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Detroit MLS Bid Group Adds Lions' Owners, Cancels Plan For Soccer-Specific Stadium

Officials working to bring a MLS franchise to Detroit "called a major audible" Thursday by announcing that Ford Field is now the "preferred site" for a potential team, according to sources cited in a front-page piece by Williams & Terry of the DETROIT NEWS. This plan "replaces previous efforts to build a soccer stadium on the site of Wayne County’s unfinished jail" in the Greektown area of Detroit. The plan for a new location was "announced alongside an expanded partnership" between Pistons Owner Tom Gores and Cavaliers Owner Dan Gilbert that will now include the Ford family, which owns the Lions. Palace Sports & Entertainment Vice Chair Arn Tellem said, "We concluded that the downtown location of an MLS stadium is paramount to an MLS team’s success. And no MLS stadium sits in a better downtown location than Ford Field." Officials said that Ford Field has been evaluated by architectural firm Rossetti and it was "determined the football stadium could be developed into a state-of-the-art soccer stadium." But MLS officials said that they "have not had an opportunity to fully evaluate the amended application." They did note, however, that they "prioritize soccer-specific stadiums as a criteria when selecting MLS expansion markets" (DETROIT NEWS, 11/3). In Detroit, Vince Ellis in a front-page piece notes with three "wealthy families" backing the effort, the Detroit market may have "bolstered its chances" to land a MLS franchise. It "wasn't immediately clear the level of investment to come from the Fords." It is also "not clear who will pay for the seasonal stadium adjustment." Given the "financial backing of three billionaires with experience running professional franchises, the city’s bid appears to be good shape" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 11/3).

SOCCER FIRST? SOCCER AMERICA's Paul Kennedy notes for the last year, groups "interested in being awarded an MLS expansion team have been scrambling to meet the league's requirement that they have a finalized plan for a soccer-specific stadium." That quest has "derailed or stalled most [of] the 12 bidders." Expansion MLS club Atlanta United's success has made some "question the wisdom of operating a soccer stadium in the range of 18,000-25,000 seats like at most MLS facilities" (SOCCERAMERICA.com, 11/3). In Michigan, Dana Afana noted Tellem pointed to the success of Atlanta United, which "holds games at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium," home to the Falcons (MLIVE.com, 11/2). In Nashville, Joey Garrison writes Detroit's decision to bid with Ford Field is a move that "might lead some in Nashville to wonder why Music City isn’t following the same path as Motor City." Nashville's Metro Council is preparing to "vote next week" on a $275M soccer-specific stadium. MLS Commissioner Don Garber has said that Nissan Stadium "wouldn't work for MLS" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 11/3).

COLOR WAR: In Detroit, Tony Paul notes in renderings unveiled by Gores, Gilbert and the Ford family on Thursday, Rossetti used the colors maroon and gold "throughout the images," which are the colors of fourth-tier NPSL club Detroit City FC. DCFC "was not contacted by the potential MLS ownership, and never gave permission for their colors or likeness to be used." The relationship between Detroit's potential MLS ownership group and DCFC supporters "always has been fantastically frosty." The latest act "does nothing to smooth things over" (DETROIT NEWS, 11/3). Rossetti issued an apology on Twitter: "In regards to the recent Ford Field renderings which incorrectly included DCFC merchandise: ROSSETTI takes full responsibility for our mistake and want to express our sincere apologies. We're fixing the renderings ASAP" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 11/3).

CROWN TOWN
: In Charlotte, Erik Spanberg noted Mecklenburg County commissioners "hope to negotiate a stadium renovation agreement" with USL club Charlotte Independence by the end of this year, "starting with a discussion at the board’s meeting next week." The biggest change from the last round of Memorial Stadium talks with the club was a local Republican commissioner saying that the county is "prepared to renovate the stadium with or without funding from city government." Last year, the team, county and city "stood poised to each contribute" a little over $8M to fund the $25M plan. Though "nothing has been settled, the revamped pitch will likely include more money from the county," in the range of $10M, and "less from the team," around $5M. USL team team execs have also "hinted at possible new investors in their ownership group" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 11/2).

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