Expansion Rumors Megathread

I've always imagined that buying a franchise in MLS is like buying a Coop in New York. While you are just buying shares in a corporation that owns the building, you have the right to your apartment, and you get all the profit or loss when that unit sells.

MLS doesn't have franchises or owners. They have clubs and investor-operators.
 
MLS doesn't have franchises or owners. They have clubs and investor-operators.

Yeah, I don't think the 49/51 thing is right, though I could be wrong.

I assumed MLS franchise owners were buying ~1/30th of MLS as a whole, ~1/30th of SUM, and a contract that awarded them the rights to operate the franchise and for certain revenue streams directly from that franchise.

Doing stuff like this for a living, I'm sure it's a tangle of mixed relationships and bespoke agreements and side letters and all kinds of stuff needed to actually close deals at this level. It's not simple.
 
Yeah, I don't think the 49/51 thing is right, though I could be wrong.

I assumed MLS franchise owners were buying ~1/30th of MLS as a whole, ~1/30th of SUM, and a contract that awarded them the rights to operate the franchise and for certain revenue streams directly from that franchise.

Doing stuff like this for a living, I'm sure it's a tangle of mixed relationships and bespoke agreements and side letters and all kinds of stuff needed to actually close deals at this level. It's not simple.
Thank you. And adam adam said it was common sense.
 
Here is my list of MLS Venues from Warmest to Coldest from the other thread updated for planned expansion.

  1. Atlanta (indoors)
  2. Vancouver (indoors)
  3. Miami
  4. Orlando
  5. LA Galaxy
  6. LAFC
  7. Houston
  8. Austin
  9. San Jose
  10. Sacramento
  11. Dallas
  12. Seattle
  13. Portland
  14. Charlotte
  15. Nashville
  16. DC United
  17. Salt Lake
  18. Philadelphia
  19. New Jersey
  20. New York
  21. St. Louis
  22. Kansas City
  23. Cincinnati
  24. Columbus
  25. New England
  26. Chicago
  27. Denver
  28. Toronto
  29. Montreal (potential indoor option)
  30. Minnesota (potential indoor option)
 
  • Like
Reactions: 21Architect
Pace makes sense to me. Expansion demand is going to dry up with the next recession, and MLS wants teams announced by the 2022 media deal, and teams on the field by the 2026 World Cup.

Las Vegas appears to be the pace car for #31 if either bid can lock in their stadium sometime in 2020. In terms of market and ownership, both Detroit and Phoenix should by vying for #32, but the old Detroit group doesn't seem to care anymore and Phoenix either doesn't have a stadium solution at all, one that MLS likes enough, or there's some other issue with the bid. Feels pretty wide open for #32 right now.
 
Carolina Railhawks rename their team to North Carolina FC (with hopes of joining MLS) and play in USL

Charlotte Independence play in USL Championship

Charlotte had a bid in 2017, but the deal was squashed

This Charlotte bid is not a part of any of the above and was just put forth in March 2019 by the Carolina Panthers owner

Got it
 
Last edited:
Carolina Railhawks rename their team to North Carolina FC (with hopes of joining MLS) and play in USL

Charlotte Independence play in USL Championship

Charlotte had a bid in 2017, but the deal was squashed

This Charlotte bid is not a part of any of the above and was just put forth in March 2019 by the Carolina Panthers owner

Got it

its all about that expansion fee
 
Carolina Railhawks rename their team to North Carolina FC (with hopes of joining MLS) and play in USL

Charlotte Independence play in USL Championship

Charlotte had a bid in 2017, but the deal was squashed

This Charlotte bid is not a part of any of the above and was just put forth in March 2019 by the Carolina Panthers owner

Got it
It’s all about the dough. NCFC and Independence knew what the game was.
Nashville having trouble selling season tickets? Yikes.