What the hell is Soccer United Marketing?

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https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2018/2/8/16973944/soccer-united-marketing-sum-us-soccer-presidential-election-kathy-carter

What the hell is Soccer United Marketing?

U.S. Soccer sells its TV and sponsorship rights to a sports marketing company run by MLS owners. Here’s why that matters and how it affects the presidential election.

SUM is why MLS can charge a $150 million expansion fee

After paying a $150 million expansion fee, spending somewhere in the nine figures on a stadium and other facilities, and paying staff for multiple years before a team gets on the field, an MLS owner will be left with a team seemingly worth less than what was spent to get it off the ground. On top of that, most MLS teams report losing money year over year.

So why buy in? There’s a strong argument that it’s to get an equity stake in SUM, something currently much more valuable than an MLS team itself. Here’s an excerpt from a Forbes piece on MLS team valuations regarding SUM’s rapid growth:

Providence bought a 25% stake of SUM in 2012 for $150 million, valuing the property at $600 million. The recent sale of Providence’s remaining 20% stake – its holding had been diluted by the league’s expansion – was for a little over $400 million, valuing SUM at more than $2 billion, or a nearly 250% increase over the last five years.

In addition to U.S. Soccer and MLS, SUM also holds the marketing rights to the Mexico men’s national team games in the United States and the Gold Cup. It bought the rights to market the 2016 Copa America Centenario, which proved to be an enormous success. The company does not have a public listing of all its partners — such a list used to exist on SUMWorld.com, but that site now redirects to a general “advertising with MLS” page.

Even if MLS’s growth stagnates considerably and it never catches up to the more established American leagues in revenue, it’s clear that soccer as a whole is still growing in popularity. When you add up everything — men’s and women’s; youth, college and adult; club and international; TV viewership for domestic soccer, international tournaments, European leagues, South American leagues and Liga MX — soccer as a whole is a massive mainstream sport in the United States. MLS is only a small part of that, but its owners have figured out how to make money off a soccer audience who never engages with its core-owned-and-operated product.

A $150 million expansion fee for an MLS team is a bad deal, but a $150 million fee for an MLS team and an equity stake in SUM, one could argue, is a bargain.

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http://www.wtsp.com/article/sports/mlb/rays/rays-to-pursue-ybor-city-relocation/67-516225540

Rays to pursue Ybor City relocation

The Tampa Bay Rays will announce Ybor City as their preferred relocation site at a Friday afternoon press conference, opening the door for negotiations regarding financial subsidies.

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https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/7waae6/ybor_rays_team_ready_to_announce_tampa_ballpark/

Ybor Rays? Team ready to announce Tampa ballpark site, Hagan says (expected Friday) (tampabay.com)

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http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/Ybor-Rays-Team-ready-to-announce-Tampa-ballpark-site-Hagan-says_165299825

Ybor Rays? Team ready to announce Tampa ballpark site, Hagan says

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https://kxan.com/2018/02/08/major-league-soccer-announcement-expected-friday/

Major League Soccer announcement expected Friday

AUSTIN (KXAN) — An announcement concerning Major League Soccer in Austin is slated for Friday, according to the Austin Chamber of Commerce.

Business and community leaders, as well as Precourt Sports Ventures President Dave Greeley (which owns the Columbus Crew SC), are expected to attend and “discuss the benefits of bringing Major League Soccer to Austin,” according to a release.

The city is in the midst of outlining appropriate sites to put an MLS stadium, one of the requirements for Precourt Sports Ventures to bring its team to a new city. Neighbors and some city council members are pushing to keep parkland like Guerrero Metro Park off the list, and while Butler Shores was originally highlighted by Precourt as a “perfect” location, it has since said it will not build a stadium there. Currently, that leaves 10414 McKalla Place near the Domain as a possible location.

The City Council was originally slated to discuss the stadium options at its Feb. 15 meeting, but will likely postpone the discussion to give the Austin Parks and Recreation Department more time to research other site options.

The announcement will happen at 9 a.m. and KXAN will stream it online and in the KXAN News app.

