MLS is talking expansion again — and Indianapolis wants in

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https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/2019/07/18/can-indianapolis-indy-eleven-break-into-mls-expansion-conversation/1765335001/

MLS is talking expansion again — and Indianapolis wants in

Apartments and offices and retail space to pedestrian plaza and stadium, this is what the proposed $550 million development project could include. Provided by Indy Eleven, Indianapolis Star

Major League Soccer is talking about expansion again. So where does that leave Indianapolis?

MLS is looking to expand from 27 to 30 teams, and on Monday released a statement that its expansion committee met with the St. Louis ownership group and representatives from Charlotte's bid in the league's New York City offices, with plans to meet with Sacramento officials, too.

The statement concluded: "The ownership groups from Charlotte, Las Vegas, Sacramento, St. Louis and other potential expansion markets are scheduled to attend MLS All-Star week festivities later this month in Orlando."

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https://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/where-panthers-push-to-bring-mls-to-charlotte-stands/968252005

Where Panthers' push to bring MLS to Charlotte stands

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The Carolina Panthers made their pitch to Major League Soccer on Monday and soon they will do it all over again. Nothing was decided, but Panthers executives are prepping for round two as part of the MLS All-Star Game later this month.

Panthers owner David Tepper and team President Tom Glick led a small group to MLS headquarters in New York as part of a ramped-up campaign to put a team in Bank of America Stadium. MLS said in April that it would select two expansion cities by July 31. After that, one more expansion spot — the league’s 30th — will be named at an as yet undetermined time and for an undetermined amount.

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https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2019/07/19/panthers-mls-bid-lands-lead-soccer-sponsor-ally.html

Panthers' MLS bid scores financial heavyweight as lead soccer sponsor

Ally Financial has signed on as lead sponsor for a proposed Major League Soccer team to play in Charlotte — but the facility where it would take the field, the Carolina Panthers' Bank of America Stadium, is named for an industry rival.

It marks a major step forward in the ramp up of the campaign — led by David Tepper, owner of the NFL Carolina Panthers, and his top lieutenant, Tom Glick — to bring a Major League Soccer franchise to Charlotte.

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https://www.wfae.org/post/ally-throws-its-weight-behind-charlottes-major-league-soccer-bid#stream/0

Ally Throws Its Weight Behind Charlotte's Major League Soccer Bid

Ally Bank CEO Jeffrey Brown (center left) and Panthers President Tom Glick joined Ally employees in announcing their soccer partnership.

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https://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/ally-financial-to-sponsor-panthers-mls-franchise-bid/968605644

Ally Financial to sponsor Panthers' MLS franchise bid

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https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2019/07/09/panthers-president-charlotte-has-great-case-for.html

Panthers president: Charlotte has 'great case' for MLS team

Tom Glick, president of the Carolina Panthers, spoke Tuesday about a 5-year agreement with the International Champions Cup as well as prospects for an MLS team in Charlotte.

Carolina Panthers executive Tom Glick told reporters Tuesday that the NFL team sees strong potential for success if a Major League Soccer club comes to Charlotte.

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/rockets/2019/07/18/james-harden-houston-rockets-owner-mls-houston-dynamo-dash-nwsl/1771257001/

Rockets star James Harden buys minority stake in MLS' Houston Dynamo, NWSL's Houston Dash

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https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2019/07/18/leagues-cup-expands-16-teams-2020-new-qualification-format

Leagues Cup expands to 16 teams in 2020 with new qualification format

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https://www.fcdallas.com/post/2019/07/18/major-league-soccer-and-liga-mx-expand-leagues-cup-16-teams-2020

Major League Soccer, and Liga MX to Expand Leagues Cup to 16 Teams in 2020

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https://uproxx.com/dimemag/james-harden-purchase-stake-houston-dynamo-dash-soccer/

James Harden Purchased A Stake In Houston’s MLS And NSWL Teams

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https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2019/07/18/ibrahimovic-la-galaxy-vs-lafc-destined-grow-historic-rivalry

Ibrahimovic: LA Galaxy vs. LAFC destined to grow into historic rivalry

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https://www.sportbusiness.com/news/mls-liga-mx-leagues-cup-to-expand-to-16-teams-in-2020/

MLS-Liga MX Leagues Cup to expand to 16 teams in 2020

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https://sports.yahoo.com/james-harden-reportedly-joins-ownership-group-of-houston-dynamo-houston-dash-181031572.html

James Harden joins ownership group of Houston Dynamo, Houston Dash

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https://www.frontrowsoccer.com/2019/07/18/2020-vision-leagues-cup-to-expand-to-16-teams-next-year/

2020 VISION: Leagues Cup to expand to 16 teams next year

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/soccer/2019/07/19/el-trafico-zlatan-ibrahimovic-rips-carlos-vela/1774623001/

LA Galaxy's Zlatan Ibrahimovic says he's better — 'by far' — than LAFC's Carlos Vela

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https://mlsmultiplex.com/2019/07/19/houston-dynamo-dash-james-harden-provide-invigoration/

Houston Dynamo and Dash: James Harden must provide invigoration

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https://www.prosoccerusa.com/mls/expansion/nashville/mls-nashville-sc-daniel-rios-usl-2019-sarachan-smith-ncfc-story/

MLS awaits, but Nashville SC’s Daniel Ríos focused on excelling in USL

Dave Sarachan called Daniel Rios a ‘real striker.’ Gary Smith called him ‘a difference maker.’ Nashville SC’s first MLS signing is chasing the USL’s golden boot.

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https://en.as.com/en/2019/07/19/football/1563500578_504728.html

Leagues Cup to expand to 16 teams for the 2020 edition

As of the second edition of the Leagues Cup tournament, the number of clubs from the Major League Soccer and Liga MX will double.

