Menu
Leagues and Governing Bodies

MLS Officials Call Charlotte Visit Positive, Productive Despite Funding Questions

MLS officials yesterday had a "very positive and productive" visit to Charlotte that a local ownership group "hopes will help land the city an MLS expansion team that would begin playing" in '20 in a new $175M facility, according to Harrison & Peralta of the CHARLOTTE OBSERVER. The visit comes as the "controversial public funding portion of the proposed 20,000-seat stadium remains up in the air." MLS President & Deputy Commissioner Mark Abbott said that MLS "did not have any discussions about financing, but rather met with business and community leaders and visited the proposed site." Abbott "outlined the four criteria MLS evaluates for potential expansion markets: the ownership group, the stadium plan, community support and how the market can help the MLS grow." The MLS visit was "capped off" with a rally in the city's First Ward Park. A Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer "estimated 200-250 people attended." SMI President & CEO Marcus Smith, who is leading the Charlotte MLS effort, said he has had "overwhelming support and interest" from potential corporate sponsors willing to partner with an MLS team in Charlotte. Smith said that he will "start a season-ticket drive as soon as City Council decides whether it will help pay for the stadium" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 7/19).

ALL THE RIGHT NOTES: In Nashville, Logan Murdock notes organizers are "expecting as many as 60,000 to watch" the Int'l Champions Cup match between EPL clubs Manchester City and Tottenham on July 29 at Nissan Stadium. ICC organizer Relevant Sports Chair Charlie Stillitano said that "more than 45,000 tickets have been sold." Stillitano: "This market is very Premier League centric and very U.S. Soccer centric. The fans have responded really well to it." He added, "Nashville's demonstrated itself as one of those cities that is really a strong market for MLS. This (game) will only reinforce that" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 7/19).

SWITCHING FIELDS: In Las Vegas, Gilbert Manzano notes earlier this year former Orlando City SC COO Brett Lashbrook founded Las Vegas Soccer LLC and "received approval to join the USL" as soon as the '18 season "if he found a place to play home games." Lashbrook does have "visions of possibly having his USL club turn into an MLS team, but he's not letting himself think that far ahead." He is "committed to making the USL franchise work in Las Vegas and drawing 10,000 fans" to Cashman Field on a nightly basis. Las Vegas has "struck out on multiple attempts to join MLS." With the help of Lashbrook, who spent seven years as special assistant to MLS Commissioner Don Garber, Las Vegas is "better suited for making another bid in the future." Lashbrook said, "The last 10 teams to join the MLS, six of them started out in the USL. This pathway and blueprint has worked before. We need to show that Las Vegas has an appetite for soccer, which we strongly believe it does" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 7/19).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 18, 2024

Sports Business Awards nominees unveiled; NWSL's historic opening weekend and takeaways from CFP deal

ESPN’s Jay Bilas, BTN’s Meghan McKeown, and a deep dive into AppleTV+’s The Dynasty

On this week’s Sports Media Podcast from the New York Post and Sports Business Journal, ESPN’s Jay Bilas talks all things NCAA. Big Ten Network’s Meghan McKeown shares her insight into the Caitlin Clark craze. The Boston Globe’s Chad Finn chats all things Bean Town. And SBJ’s Xavier Hunter drops in to share his findings on how the NWSL is making a social media push.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2017/07/19/Leagues-and-Governing-Bodies/MLS-Expansion.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2017/07/19/Leagues-and-Governing-Bodies/MLS-Expansion.aspx

CLOSE