MLS Commissioner Don Garber on Thursday confirmed that the league's "most troubled franchise, Chivas USA, may not play" during the '15 season even if the league finds a "new owner for the club," according to Andrew Das of the N.Y. TIMES. The league "has owned and operated Chivas USA since buying out the team’s Mexican owner, Jorge Vergara, in February, but it continues to struggle at the gate and on the field." The sale "may have been complicated by the league’s insistence that the new owner build a soccer-specific stadium." But Garber "expressed confidence that a deal would be made." He said, "We expect to be able to close an agreement by the end of the season. Once we get an ownership group in place, we’ll ... make a decision as to whether or not we’re going to keep that team operating in 2015 and beyond." Das notes a pause of a year or more "would allow the new owners time to rebrand the club and build interest" in the market (N.Y. TIMES, 9/19). In L.A., Jim Peltz notes the '15 MLS schedule "is expected to be announced later this year." With the addition of expansion teams NYC FC and Orlando City SC, the league "would have 20 or 21 teams depending on whether Chivas USA plays" (L.A. TIMES, 9/19).
NOT EVERYONE IS ON BOARD: ESPN FC's Jeff Carlisle cited sources as saying that some MLS execs "are dead set against the idea of Chivas USA going on hiatus." The thinking is that such a decision "would create an impression of instability, despite the impressive momentum the league has generated in recent years." Still, a "compelling argument can be made that the optics surrounding Chivas USA are doing more damage to MLS than a hiatus ever would." The club "is about to miss the playoffs for the fifth year running, and the average attendance of 6,942 is last in the league by a long way" (ESPNFC.com, 9/18).