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https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/7w7z6k/how_do_you_have_your_rowdies_lineup_stacking_up/

How do you have your Rowdies lineup stacking up? (i.redd.it)

https://i.redd.it/6hau8tupw1f01.jpg

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https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/7w7eub/rowdies_readying_for_first_preseason_test/

Rowdies Readying For First Preseason Test (rowdiessoccer.com)

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http://www.rowdiessoccer.com/news_article/show/884809?referrer_id=2824806

Rowdies Readying For First Preseason Test

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https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/7w5hhl/rowdies_add_2017_nasl_young_player_of_the_year/

Rowdies Add 2017 NASL Young Player of the Year Jack Blake to Roster (On Loan from Jacksonville) (rowdiessoccer.com)

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http://www.rowdiessoccer.com/news_article/show/884679

Rowdies Add 2017 NASL Young Player of the Year Jack Blake to Roster

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https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/7w6a99/kyle_porter_moving_back_to_rejoin_ottawa_fury_fc/

Kyle Porter moving back to rejoin Ottawa Fury FC (ottawafuryfc.com)

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http://www.ottawafuryfc.com/news_article/show/884718?referrer_id=2824815

Portilla, Porter officially join Fury FC ahead of 2018 season

Porter continued to navigate his pro career in North American featuring in over 125 matches split between FC Edmonton, D.C. United, Richmond Kickers, Atlanta Silverbacks, Ottawa Fury FC and most recently with the Tampa Bay Rowdies. He has also featured in youth and senior competitions with Canada, including U-17 and U-20 CONCACAF Championships, and the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

“Kyle brings valuable experience in NASL and USL and he’s not here just to be a squad player,” said de Guzman. “We feel he has the ability to be in our starting eleven, whether it’s at right back or on the wing. He’s hungry and definitely ready to prove himself.”

“It feels like I had unfinished business,” said Porter of his return to Ottawa. “I’m an ambitious player and this is an ambitious club - I want to be here!”

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http://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/884689?referrer_id=2364194-news-archive

Rowdies Bring Blake Aboard

Young standout arrives on season-long loan from Armada

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https://www.news4jax.com/sports/armada-sending-jack-blake-on-season-long-loan-to-tampa-bay-rowdies

Armada sending Jack Blake on season-long loan to Tampa Bay Rowdies

23-year-old led Jacksonville with nine goals in 2017

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https://socceramerica.com/publications/article/76708/usl-coaching-moves-rowdies-assistant-voss-replace.html

Rowdies assistant Voss replaces Becker at Penn FC

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http://ottawacitizen.com/sports/soccer/mls/ottawa-fury-fc/fury-fc-adds-trial-players-portilla-and-porter/wcm/0771a204-f243-4caa-8b09-29646efb3fd7

Fury FC adds players Cristian Portilla and Kyle Porter

Porter’s pro career continued in North America, with more than 125 matches split between FC Edmonton, D.C. United, Richmond Kickers, Atlanta Silverbacks, Fury FC in 2016 and most recently with the Tampa Bay Rowdies.

“Kyle brings valuable experience in NASL and USL and he’s not here just to be a squad player,” de Guzman said. “We feel he has the ability to be in our starting 11, whether it’s at right back or on the wing. He’s hungry and definitely ready to prove himself.”

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https://www.thecowl.com/sports/beckham-to-create-new-mls-team

Beckham to Create New MLS Team

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https://www.courthousenews.com/us-soccer-under-fire-from-desanctioned-minor-league/

US Soccer Under Fire From Desanctioned Minor League

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https://www.socceramerica.com/publications/article/76696/despite-uncertainty-jacksonville-armada-signs-fou.html

Despite uncertainty, Jacksonville Armada signs four players for 2018

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https://www.news4jax.com/sports/armada-announce-return-of-4-veterans-for-2018

Armada announces return of 4 veterans for 2018

Team will play in NPSL in spring

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https://www.epluribusloonum.com/2018/2/8/16988242/closed-how-the-united-states-soccer-federation-needs-to-help-amateur-clubs-ussf-election-2018

CLOSED: How the United States Soccer Federation Needs to Help Amateur Clubs

The upcoming presidential election provides an opportunity for conversations to be had and for change to happen.

