Handling rejection: What happens when MLS says 'no' to your expansion bid?

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https://www.fourfourtwo.com/us/features/mls-expansion-race-rejection-implications

Handling rejection: What happens when MLS says 'no' to your expansion bid?

Four of the 12 finalists in the expansion race will become MLS teams. The implications for each, should it fail, vary greatly.

No shame in minor-league success

There may not be first-division soccer in Raleigh-Durham, Tampa Bay or Indianapolis in the immediate future – or maybe ever – and that’s OK. North Carolina FC, the Tampa Bay Rowdies and Indy Eleven are among the stronger second-division clubs in the country. They’ve proven their markets will support the game, and even better, they’ve (mostly) got business models that continue to ensure their success.

When Steve Malik bought North Carolina FC – then known as the Carolina RailHawks – in 2015, he did so touting his goal to bring the organization into MLS. Shifting the club back to the USL in 2018 after eight seasons in the unstable NASL was a move in that direction. Not getting over the finish line will hurt his pride, but the club has developed a devoted core following in the Triangle, drawing in the 4,000-5,000 range for attendance at its soccer-specific venue, Sahlen’s Stadium.

Meanwhile, the Rowdies have also been a consistent hit at the gate, with attendance growing each year since the club was re-established in 2010 – it topped out at a record 5,894 in 2017. Owner Bill Edwards is deep-pocketed and pumps his own money into the team, including a proposed $28 million refurbing of Al Lang Stadium if Tampa Bay gets the MLS nod. If it doesn’t, he’ll go back to being a good tenant in St. Petersburg with a class organization. MLS could potentially come sniffing around the Tampa Bay area again – it is, after all, the 11th-largest media market in the country. But if David Beckham gets his Miami plans finalized (which is no sure thing), it’s hard to imagine the league putting a third team in Florida, especially with Orlando less than 90 miles away.

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https://www.blackandredunited.com/dc-united-offseason-2017-2018/2017/12/5/16737666/dc-united-malmo-ff-2018-mls-preseason

D.C. United to play Malmo FF in 2018 MLS preseason

In what is becoming an annual tradition, Malmo FF has announced that they will be playing D.C. United in a preseason game on February 8 at 2:30 PM Eastern. The teams have been playing in most preseasons since 2012, with both MLS and the Allsvensken being in their offseasons.

The release says that the game will take place at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, which is an hour away from Clearwater, Florida, which is what sources have told is us D.C. United’s home for all of preseason. The only exception to that is a trip to Las Vegas to take on Las Vegas Lights FC, in a trip that will no doubt help prepare the team for the long early-season road trip.

Soccer teams have been following in the footstep of baseball teams and have begun clustering their preseasons in Florida and Arizona. D.C. United has settled on Florida as their preseason home, and hopefully familiarity with the location will help get them into a rhythm going into the season. We are still awaiting news on whether or not the Tampa Bay Rowdies will host a Suncoast Invitational as they have the past two years, but a some kind of tournament seems likely.

If you’re looking for a trip in February, you could do a lot worse than Florida.

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http://cincinnatisoccertalk.com/2017/12/05/fc-cincinnati-sign-veteran-forward-tommy-heinemann-2018

FC Cincinnati Sign Veteran Forward Tommy Heinemann for 2018

The former Tampa Bay Rowdies man is no stranger to performing under pressure. He scored a PK for the Deltas in the 2017 Soccer Bowl and scored for Charlotte in the 2010 USSF D2 Championship. Heinemann notched 12 goals in all competitions for San Francisco in 2017. That number is tied for his ...

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7LDVS0QZag

Section Spotlight: General Admission

Tampa Bay Rowdies

Published on Dec 5, 2017

Want to chant with Ralph's Mob​ the entire 90 minutes? Then general admission is the place to be! Secure your GA season seats today by calling 727-222-2000 or by visiting http://tinyurl.com/TBRSTM18 .

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26vAPIkCTnU

St. Pete Site - Amazon HQ2

St. Petersburg, FL

Published on Dec 5, 2017

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https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nba/pistons/2017/12/05/detroits-mls-expansion-bid-gores-gilbert-ford/922442001/

Detroit's MLS expansion bid may hinge on Wednesday presentation in NYC

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http://worldsoccertalk.com/2017/12/05/rocco-commisso-speaks-steve-malik-ussf/

Rocco Commisso speaks out about Steve Malik and USSF

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https://www.si.com/soccer/2017/12/05/kathy-carter-us-soccer-president-election-sunil-gulati-don-garber-sum

Kathy Carter Denies Being Gulati, Garber's Strategic Pick for U.S. Soccer President

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http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2017/12/05/nashville-mls-group-make-final-pitch-new-york-what-you-need-know/923103001/

Nashville MLS group to make final pitch in New York: What you need to know

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https://www.massivereport.com/2017/12/5/16738350/mls-has-had-an-official-lobbyist-in-austin-since-at-least-august-7-2017-columbus-crew-sc-precourt

MLS has had an official lobbyist in Austin since at least August 7, 2017

A recently released letter suggests that MLS has been actively pursuing an Austin franchise since the summer.

