The process and timeline for hopeful MLS expansion teams was announced by the league Thursday as Sacramento Republic FC, long-seen as a front-runner to take one of the four MLS expansion spots, remains a top option.
MLS commissioner Don Garber said Thursday that the first two teams who are awarded expansion slots will have to pay $150 million each and are scheduled to be announced during the second or third quarter of 2017. The remaining two teams will be announced at a later unspecified date.
A total of 10 markets have expressed interest in obtaining an MLS expansion team: Charlotte, Cincinnati, Detroit, Nashville, Raleigh/Durham, Sacramento, St. Louis, San Antonio, San Diego and Tampa/St. Petersburg.
According to MLS, possible expansion owners must submit official applications by Jan. 31, 2017, which will be followed by a formal review and in-person meetings.
Leading up to the decision to expand to four new cities, Sacramento has checked virtually every box in the process. Commissioner Garber outlined the major concerns for Major League Soccer in a conference call Thursday when expanding, which includes fan interest, robust ownership and stadium presence.
All of which would not be an issue if Sacramento Republic FC is upgraded to MLS territory.
Sacramento Republic FC set the USL record for average attendance during the regular season in 2014 and 2015. The ownership group for the team includes chairman and owner of the Sacramento Kings Vivek Ranadive and San Francisco 49ers owner Jed York. The club also plans to privately construct a $226 million stadium, which would seat roughly 25,000 people, in in the rail yard district of the city.
“The path to MLS just became crystal clear,” said Sac Soccer & Entertainment Holdings CEO Kevin Nagle in a statement. “For over two years, Sacramento has methodically built our case as an MLS-caliber city. We’ve proven the strength of our market. We’ve delivered a truly shovel-ready MLS stadium plan. And we’ve assembled a world-class ownership group. At last, all of that hard work will bear fruit. We look forward to the MLS application process and to demonstrating once and for all that Sacramento is ready for MLS."
Commissioner Garber also stated the MLS has spoken to the Sacramento Republic FC owners more than any other city or team throughout the process.