Newly filed Tennessee state legislation "seeks to help Nashville’s bid" for an MLS franchise by "opening up one way that Metro government could help pay off debt of a future professional soccer stadium," according to Joey Garrison of the Nashville TENNESSEAN. Tennessee state Sen. Steve Dickerson last week "introduced a bill that would allocate state sales tax revenue generated from a future professional soccer stadium in Nashville to Metro government." This would include "sales tax revenue from admissions to games as well as concessions, parking and other charges on the premises of the stadium." The bill would "extend the same sales tax treatment that exists" for the Titans, Predators and Grizzlies and their facilities. Dickerson: "This just puts an MLS franchise, should we get one, on par with (the state’s other professional sports franchises)" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 12/18).
EVERYBODY WANTS SOME: Mecklenburg County (N.C.) officials last week said that they will "pause negotiations" about rebuilding Memorial Stadium for the USL Charlotte Independence until they learns if the city can land an MLS expansion team. In Charlotte, Steve Harrison noted for more than a year, the county, Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority and the Independence have been "discussing a plan" to spend $24M remaking stadium, which was built in the '30s. SMI Chair Bruton Smith and President & CEO Marcus Smith are "spearheading Charlotte's most recent effort." Marcus Smith on Friday "declined to comment" about where an expansion team would play and "whether the Charlotte bid would focus on Memorial Stadium." Mecklenburg County Parks & Recreation Dir Jim Garges said that he "hasn't spoken with the Smiths" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 12/17). Meanwhile, in Miami, Michelle Kaufman cited sources as saying that a David Beckham-led group has "made significant progress and is getting close to finalizing a deal" for a site for an MLS expansion team (MIAMI HERALD, 12/18).