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http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article188224514.html

Sacramento makes its pitch for a Major League Soccer team against three other cities

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https://www.lagalaxy.com/post/2017/12/05/jlab-audio-named-official-audio-partner-la-galaxy

JLab Audio named official audio partner of the LA Galaxy

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http://www.daytondailynews.com/sports/cincinnati-set-make-final-expansion-pitch-mls/i5a1oGkV7zeQ5lYXOa3oEL/

FC Cincinnati set to make final expansion pitch to MLS

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https://sports.yahoo.com/stadium-emerges-austin-possible-mls-144051891.html

Stadium site emerges in Austin for possible MLS franchise

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http://www.kentucky.com/sports/article188086474.html

Soccer exec Kathy Carter announces bid as USSF president

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http://www.menafn.com/1096186459/JLab-Audio-Named-Official-Audio-Partner-Of-Major-League-Soccer

JLab Audio Named Official Audio Partner Of Major League Soccer

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http://cincinnatisoccertalk.com/2017/12/05/fc-cincinnatis-case-for-mls-rivalries

FC Cincinnati’s Case for MLS: Rivalries

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https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/05/sports/soccer/kathy-carter-us-soccer-election.html

Kathy Carter Joins a Crowded Race for U.S. Soccer President

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https://ussoccerplayers.com/2017/12/seattle-sounders-nhl-expansion-team-sports-market.html

What if Seattle gets a hockey team?

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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/284900/the-business-of-major-league-soccer-ahead-of-mls-cup

The Business of Major League Soccer Ahead of MLS Cup

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https://sports.yahoo.com/sums-kathy-carter-will-run-u-s-soccer-presidency-153728290.html

Soccer United Marketing's Kathy Carter will run for U.S. Soccer president

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http://www.dealerscope.com/article/jlab-audio-named-official-audio-partner-major-league-soccer/

JLab Audio Named Official Audio Partner of Major League Soccer

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http://www.goal.com/en/news/sum-president-kathy-carter-announces-us-soccer-candidacy/13vpw0l4wmvu510ymp3rfj5qk7

SUM president Kathy Carter announces U.S. Soccer candidacy

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http://soccer.nbcsports.com/2017/12/05/stadium-site-emerges-in-austin-for-possible-mls-franchise/

Stadium site emerges in Austin for possible MLS franchise

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https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/jlab-audio-named-official-audio-partner-of-major-league-soccer-300565542.html

JLab Audio Named Official Audio Partner Of Major League Soccer

Multi-year partnership brings amazing audio to the player and fan experience

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https://www.foxsports.com/soccer/story/soccer-exec-kathy-carter-announces-bid-as-ussf-president-120517

Soccer exec Kathy Carter announces bid as USSF president

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http://www.kentucky.com/sports/article188086474.html

Soccer exec Kathy Carter announces bid as USSF president

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http://soccer.nbcsports.com/2017/12/05/kathy-carter-announces-she-will-run-for-us-soccer-president/

Kathy Carter announces she will run for US Soccer president

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https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/soccer-insider/wp/2017/12/05/u-s-soccer-will-have-a-new-president-but-sunil-gulati-isnt-going-to-disappear/?utm_term=.7f284e126ee2

U.S. Soccer will have a new president, but Sunil Gulati isn’t going to disappear

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https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/politics-extra/2017/12/05/px-why-didnt-major-league-soccer-make-exception-fc-cincinnati/920904001/

PX: Why didn't Major League Soccer make an exception for FC Cincinnati?

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http://www.kcra.com/article/sacramento-republic-fc-makes-pitch-in-nyc-for-mls-team/14109601

Sacramento Republic FC makes pitch in NYC for MLS team

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http://www.mesquite-news.com/local-soccer-fans-cry-foul/

Local soccer fans cry ‘Foul!’

San Antonio’s dream of a Major League Soccer team could be shattered by a potential relocation to Austin.

In early October, Sports Illustrated  broke the news that Anthony Precourt, owner of the Columbus Crew SC, announced intentions to move the team to Austin, Texas.

This potential move would have an obvious impact on San Antonio’s chances of getting an MLS expansion team. Many local soccer fans were not too happy about this move by MLS and Precourt.

Benji Mendoza, owner and operator of Soy San Antonio Futbol, has been a supporter of soccer for 15 years. Mendoza believes it is unfair to the city of San Antonio to lose out on a franchise to Austin.

“[The city] tried to attract a team to San Antonio,” Mendoza said. “Unfortunately, the way politics and favoritism is working right now with the commissioner of MLS and ownership [of Columbus], I think the true color of basic business is being shown.”

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http://www.sacbee.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/ailene-voisin/article188261629.html

Why does Republic FC belong in Major League Soccer? This was love at first kick

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https://www.socceramerica.com/publications/article/75971/mls-expansion-the-four-sales-pitches-and-quest.html

MLS Expansion: The four sales pitches -- and questions that will be asked

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http://www.oaoa.com/news/us_news/article_7289bb6f-62ae-55ed-8500-ba0c05ed78e1.html

BC-SOC--USSF President-Carter, 3rd Ld-Writethru,503

Soccer exec Kathy Carter announces bid as USSF president

Eds: Updates.

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https://www.forbes.com/sites/bobbymcmahon/2017/12/06/a-big-day-for-cincinnati-detroit-nashville-and-sacramento-as-they-vie-for-two-mls-expansion-teams/

A Big Day For Cincinnati, Detroit, Nashville, and Sacramento As They Vie For Two MLS Expansion Teams

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http://www.espn.com/soccer/united-states/story/3297955/kathy-carter-running-for-united-states-soccer-federation-presidency?src=com

SUM's Kathy Carter announces candidacy for U.S. Soccer president

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https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/12/05/mls-cup-jerseys-throughout-years-visual-history

MLS Cup jerseys throughout the years: a visual history