MLS Expansion: Nashville MLS bid group purchases USL team

As the MLS expansion races continues to heat up, the bidding group in Nashville is looking to kick start efforts for their hopeful future top flight club.

With strong competition for the four available MLS expansion spots in the coming years, bidding groups need to present a unified approach to growing the game in their respective cities. While Nashville’s soccer hopes began along two different paths, last week’s announcement saw the two merge in hopes to strengthen their top flight aspirations.

In May 2016, Nashville SC was announced, with plans to begin play in the USL in 2018. To help prepare, the organization both on and off the field, Nashville’s U23 side will begin play in the PDL this year.

New Group, Bigger MLS Plans

In August of 2016, Nashville Soccer Holdings LLC revealed plans to bid for a spot in MLS and build a new soccer specific stadium. At the time the group stated they had ‘larger ambitions’ than the USL group, but saw the efforts by Nashville SC to grow the game locally as vital to their long term plans.

It was thought that the two entities would be separate and if successful in their MLS bid, the USL side could become their affiliate. However, half a year later and with several other cities making strong moves towards a winning bid, the two saw the need to combine efforts.

Where does combining efforts rank Nashville SC in the MLS hunt?

On May 4, Nashville Soccer Holdings LLC announced the purchase of controlling ownership of the USL club Nashville SC. The move links the two groups that were already closely tied, in order to streamline their vision of soccer in the Music City.

"John Ingram stated, “Nashville has arrived as a soccer city. Our USL team is preparing for its inaugural season, we are hosting two world-class matches this summer and the city is firmly in the hunt to win an MLS expansion team. Music City is Soccer City.”"

It’s almost surprising that the move took this long to happen. With 11 other major US cities vying for just four spots, Nashville couldn’t been seen as having two groups focused on growing soccer, but not with concert with each other. The city now has all the making of a winning bid for either this round, or the round of 28.

Nashville ranks 29th in media markets in the US, and 25th in population, putting it squarely into MLS-ready levels. Nashville has become one of US Soccer’s main destinations during CONCACAF Qualifying or Gold Cup action, posting over 44,000 fans during their last match.

Now with plans for a MLS team, a USL side in 2018 and an academy team in the U23s already started, the only thing missing is concrete plans on a soccer specific stadium. It is safe to say that Nashville ranks in the top half of the expansion bids after finalizing this deal.

Next: MLS Expansion: Tampa Bay takes another step towards winning 2017 bid

The U23s for Nashville SC will hold their first home match this coming Saturday, May 13 against Peachtree City at the Vanderbilt Football Stadium.