MLS Commissioner Don Garber on Thursday said that he wants USL club Sacramento Republic FC to "join MLS eventually," but the process "could take a while and Sacramento probably will have to wait for the next wave of MLS expansion," according to Kasler & Lillis of the SACRAMENTO BEE. Garber during his annual state of the league conference call "offered no timetable for when that could happen." He did say that he "appreciates the progress Republic FC has made on planning an MLS stadium and building enthusiasm for the league." Garber: "This might be painful in the short term, but long term I believe Republic will be in this league ... and everybody will forget the drama and uncertainty of where we are today." Garber said that it is "unlikely MLS would have Sacramento jump ahead of Miami as the 24th team." But he "didn’t rule it out, either." He said, "We believe in the (Miami) market. If we can’t get it right, we move on. … It’s conceivable Sacramento could be higher on our expansion priority list." He added that MLS "wants to decide the Miami situation soon, but there’s no official deadline." Garber: "We will make the decision on Miami in due time" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 12/4). More Garber: “We have been focused on a team in Miami almost since we left (in 2001). Miami continues to represent a city of importance to us. Having said that, if they can’t finalize a deal for a stadium, they will not have an MLS team” (Ian Thomas, Staff Writer). Meanwhile, in Miami, Hanks & Smiley cite sources as saying that David Beckham's group is "on the verge of announcing a new deal for a stadium ... on a mix of private land and a parcel owned by Miami-Dade County" in the Overtown area of Miami (MIAMIHERALD.com, 12/4).
HOMES, SWEET HOMES: In Toronto, Kurtis Larson notes Garber on Thursday announced that Atlanta United FC -- scheduled to enter MLS in '17 -- has "reached 29,000 season-ticket deposits." That is more than the Sounders, a club that routinely draws upward of 40,000 fans per game, "had at this point before entering the league" in '09. Currently-under-construction Mercedes-Benz Stadium will "seat just under 30,000 for MLS fixtures." Meanwhile, Larson writes it looks like '15 expansion side NYCFC will "remain at Yankee Stadium for the foreseeable future." Garber "confirmed during his state of the league address that there are 'no developments' in NYC’s pursuit of a stadium in the Big Apple" (TORONTO SUN, 12/4).
GIVE ME A BREAK: Garber said that MLS is "strongly considering taking a two-week break during this summer’s upcoming Copa America Centenario." In Orlando, Paul Tenorio noted Garber also "strongly backed the league’s partnership with USL, which has seen a number of teams move to own and operate their own clubs in the third-tier league as a bridge of development between the youth academies and the first team." Garber: "It’s a goal of the league and a very focused one to have every team either own or partner with a USL team" (ORLANDOSENTINEL.com, 11/3). In Toronto, Laura Armstrong notes MLS' average attendance of 21,500 makes the league the "third-biggest draw in major league sports in North America." Garber: "We’re no longer punching above our weight. We have become the league that has a buzz in the industry" (TORONTO STAR, 12/4).
