MLS In Talks To Place Franchise In San Antonio

MLS and the city of San Antonio have entered into an agreement under which MLS would grant the city a franchise for next season provided an ownership group is in place; 5,000 season tickets are sold by August 17; and plans are finalized for the construction of a state-of-the-art soccer training complex. MLS Commissioner Don Garber said in a statement that the league is in discussions with several potential ownership groups (MLS). In San Antonio, Travis Poling reports the City Council voted Thursday to spend $6.44M to bring an MLS team to the city and “allow it to use the Alamodome rent-free.” The city would get revenue from “other parts of the deal — including a cut of the naming rights and advertising –- which city leaders hope would reduce” the $2M-a-year operating deficit at the dome. Also, the city would receive 5% of any revenue the team generates from ad signage in the Alamodome. If the team is an expansion franchise, “local investors would have to make up half of the ownership” (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 4/15).

MLS Moving Closer To Placing Expansion Team In Alamodome