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http://www.espn.com/soccer/club/united-states/660/blog/post/3375552/inside-the-drama-of-the-us-soccer-presidential-election

Behind the scenes of the U.S. Soccer election

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https://playingfor90.com/2018/02/08/nasl-sues-us-soccer-losing-division-ii-status/

NASL sues US Soccer again after losing Division II status

The NASL filed another lawsuit against US Soccer this week. The league alleges that US Soccer explicitly acted to protect MLS and Soccer United Marketing.

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http://www.espn.com/soccer/major-league-soccer/story/3376428/cincinnati-area-officials-pressure-mls-on-expansion-team-decision

Cincinnati area officials pressure MLS on expansion team decision

Ohio county officials are putting pressure on Major League Soccer to decide whether FC Cincinnati will join the league.

Hamilton County commissioners voted on Wednesday to renew an agreement to pay for a 1,000-car garage at the team's future stadium through Feb. 28.

The board's original agreement expired Dec. 31. The agreement was extended at the request of FC Cincinnati, which says it expects to hear from the league before March.

MLS previously said it would name two cities for expansion teams by the end of 2017. It selected Nashville to take the 25th spot in December, then pushed the decision on the next spot -- between finalists Cincinnati, Sacramento and Detroit -- into the new year.

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https://www.si.com/soccer/2018/02/08/us-soccer-president-election-orlando-votes-candidates

U.S. Soccer's Election Process Has Featured Everything–Except Any Certainty

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https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/nashvillesc/2018/02/08/nashville-sc-vs-atlanta-united-fc-what-know-inaugural-game/315960002/

Nashville SC vs. Atlanta United FC: What to know about the inaugural game

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http://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/884768?referrer_id=2364194-news-archive

Veteran Broadcast Executive Brad Baker Joins USL

Baker brings MLS and NFL experience to USL Productions

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https://www.si.com/soccer/2018/02/08/nasl-us-soccer-board-directors-lawsuit-election

How NASL's New Lawsuit vs. U.S. Soccer Compares, Contrasts to Federal One

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https://www.bizjournals.com/birmingham/news/2018/02/08/ua-system-trustees-to-consider-potential-lease.html

UA System trustees to consider potential lease with USL’s Birmingham Legion FC

The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees is considering a potential lease with Birmingham's new USL franchise.

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http://cincinnatisoccertalk.com/2018/02/08/fc-cincinnati-receives-praise-at-us-soccer-annual-meetings

FC Cincinnati Receives Praise at US Soccer Annual Meetings

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https://ghanasoccernet.com/las-vegas-lights-new-kit-brings-the-glitz

Las Vegas Lights' new kit brings the glitz

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https://socceramerica.com/publications/article/76710/usl-moves-nasl-young-player-of-the-year-blake-joi.html

USL Moves: NASL Young Player of the Year Blake joins Rowdies on loan

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http://ottawasun.com/sports/soccer/mls/ottawa-fury-fc/fury-fc-adds-trial-players-portilla-and-porter

Fury FC adds players Cristian Portilla and Kyle Porter

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http://www.gwinnettprepsports.com/sportsxchange/jeter-marlins-moves-are-for-betterment-of-team/article_06b4029a-319c-5111-9bbb-a37745b264e1.html

Jeter: Marlins' moves are for betterment of team

According to Jeter, the Marlins' status is even more dire than that of the expansion Major League Soccer team that David Beckham is bringing to Miami. Asked whether Beckham's club or the Marlins would win a championship first, Jeter replied, "We're starting from a deeper hole than he is. We'll see what happens."

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http://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/uncle-luke-gentrification-is-coming-for-miamis-black-residents-10064162

As Developers Target Miami's Poorest Neighborhoods, Minorities Get Kicked Out

6. Then they announce a big-ass project that they claim will be an economic catalyst for the neighborhood. Case in point: David Beckham's proposed Major League Soccer stadium in Overtown. Even though the residents don't want the stadium because it will bring congestion and hordes of people who don't patronize local businesses, the project gets rammed down their throats.

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https://nesn.com/2018/02/marlins-co-owner-derek-jeter-depressingly-describes-current-state-of-franchise/

Marlins Co-Owner Derek Jeter Depressingly Describes Current State Of Franchise

Of course, Jeter really has no one to blame but himself in many ways for this fiasco. The club visibly has no direction and has gotten mostly poor returns for the trades of some of their biggest stars.

