Sacramento makes valiant MLS expansion rush this week
In a matter of days, you’ll have two MLS expansion teams. I’m phoning in Cincinnati. That leaves the second team’s field: Nashville, Detroit, and Sacramento.
I ranked Detroit first, Nashville second and Sacramento third until the California bunch doubled down on their effort. In the next week or so, I expect Sacramento to get the second team.
MLS’ Board of Governors met Thursday but made their expansion decisions a mystery, if they even voted yet. They won’t say! Yet they sort of confirmed this coming week the next two teams get named.
As I said, MLS’s smallest TV market, Cincinnati, should get one of the teams. They outdraw many organizations and their fans don’t need TV much. They go to the games.
I think Sacramento comes next. Their supporters come to the MLS table every time. They already field a sold-out soccer team, USL’s Republic FC. They’ve got a great near-20,000-seat stadium in development.
MLS expansion homer-hitters
The Sacramento bid lacked home-run hitters in the previous teams. They got them for this try. Supporters got a start with retiring Hewlett-Packard CEO Meg Whitman dropped out of their group. Yet they still have two Sacramento Kings minority owners and Jed York, CEO of the San Francisco 49ers.
When the group showed for their two hours before the committee, they brought the current and former mayors, plus Republic FC Chairman and CEO Kevin Nagle, one of the Kings minority owners.
Sacramento Bee writer Ailene Voisin recently shared the supporters’ passion and frustration getting the MLS in their town.
"Voisin: It’s been four years since Commissioner Don Garber summarized our city’s chances of securing an expansion team with a definitive declaration – “It’s not if, but when” – and then repeatedly proclaimed Sacramento’s bid as outpacing the others.So it’s time. It’s past time. This was love at first kick."
This expansion process began late 2015 when the MLS decided to grow to 28 teams. Los Angeles FC, taking the field next spring, won number 23. Almost a year ago, groups from 12 markets filed bids to win this next round
The fact that the Board of Governors hesitated to confirm their vote this past week hints these four bids must show strength.
No matter the result this next week, don’t look for the two who missed this expansion round to disappear.
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And as for television, should Sacramento Republic FC fans shouldn’t worry if they have problems making all the games. They have a top-20 TV market.