MLS Commissioner Don Garber on Friday said that Nashville "went from an afterthought to 'pretty high on the list' among 12 cities in the hunt for four MLS expansion spots," according to Joey Garrison of the Nashville TENNESSEAN. Garber also "underscored the importance that Nashville secure financing for a soccer-specific stadium, making clear that no city would be approved without a stadium plan." Garber said Nashville was "never on anybody's list" for MLS before it submitted an application in December. He said that MLS was "surprised to even receive a bid from Nashville and that Nashville 'was not at the top.'" But Garber added that Nashville has "changed the minds of league officials" in a short amount of time. Above all, he "pointed to what he called a 'committed ownership group'" led by local businessmen John Ingram and Bill Hagerty. Garber said that he "spent time Friday afternoon" touring the 117-acre city-owned fairgrounds site where Mayor Megan Barry and Ingram hope to get a stadium built. Garrison noted talks between the two parties on financing are "ongoing." Garber also sat down with Vanderbilt Chancellor Nicholas Zeppos and AD David Williams, who have been "open to the idea of sharing a future stadium at the fairground that would be used for both MLS and Vanderbilt football." Barry's administration has said that they "hope to have a funding package for an MLS stadium ... this fall" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 7/8). Garrison noted Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam also hosted Garber for dinner on Friday. Garber said MLS "started doing a little more research on what their plan is, how they've developed big projects, how the convention center got built." He added, "Then all of a sudden the Predators' (Stanley Cup Final run) happened. That had the whole sports industry and the whole country looking at the city" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 7/8).
SOCCER MARKET? In Nashville, Jason Gonzales noted a crowd of 47,622 attended Saturday's CONCACAF Gold Cup match between the USMNT and Panama at Nissan Stadium, which "set the Tennessee record for fans at a soccer game." While the record "won't solidify Nashville's chances" of landing MLS, the goal for MLS2Nashville Committee co-Founder Will Alexander was "always to put the city's best foot forward." Alexander: "Nashville rose to the occasion. It's a massive opportunity, and I am glad that Nashville turned out for this." Former USMNT player Landon Donovan said that the atmosphere that Nashville has "produced hosting games such as Saturday's Gold Cup makes him believe the city has what it takes to be the next great MLS city" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 7/9). In DC, Steven Goff writes Nashville "strengthened its portfolio and proved that, in a non-traditional soccer market, there is a hunger for the sport" (WASHINGTON POST, 7/10). SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL's Abe Madkour writes MLS had an "embarrassment of riches when it came to expansion," with 12 "attractive markets all seemingly well prepared to land a team." But after "political setbacks (most notably, St. Louis and San Diego), there are still solid cities -- just not with the same profile." Madkour: "Look for a decision by the end of this year and don’t sleep on Nashville (or Cincinnati). After seeing how the city embraced the Predators and the respect for lead investor John Ingram, I could see MLS select Nashville and Sacramento in its first round" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 7/10 issue). After Saturday's match, U.S. Soccer's Twitter feed posted, "Nashville, you've outdone yourself." Nashville's tourism feed: "#GoldRecord accomplished!" USL: "Great support for soccer in Nashville! Looking forward to seeing #USL here in 2018."
RENEWABLE ENERGY: In Oklahoma City, James Poling noted less than two months after a deal for the USL Oklahoma City Energy's proposed stadium "collapsed, uncertainty lingered regarding the club's long-term" MLS ambitions. But despite the setback, the club's pursuit for a new stadium is "proceeding as scheduled." The club has "already revived feasibility studies from its previous sites within Oklahoma City city limits and has reached out to the stakeholders at each potential site." Energy co-Owner Bob Funk Jr. said, "(It) fits into what our MLS ambitions are, which are a six- to nine-year window." The Energy also recognizes that Taft Stadium in Oklahoma City, which isia high school venue, is "not viable long-term" (OKLAHOMAN, 7/8).