Furthermore, to admit that your team is in an even worse hole than a team that doesn’t even have stadium plans confirmed yet not only is wildly irresponsible, but a pretty big slap in the face to the fanbase.

The question now becomes: Is Jeter still with the Marlins by the time the David Beckham-led Miami MLS franchise begins play?

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http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/editorials/article199233744.html

Dwyane Wade is coming back — game on!

The Miami Heat’s announcement Thursday that it had acquired Wade from the Cleveland Cavaliers is the umpteenth big local sports story in recent months. It follows the resurrection of Miami Hurricanes football, the sale of the Miami Marlins, the arrival of former New York Yankees great Derek Jeter and David Beckham finally — finally — securing a site to build a stadium for his Major League Soccer team.

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https://sports.yahoo.com/u-s-soccers-2018-election-nears-last-contested-election-provides-stark-contrast-122602671.html

As U.S. Soccer's 2018 election nears, its last contested election provides stark contrast

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https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Ohio-officials-pressure-MLS-to-decide-on-FC-12561279.php

Ohio officials pressure MLS to decide on FC Cincinnati

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http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/van-der-wiel-professionalism-in-mls-ten-years-ahead-of/qfrnotp9un68162wj5eirf2lg

Van der Wiel: Professionalism in MLS ‘10 years ahead’ of Europe

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https://www.kawowo.com/2018/02/08/basena-kajoba-set-coaching-lessons-mls-side-new-york-red-bulls/

Basena, Kajoba set for coaching lessons at MLS side New York Red Bulls

Ugandan coaches Moses Basena and Fred Kajoba will travel to USA to link up with Ibrahim Sekagya for a short coaching stint at Major League Soccer side New York Red Bulls.

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https://playingfor90.com/2018/02/08/nasl-sues-us-soccer-losing-division-ii-status/

NASL sues US Soccer again after losing Division II status

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https://www.10tv.com/article/ohio-officials-pressure-mls-decide-fc-cincinnati

Ohio officials pressure MLS to decide on FC Cincinnati

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http://hawaiipublicradio.org/post/soccer-pros-fill-aloha-stadium-excitement-will-it-last

Soccer Pros Fill Aloha Stadium with Excitement, but Will It Last?

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https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/soccer/fc-cincinnati/2018/02/08/why-deadline-mls-hamilton-county-wouldnt-matter/320359002/

Why a deadline for MLS in Hamilton County wouldn't matter

Futbol Club Cincinnati President Jeff Berding is calling for patience with the Major League Soccer expansion process, but what capacity for patience remains after a nearly two-month-long delay in the league announcing a second expansion franchise?...

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http://www.kvue.com/sports/austin-chamber-of-commerce-to-make-mls-announcement-friday/516195888

Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce to make MLS announcement Friday

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https://www.prosoccerusa.com/expansion/ohio-officials-pressure-mls-make-decision-fc-cincinnati/

Ohio officials pressure MLS to make decision on FC Cincinnati

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http://www.statesman.com/sports/austin-chamber-urges-city-leaders-help-bring-mls-austin/1XqScGUP8spVKJw9l2xaSO/

Austin Chamber urges city leaders to help bring MLS to Austin

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http://www.fox7austin.com/news/local-news/greater-austin-chamber-of-commerce-to-make-mls-announcement

Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce to make MLS announcement

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http://www.news-herald.com/article/HR/20180208/SPORTS/180209495

Ohio officials pressure MLS to decide on FC Cincinnati

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http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/new-york-city-fc-move-to-paperless-ticketing-under-stubhub-tie-up

New York City FC move to paperless ticketing under StubHub tie-up

Ebay-owned platform becomes MLS club's official ticket resale marketplace.

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http://www.thecourierexpress.com/sports/national/bc-us--soccer-ohio-st-ld-writethru-us/article_18a8a5f7-47d7-5804-a8e2-333fce5d1290.html

BC-US--Soccer-Ohio,1st Ld-Writethru, US

BC-US--Soccer-Ohio, 1st Ld-Writethru,129

Ohio officials pressure MLS to decide on FC Cincinnati

Eds: APNewsNow. Minor edits.

