MLS has said that it "intends to make its decision" on which markets will be granted expansion teams "by June, although there are indications that news could come significantly sooner," according to Brian Straus of SI.com. While the expansion conversation currently "continues in the background," it "surely will heat up once labor peace is achieved." MLS "wants to be in Minneapolis, which anchors the 15th-largest media market in the U.S." Only four metropolitan areas "host a greater number of Fortune 500 companies." Those statistics, "plus the Midwestern location and the presence of two well-funded ownership groups, make the Twin Cities an attractive and obvious option." The Vikings, who are bidding for a team, "don’t have roots in the local soccer market," but do "have a billion-dollar stadium under construction." It is "designed to be fitted with a downsizing mechanism featuring 'a stylistic curtain system with soccer specific logos and décor.'" The building, which "would seat 25,000 for soccer, is scheduled to open" in July '16. The Vikings "also possess the pro football cache that might appeal to an MLS board that includes four additional NFL owners." Considering the "likelihood of an MLS franchise in Minneapolis and the desire" of both the Vikings and the city's other bidder, NASL club Minnesota United, "to start construction and planning, a league decision may come in April or May." MLS "very well could award team No. 23 before confronting the challenge of No. 24" (SI.com, 2/14). In Minneapolis, Dennis Brackin wrote the prospective ownership groups from Minneapolis and Sacramento "have a bit clearer picture of where they stand" with MLS now that Las Vegas is no longer in the running for an expansion team. Still, there is "no clear financial picture of the league they would be entering" because MLS' CBA with its players' union "expired Jan. 31." The uncertainty "has not deterred Minnesota's two potential ownership groups" (Minneapolis STAR-TRIBUNE, 2/14).
CONSOLATION PRIZES: In Las Vegas, Steve Carp writes the city, which "was hoping to eventually land" its own MLS team, will "have to settle for preseason matches involving someone else's franchise" at least for the foreseeable future. The Rapids and Earthquakes yesterday played at Cashman Field "before an announced crowd of 7,100." Sunday’s game was "the first time in its 32-year history" that the minor-league ballpark "had played host to soccer" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 2/16).
FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHT: Sporting KC F and MLSPU team rep Jacob Peterson said that the union and MLS "have been exchanging proposals since October but haven’t found much common ground." He said, "I’m not optimistic we’re going to reach a deal. The unofficial deadline is the start of the season. At this stage, I remain hopeful, but I’m not optimistic. It hasn’t progressed the way we would like it to." In K.C., Sam McDowell noted the two issues "at the forefront of the discussions are free agency and player compensation." Peterson "declined to elaborate on the form of free agency players expect to receive." He said, "We're a long, long way apart on that issue" (K.C. STAR, 2/14). Crew D and MLSPU team rep Michael Parkhurst in a text message wrote that recent talks "have been focusing on 'non-strike issues.'" He added that finding ground "on seemingly minor issues had been 'a struggle.'" Parkhurst: "Some progress is better than none" (ESPNFC.com, 2/15).
