Cavaliers Owner Dan Gilbert and Pistons Owner Tom Gores are "joining forces to try to bring an MLS franchise" to their hometown of Detroit during the next round of league expansion, and the pair are "seeking investors to partner in the project," according to a front-page piece by Vince Ellis of the DETROIT FREE PRESS. MLS Commissioner Don Garber today will be in Detroit to "discuss their plan and meet with the media." The plan includes "building a soccer stadium at a still-to-be-determined site." A source said that Gores likely "would lead the soccer franchise," while Gilbert likely "would lead the procuring of the land, the development of the site and the building of the stadium." Talks were "put in motion in past few months," with Palace Sports & Entertainment Vice Chair Arn Tellem "leading negotiations with Gilbert and his representatives." Garber earlier this month said that Detroit "is on the list of preferred places for expansion." Ellis notes recent teams "have paid" a $100M expansion fee to join MLS (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 4/27). In Detroit, Niyo & Aguilar in a front-page piece note the push for pro soccer in Detroit "has been decades in the making," with Premier Development League Michigan Bucks Owner & GM Dan Duggan, the brother of Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, "beating the drum ever since he founded" the team in '95. NPSL Detroit City FC was founded in '12, and the team since then "has been wildly successful." Detroit City co-Owner Alex Wright said that the team's group "is interested to hear more about what, if any, role they might play in future plans" (DETROIT NEWS, 4/27).
GET A MOVE ON: SI.com's Grant Wahl noted Paris St. Germain FC's Qatari owners "are now out of the picture with David Beckham's Miami MLS team after talks broke down that would have made the Qataris the majority owners of the team." Qatar Sports Investments in February "made a detailed presentation" to Beckham's group. However, Beckham's manager Simon Fuller "made such sweeping demands that the Qataris walked away from the table." Garber last week said that Beckham's team was "now targeting a prominent Miami real estate developer as a primary investor." A source said that the real-estate developer is Florida-based Falcone Group Founder Arthur Falcone. Wahl wrote Beckham's group "needs to move fast if it wants to begin play" in '18 (SI.com, 4/26).