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http://www.espn.com/soccer/club/united-states/660/blog/post/3375552/inside-the-drama-of-the-us-soccer-presidential-election

Behind the scenes of the U.S. Soccer election

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https://sports.yahoo.com/still-no-idea-will-happen-saturdays-u-s-soccer-presidential-election-125905146.html

We still have no idea what will happen in Saturday's U.S. Soccer presidential election

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https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/02/08/kick-can-katai-re-ignite-fire-neville-reportedly-could-coach-miami

Kick Off: Can Katai re-ignite Fire? | Neville reportedly could coach Miami

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http://www.sportstarlive.com/football/us-soccer-to-choose-new-president-after-world-cup-debacle/article22700482.ece

US soccer to choose new president after World Cup debacle

The USSF president stepped down in the aftermath of USA's failure to qualify for Russia 2018.

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http://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/884906?referrer_id=2364194

Porter Returns for Second Stint with Fury FC

Watson reunited with Rennie after signing with Indy

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http://www.fox13news.com/sports/rays/commissioner-rays-choose-ybor-site-for-stadium

Buckhorn vows to make 'best deal' for Rays, taxpayers

TAMPA (FOX 13) - Commissioner Ken Hagan surprised the Rays, fellow commissioners, and the cities of St. Pete and Tampa by announcing Thursday what the team hoped to say on Friday.

"Stu Sternberg, the principal owner of the Rays, will (at) the press conference," said Hagan. "He is expected to state for the first time publicly that Ybor City is the team's preferred site."

Hagan also detailed for the first time how the team plans to raise a big portion of the projected $800 million for the stadium.

He says the push for corporate cash will be spearheaded by Tampa business bigwigs Charlie Sykes and Ron Christaldi.

"Unfortunately in St. Pete. ticket sales and corporate support has lagged through the years," said Hagan. "It is important that we show significant improvement in ticket sales and corporate sponsorships and community support."

Discussion of public funding sources, like special tourism districts or surcharges on travelers has been widespread.

The Tampa mayor is wary of the potential cost to taxpayers and took exception to Commissioner Hagan's leak ahead of Friday's press conference.

He said it was not productive in fostering cooperation or trust.

"It is bush league. It's not surprising. It's typical," said Buckhorn. "For me, it is always the long-term goal I care about. I can live with the minor league politicians. I am focused on whether this deal makes sense."

On his side of the bay, St. Pete mayor Rick Kriseman told city councilors that they should prepare to redevelop the Trop site without a stadium, but also that the Rays could still strike out in Tampa and come back to St. Pete.

"The easy part is picking a site," said Kriseman. "Now is when the real work begins.

It was last October when Hagan made a surprise announcement about a group of property owners who agreed to pool resources on a 14-acre site not far from the Port of Tampa.  The proposed site is bounded by Channelside Drive on the west, 4th Avenue on the north, 15th Street on the east, and Adamo Drive on the south.

It’s within the Channelside-Ybor corridor rumored to be a favorite of the team and Tampa civic leaders, and not far from Water Street Tampa, a planned overhaul of Channelside being directed by Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinick.

But last fall’s announcement appeared to catch the team and even the mayor off guard.

FOX 13’s Kevin O’Donnell was the first to report Thursday that Hagan would announce support from a corporate coalition on Friday. Hagan also expects Rays owner Stuart Sternberg to officially announce their support of the Ybor site.

But until the team is satisfied with strong support from corporations for season tickets, they likely won't move ahead with discussing how to pay for the stadium.

“Financing still remains a major obstacle,” O’Donnell noted. “But agreeing to a location and building a corporate coalition was a key step in moving forward with plans to move the Rays to Tampa.”

The team’s lease with the city of St. Petersburg ties them to Tropicana Field until 2027, but St. Pete did agree to a potential buyout option in 2016.  That buyout would be as high as $24-million if the Rays left the county, with reduced amounts if they stayed in St. Pete.

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http://www.firstpost.com/sports/united-states-soccer-federation-to-vote-for-new-president-months-after-failure-to-qualify-for-2018-fifa-world-cup-4343009.html

United States Soccer Federation to vote for new president months after failure to qualify for 2018 FIFA World Cup