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https://theathletic.com/1085924/2019/07/19/to-sell-in-summer-or-wait-for-winter-for-mls-teams-in-a-global-market-its-a-tricky-balance/

To sell in summer or wait for winter? For MLS teams in a global market, it’s a tricky balance

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https://fox17.com/news/local/farigrounds-lawsuit-against-metro-moves-forward

Farigrounds lawsuit against Metro moves forward

A lawsuit against Metro Government over the Nashville farigrounds is moving forward.

An appellate judge ruled on Thursday that a lawsuit against Metro filed by "Save Our Fairgrounds" should move forward in the legal process

Save Our Fairgrounds is suing Metro over 10 acres of land that Metro is giving up as part of its Major League Soccer stadium package deal. According to the lawsuit, the city has a charter which states a fair has to be held at the fairgrounds every year. Save Our Fairgrounds said that MLS stadium package plan doesn't include this stipulation.

When first brought to court, a judge sided with Metro. However, Save Our Fairgrounds has renewed hope after an appeals court said that there is evidence to back up the group's claims.

Inadvertently, this will further delay construction of an MLS stadium. The lawsuit is moving forward and will be seen by a panel of judges.

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https://abc7.com/sports/zlatan-has-something-to-tell-you-i-dont-need-to-dream-i-am-the-dream/5403929/

Zlatan has something to tell you: 'I don't need to dream. I am the dream.'

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https://www.fresnobee.com/sports/article232885972.html

MLS stadium lawsuit headed back to trial court

Nashville's Major League Soccer stadium has hit a snag under the latest development in the legal battle surrounding the project.

A Tennessee appeals court on Thursday sent the case back to a trial court to review possible violations of Nashville's Metro charter.

Judge J. Steven Stafford says the lower court failed to consider several legal provisions in deciding whether the city violated its charter while approving leases related to the soccer stadium.

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https://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/article/Bay-Area-exodus-Austin-soccer-stay-away-Twitter-14109531.php

Bay Area exodus to Austin is so bad, even its soccer team tells California transplants to stay away

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On Thursday, a snarky scuffle unfolded on Twitter between Austin FC and San Jose Earthquakes.

Photo: San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Valeri Kazaishvili (11) works for the ball against Real Salt Lake midfielder ... more

Austin, Texas, lives in the minds of many Bay Area residents as an emerging metropolitan paradise. With its growing tech industry and lively arts scene, Austin seems to offer all the trappings of big city living without the hefty price tag.

But, of course, locals from the Lone Star State are not too happy with Austin's status as the next trendy place to live, especially not the city's soccer team, apparently.

READ MORE: Honky tonk and vegan food: People who left the Bay Area for Austin tell us what it's really like

On Thursday, a snarky scuffle unfolded on Twitter between Austin FC and the San Jose Earthquakes. In a tweet, Austin FC posted a screenshot of the Quakes following the account and wrote, "Welcome to Austin, please don't move here."

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https://thesportsrush.com/zlatan-ibrahimovic-slams-journalist-after-latter-suggests-carlos-vela-to-be-best-in-mls/

Zlatan Ibrahimovic slams journalist after latter suggests Carlos Vela to be best in MLS

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https://fox17.com/news/local/what-fairgrounds-court-battle-means-for-future-of-mls-stadium-in-nashville

What Fairgrounds court battle means for future of MLS stadium in Nashville

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https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/mls/article232881742.html

Inter Miami may sign first few players by July 31; coaching search narrows down

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https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/bristol-city-sarasota-metropolis-florida-3027817

Bristol City face final match of pre-season camp in Florida - but who are Sarasota Metropolis?

The club was established VERY recently

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https://www.stumptownfooty.com/portland-timbers-2/2019/7/19/20700226/could-timbers-2-be-playing-in-a-lower-division-in-the-future-its-a-possibility

PORTLAND TIMBERS 2

Could Timbers 2 be playing in a lower division in the future? It’s a possibility

According to recent reports, Timbers 2 and other MLS-affiliated USL teams could be “relegated” to USL League One in the near future

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https://www.soccerwire.com/news/stetson-mens-soccer-unveils-9-player-recruiting-class/

Stetson men’s soccer unveils 9-player recruiting class

Daniel Wintermeier * D * Palm Harbor, Fla. (University HS)

2019 graduate of Palm Harbor University High School … 4-year starter who led the Hurricanes to three district titles and three regional appearances … named Rookie of the Year as a freshman … 3-time Defensive Player of the Year … named first team all-county in 2017 and 2018 and all-conference for 2018-19 …  senior year captain and Team MVP … captained the Tampa Bay United Rowdies ENCL team to a state and regional championship and final four national championship appearance … named to the 2018 National Championship Best XI Team and currently an academy player for USL Championship League Tampa Bay Rowdies.

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https://www.stltoday.com/sports/other/digest-chiefs-receiver-hill-cleared-by-nfl/article_e3b8a2dc-514b-5be7-bec5-965175bf82fd.html

Digest: Chiefs receiver Hill cleared by NFL

STLFC plays at Tampa Bay: St. Louis FC, which has gone 0-4-4 in league play since late April, will take on the league-leading Tampa Bay Rowdies (11-1-7) at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg, Fla. STLFC is 5-5-6 and has not won a United Soccer League Championship match since April 27. In the last week, the local squad added a pair of midfielders, acquiring Masta Kachar (four goals, three assists) from Real Monarchs Salt Lake City and Collin Fernandez from Phoenix Rising. As a member of the MLS’ Chicago Fire, Fernandez played in three games on loan with STLFC in 2016. (Joe Lyons)