07/an-updated-tiered-look-at-the-mls-expansion-race

An updated, tiered look at the MLS Expansion race

As we enter the midway point of the MLS season, and the middle of the calendar year, we’re supposedly less than six months away from a decision on MLS teams 25 and 26.

A few candidates have furthered their bids dramatically in recent months, such as the Tampa Bay Rowdies. Others have fallen off hard, with St. Louis and San Diego suffering big hits. Commissioner Don Garber has even visited a few of the candidate cities, bolstering the faith of supporters in Nashville and Cincinnati, while those in either of the North Carolina bids have been left wanting.

With so little time before MLS’ self-imposed decision deadline, the end of 2017, it’s worth taking a look at where each candidate stands in relation to the others. Here’s a look at the candidates bracketed into tiers of probability:

TIER 1- FRONTRUNNERS

TAMPA/ST. PETERSBURG

The bid fronted by the Tampa Bay Rowdies and owner Bill Edwards was always one to take seriously. Edwards has the political capital within the American soccer scene to make a major push, and he’s utilized those resources to make a big push for one of the two expansion slots up for grabs in 2017. The Rowdies made their intentions clear when they made the leap from the NASL to the MLS-partnered USL at the beginning of the year. That move has paid off on the field, with the team sitting in playoff position through 18 matches, and was likely a helpful factor off the field through increased relations with MLS.

With a successful team, a dedicated and proven ownership group, and a major U.S. market, the Rowdies were just a stadium plan away when their bid was announced. That bid received a major boost into the top tier when, on May 2, St. Petersburg voters overwhelmingly approved a referendum that allowed the city to enter negotiations with Edwards for a 25-year lease on Al Lang Stadium. Edwards plan is to spend roughly $80 million to renovate and expand the Rowdies current home to a capacity of 18,000. Just like that, the Rowdies finished the final pillar of their bid and now simply await a decision from the league, one that Edwards hopes is made in his favor.

SACRAMENTO

Much like the Rowdies bid, the Sacramento group comes backed by an existing USL team, the Republic, and their ownership group led by Hewlett-Packard CEO Meg Whitman. With a highly successful USL team, currently in playoff position, a strong ownership group, and a previously approved 20,000 seat stadium plan, the Republic were ready for MLS expansion before the process was even announced. The lone piece holding the bid back was a crucial one, however, as the group behind the MLS bid was apparently entirely unaffiliated with the Republic. The divisive nature of the two groups caused a great deal of anxiety in Sacramento, as it could have derailed an otherwise perfect bid.

That issue was resolved in early May as Sac Soccer & Entertainment Holdings, the group behind the MLS bid, announced the acquisition of the Republic and their official incorporation into the bid. The purchase brought major power to the ownership group, unifying Sac Soccer CEO Kevin Nagle, HP CEO Whitman, and San Francisco 49ers owner Jed York under a single banner. That’s a lot of firepower and all the more reason to keep Sacramento near the forefront of the expansion discussion.

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http://www.tampabay.com/sports/soccer/gold-cup-games-in-tampa-could-buoy-rowdies-mls-bid/2330084

Gold Cup games in Tampa could buoy Rowdies' MLS bid

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http://www.baynews9.com/content/news/baynews9/sports/article.html/content/news/articles/bhsn/2017/7/12/orlando_city_b_tampa.html

Orlando City B prepares to host Tampa Bay Rowdies

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https://www.orlandocitysc.com/post/2017/07/12/i-4-derby-comes-orlando-city-stadium

I-4 Derby Comes to Orlando City Stadium

ORLANDO, Fla. (July 12, 2017) - Orlando City B (5-6-6, 21 points) looks to close out its three-game homestand on Thursday, July 13, when it hosts the I-4 Derby rival Tampa Bay Rowdies (7-5-6, 27 points). Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET at Orlando City Stadium.

The match will be streamed at www.OrlandoCitySC.com/LIVE.

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http://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/812841

USL Match Preview – #ORLvTBR

I-4 Derby kicks off for second time this season

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https://www.orlandocitysc.com/post/2017/07/11/pulis-match-against-tampa-bay-about-more-points

Pulis: Match Against Tampa Bay About “More Than Points”

On Thursday night, Orlando City B will host the Tampa Bay Rowdies for their second matchup of the 2017 USL season. Everyone knows that there is bad blood between the two local rivals: the Lions will be playing for pride and for points when they take the pitch Thursday night.

“It’s a huge game. Obviously there is more at stake than points, it’s local pride,” Head Coach Anthony Pulis said in training this week. “We know how much this means to the supporters, the hardcore supporters who have been here since Day One.”

The rivalry between Tampa and Orlando has always been important, going back to the days before Orlando City joined MLS. Now, Tampa Bay is in a bid of their own for MLS expansion and that tension only makes both teams want to prove themselves more.

“I think there will definitely be a little bit of added spice to it. Obviously they’re trying to get their MLS expansion franchise and we’re already there,” Pulis said. “So, for sure, I’m imagining they’re going to bring down a few supporters themselves. Hopefully we can get a good crowd and I’m sure it will be a good game.”

