Annoying silence: Three cities anxiously await MLS expansion decision - MLS Multiplex

The new season starts in days. But it's hard to focus on our favorite teams when, any day, the MLS expansion decision comes.

The smartest followers of Major League Soccer expect the next MLS expansion decision around the start of the 2018 season. That happens in just days.

Nashville got their MLS approval in mid-December. David Beckham's Miami expansion club, always a part of his MLS player's contract, became official in January. Since then expansion hopefuls in Cincinnati, Detroit and Sacramento have waited, increasingly anxious.

Official MLS word so far gives no date for the next expansion announcement.

Detroit worried

Writing for the Detroit Free Press, George Sipple described a funereal atmosphere enveloping Motor City's supporters. Each day with no word chips off another layer of MLS hope. And then the hope gets delivered to another city-in-waiting.

Much of the hope goes to Sacramento. Same goes for Cincinnati. Detroit supporters suspect the time gives them opportunities to strengthen their positions against Detroit.

Sacramento busy

Sacramento's group wants to push local club Republic FC to MLS. They have been an also-ran in expansion moves before. Until now, the effort has worked to reposition investors and commit funding for a stadium complex.

Mayor Darrell Steinberg recently said the group moved to make the Sacramento bid a no-brainer.

Steinberg: We continue to work with the Sacramento Republic to recruit new investors to bolster the strength and capacity of our local ownership group.

Cincinnati anxious

Meanwhile, Cincinnati has a USL club that ranks as an attendance champion of all North American soccer.

The Cincinnati group has multiple stadium sites to consider. They've got investors and a rich pro soccer track record.

Yet, like Detroit, their group expresses concern. They anxiously monitor Sacramento.

Cincinnati and Detroit think correctly about Sacramento. They miss what may transpire with MLS's time spent on the expansion decision.

MLS' delay in deciding might not focus only on Sacramento strengthening their bid. It might involve MLS working on a structured plan for all three.

So supporters and investors in Cincinnati and Detroit should stop worrying. Instead, tell MLS expansion planners to take their time.

next page

Tweet