MLS is not expected to announce its second expansion franchise "until after the New Year," according to Paul Kennedy of SOCCER AMERICA. Nashville is expected to be awarded the first expansion team today. Either the MLS BOG has "made a decision but isn't telling and won't next week when the week between Christmas and New Year's isn't the time to hold a major expansion announcement or the board indeed hasn't made up its mind" (SOCCERAMERICA.com, 12/19). SI.com's Brian Straus noted the three other cities bidding for an expansion team -- Sacramento, Detroit and Cincinnati -- "all have their obvious positives, but none submitted a bid as complete as Nashville's." MLS "very well could decide sooner than later, but there are mechanisms in place that could give" the BOG a "bit more time to ensure it makes the best call" (SI.com, 12/19). In Detroit, George Sipple notes the Nashville announcement "likely means Detroit will be passed over in this round of expansion, despite having the highest-rated TV market of the finalists and the backing of three billionaires with professional sports ownership experience." Sacramento has "long been viewed as a favorite to get one of the expansion spots, and its position on the West Coast only reinforces that belief" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 12/20). A SACRAMENTO BEE editorial states the "dream of an expansion franchise isn't dead, far from it." Sacramento "stacks up very well against the other cities." The editorial: "We hope MLS owners recognize that. As important as MLS is for Sacramento, it’s equally important for the league to have a presence in the capital of California" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 12/20).
IT'S IN THE DETAILS: WSMV-NBC's Kevin Trager cited a source as saying that the Nashville MLS club "will keep the name" Nashville SC, which will be used for the city's USL franchise debuting next year. The team logo is also likely to "stay the same" (TWITTER.com, 12/19). In Nashville, Eleanor Kennedy noted there are several "lingering questions" about the Nashville MLS franchise, including when the team will "hit the field." The two expansion teams are "expected to begin play" in '20, though continued delays in Miami "mean the league will have an odd number of teams when a second L.A. team takes the field next year." Recent reports have "suggested one of the expansion teams announced this year could take the field" in '19, before Miami. Meanwhile, Nissan last month "committed to serve as the primary jersey sponsor for Nashville SC as part of a multiyear partnership." It is "not clear if that partnership would continue for the MLS team," but sponsoring an MLS team would "provide an even bigger platform for the automaker" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 12/19).