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http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/article160663509.html

Major League Baseball boss says Charlotte ‘a possibility’ for expansion one day

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http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20170711/news/633596/gores-palace-sports-files-federal-trademark-detroit-city-soccer-club

Gores' Palace Sports files federal trademark for 'Detroit City Soccer Club'

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https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/07/11/mls4clt-announces-plans-upcoming-charlotte-visit-mls-executives

MLS4CLT announces plans for upcoming Charlotte visit by MLS executives

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http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/article160711339.html

Want Major League Soccer in Charlotte? Fans can rally next week in support

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http://www.espnfc.com/major-league-soccer/story/3156151/mls-executives-to-visit-north-carolina-amid-expansion-efforts

MLS executives to visit North Carolina amid expansion efforts

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http://wfae.org/post/major-league-soccer-execs-visit-charlotte-and-raleigh-next-week

Major League Soccer Execs To Visit Charlotte And Raleigh Next Week

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http://www.wbtv.com/story/35855068/major-league-soccer-officials-to-visit-charlotte-next-week

Major League Soccer officials to visit Charlotte next week

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http://wncn.com/2017/07/11/north-carolina-football-club-to-host-major-league-soccer-president/

North Carolina Football Club to host Major League Soccer president

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http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/mls/article160744864.html

Underdogs Miami FC, Cincinnati clash in U.S. Open Cup quarters at FIU

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http://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/article160756384.html

Charlotte to host MLS executives; hopes to land soccer team

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http://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/soccer/fc-cincinnati/2017/07/11/cinderella-stories-clash-fc-cincinnati-miami-fc-u-s-open-cup-quarterfinal/468213001/

Cinderella stories clash in FC Cincinnati-Miami FC U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal

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http://www.denverpost.com/2017/07/11/charlotte-mls-expansion/

Charlotte to host MLS executives; hopes to land soccer team

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http://www.daytondailynews.com/sports/open-cup-cincinnati-embracing-miami-challenge/ysCWWHHtLOo0QE8yKHcUjI/

FC Cincy embracing Miami challenge

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http://www.wbtv.com/story/35861131/one-uptown-organization-not-focused-on-mlb-expansion-in-charlotte

One uptown organization not focused on MLB expansion In Charlotte

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https://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/news/2017/07/11/still-in-the-running-major-league-soccer-president.html

Still in the Running: Major League Soccer president to visit the Triangle

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http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/plans-announced-for-july-18-major-league-soccer-visit-to-charlotte-300486573.html

Plans Announced for July 18 Major League Soccer Visit to Charlotte

Community Urged to Show Support at Power the Pitch Rally at First Ward Park

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http://www.wbt.com/media/audio-channel/can-clt-get-mls-and-mlb

Can CLT Get MLS and MLB

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http://www.newsobserver.com/sports/soccer/north-carolina-fc-courage/article160717454.html

MLS president to visit Triangle as part of North Carolina FC expansion bid. Here’s how you can participate.

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http://www.tennessean.com/story/opinion/2017/07/11/nashville-deserves-pro-soccer-team-after-concacaf-gold-cup-success/468436001/

Nashville deserves MLS soccer team after CONCACAF Gold Cup success

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http://www.charlottefive.com/charlottefive-podcast-mls-charlotte/

Can Charlotte support Major League Soccer? Should it?

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https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2017/07/12/cbj-morning-buzz-mls-visit-to-include-uptown.html

CBJ Morning Buzz: MLS visit to include uptown rally; SouthPark center up for revamp; Pre-noon alcohol sales approved

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https://www.charlotteagenda.com/97223/mecklenburg-county-really-need-choose-either-soccer-greenways/

Does Mecklenburg County really need to choose either soccer or greenways?

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http://newburghgazette.com/2017/07/11/north-carolina-football-club-to-host-major-league-soccer/

North Carolina Football Club to host Major League Soccer president

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http://www.charlotteobserver.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/o-pinion/article160999644.html

Ain’t that a kick? Public money for soccer – without the public involved

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http://www.morganton.com/sports/charlotte-to-host-mls-executives-hopes-to-land-soccer-team/article_d4502566-6713-11e7-9d20-6f9a8f75cec2.html

Charlotte to host MLS executives; hopes to land soccer team

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http://www.ksat.com/news/major-league-soccer-still-city-countys-focus-over-aaa-baseball

Major League Soccer still city, county's focus over AAA baseball

Mayor: 'We have a clear path and a league that is expanding'

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http://www.twcnews.com/nc/charlotte/news/2017/07/12/mls-executives-request-private-meetings-with-city---county-officials.html

MLS executives request private meetings with city & county officials

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http://www.nsjonline.com/article/2017/07/ncfc-to-hold-public-rally-as-mls-executives-visit-triangle

NCFC to hold public rally as MLS executives visit Triangle

Hoping to convince the MLS it should take roots in the Triangle, North Carolina FC will hold a
public rally in Downtown Raleigh next week

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http://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/812999

Las Vegas Stadium Plan Progresses

Agreement in principle reached for USL team to compete at Cashman Field

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http://www.vegasnews.com/163263/las-vegas-city-council-votes-on-wednesday-july-19-to-bring-professional-soccer-to-las-vegas.html

Las Vegas City Council Votes on Wednesday, July 19 to Bring Professional Soccer to Las Vegas

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http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/article161063334.html

Someone wants Charlotte taxpayers out of talks with Major League Soccer execs. But who?

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https://www.socceramerica.com/article/74116/mls-expansion-nashville-punches-above-expectation.html

MLS Expansion: Nashville punches above expectations

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https://sports.yahoo.com/major-league-soccer-heading-north-164105328.html

Major League Soccer heading to North Carolina on expansion visit

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https://www.thespec.com/sports-story/7416014-nashville-emerges-as-strong-candidate-for-mls-expansion/

Nashville emerges as strong candidate for MLS expansion