After the fanfare in New York City this week, we now know were Major League Soccer’s 20th franchise will be based.
But what about the future? Just look at St. Louis last night for the friendly between Manchester City and Chelsea. 48,263 fans turned up. Officials said they could have sold at Busch Stadium twice over.
Wow. That is something to think about. And MLS Commish Don Garber said he is doing just that. “There’s still a lot of activity going on in a lot of different markets.”
So many cities across the USA are scrambling to try and grab a piece of the MLS pie. Some more deserving than others, some more likely to be successful than others and some cities are just finding out their potential status as a staunch soccer city.
Why don’t we take a quick scan across the nation, to see which cities could be future MLS destinations.
San Antonio
Only in their second season in the NASL, the San Antonio Scorpions have a beautiful new soccer-specific stadium that is the jewel in the crown of US soccer’s second-tier. Toyota Field has seen tremendous attendance figures so far, can San Antonio surpass their impressive figures of 9,317 in the 2012 season? And can Texas handle another MLS side? Of course they can.
Orlando
We know how close they are to building a new soccer-specific venue downtown, with Mayor Buddy Dyer on board and pushing hard for USL Pro side Orlando City to become an MLS franchise. They’ve had to recently modify their new stadium plans after a bill in the Florida Senate giving money to upgrade sports facilities wasn’t passed. Average attendances are rising this season, with huge financial backing in place to see Orlando become an MLS side. Favorites to become the next MLS expansion franchise.
Atlanta
This city has produced plenty of soccer players over the years, with several USMNT players hailing from ATL. The NASL Silverbacks have recently been re-branded and their new stadium is currently set at 5,000 but can expand to 15,000 over the next few years. Soccer is on the rise in the Southeast, with Florida also pushing for a new side. Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank is planning to get an MLS franchise to play in the Falcons’ new stadium.
Minneapolis
Much like Atlanta, the Minnesota Vikings’ new stadium is set to include plans for an MLS side to play in. That would involve lowering the roof and/or covering up the top bowl of the stadium to create a more intimate and lively atmosphere. Minnesota United are the reigning NASL Champions, and they were also re-branded this season. A new logo, name and ambitions surround the Northern city. Could MLS come calling soon? Maybe not, but watch this space.
St. Louis
As we mentioned, St. Louis put on a great show for soccer last night. As Taylor Twellman mentioned in commentary, how could a businessman not see potential in the St. Louis region? Over 48,000 for a friendly at a baseball stadium? Surely they could attract more than 20,000 for an MLS side? We wait and see, but STL showcased just how big of a soccer city it could become.
Phoenix
A new USL Pro franchise has arrived in Arizona this season, as Phoenix FC is on the scene. Currently they play at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium, and a standing room only crowd of 4,198 saw them win their home opener. I know some of their players have been blown away with the level of support for soccer in Phoenix and as one of the fastest growing cities in the US, population wise, it’s hard not to see soccer getting bigger in PHX in the years to come. Also the huge number of Hispanic residents well help Phoenix and San Antonio with building a solid and stable fanbase. Exciting times in the Southwest for soccer.
Miami
Miami of course had an MLS franchise. Based in Ft. Lauderdale, the Miami Fusion were disbanded along with the Tampa Bay Mutiny in 2001 due to a multitude of problems. But with David Beckham rumored to be on board and helping Miami grab an expansion franchise, could soccer return to South Beach? Locals from soccer loving nations in the Caribbean and South America would give any potential side a huge boost in attendance figures. Expect to hear more about this in the coming weeks.
You tell us: Obviously there are plenty of other cities not on this list, so where should MLS look to expand? There are plenty of worthy regions across the US and Canada.
