http://futbolresearcher.com/w/index.php?title=MLS_Expansion_Bid&feed=atom&action=historyMLS Expansion Bid - Revision history2024-03-28T09:54:11ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.31.0http://futbolresearcher.com/w/index.php?title=MLS_Expansion_Bid&diff=29&oldid=prevFutbolrg3897: Created page with "MLS Process ===MLS announces expansion process and timeline=== ''By Ben Couch | December 15, 2016'' “The league acknowledged ownership groups from 10 markets have publicl..."2018-06-25T14:33:29Z<p>Created page with "MLS Process ===MLS announces expansion process and timeline=== ''By Ben Couch | December 15, 2016'' “The league acknowledged ownership groups from 10 markets have publicl..."</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>MLS Process<br />
===MLS announces expansion process and timeline===<br />
''By Ben Couch | December 15, 2016'' <br />
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“The league acknowledged ownership groups from 10 markets have publicly expressed interest in securing an MLS expansion team: Charlotte, Cincinnati, Detroit, Nashville, Raleigh/Durham, Sacramento, St. Louis, San Antonio, San Diego and Tampa/St. Petersburg.<br />
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Interested expansion owners must submit applications by Jan. 31, 2017. After review, a series of in-person meetings will take place during the first and second quarters of 2017.<br />
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Qualified applicants will submit documentation that focuses on the following three areas: 1) Ownership – Structure and financial informations; 2) Stadium – details on proposed site, financing, approvals and support; and 3) Financial Projections, Corporate Support and Soccer Support – a business plan, projections and commitment letters for naming rights and a jersey-front sponsor, along with an overview of support from the soccer community.<br />
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Three key aspects are considered top priorities when reviewing candidates: <br />
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A committed local ownership group that has a passion for the sport, a deep belief in Major League Soccer and the resources to invest in the infrastructure to build the sport in their respective market.<br />
A market that has a history of strong fan support for soccer matches and other sporting events, is located in a desirable geographic location and is attractive to corporate sponsors and television partners.<br />
A comprehensive stadium plan that ensures the club will have a proper home for their fans and players while also serving as a destination for the sport in the community.<br />
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Major League Soccer’s expansion committee consists of ownership representatives from five clubs including Jonathan Kraft (New England Revolution), Andrew Hauptman (Chicago Fire), Anthony Precourt (Columbus Crew SC), Phil Rawlins (Orlando City SC) and Jay Sugarman (Philadelphia Union).” - Source [https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2016/12/15/mls-announces-expansion-process-and-timeline MLS Website]<br />
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===…Via Columbus, Ohio?===<br />
'February 20, 2017''<br />
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In this piece, we explore the Columbus Crew considering a relocation to Austin. The origin of this story was a question by a member at our 1/29 meetup about Austin getting a team via relocation instead of expansion. We’ll preface this saying this is speculative — but we also have heard some things. We aren’t advocating a Columbus move or claim that they have stated publicly that they plan to. However, out of all the existing teams, they are statistically the only probable team to move outside of their current market. In short: It warrants a moment’s consideration. - Source [https://medium.com/supporters-union/mls-in-austin-via-columbus-ohio-e3e2ebd25726 MLS In Austin SG]<br />
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===Major League Soccer made Austin inquiries in September 2016, emails show===<br />
''By Andrew Erickson | June 14 2018''<br />
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On Sept. 29, 2016, Charles Altchek, special assistant to the MLS commissioner, emailed Mayor Steve Adler’s office looking to set up a phone call with Adler to introduce him to Major League Soccer deputy commissioner Mark Abbott and discuss “the league and some research that we will be doing in Austin.”<br />
…<br />
Two months later, Dan Barrett of Barrett Sports Group, which has since been acquired by CAA Icon, began reaching out to Austin city leaders and officials about the distribution of a Major League Soccer feasibility survey. - Source [http://www.dispatch.com/sports/20180614/major-league-soccer-made-austin-inquiries-in-september-2016-emails-show Dispatch]<br />
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==San Antonio==<br />
In 2015 San Antonio purchased Toyota Field for $18 million in order to ‘facilitate their expansion bid with MLS’. San Antonio is still waiting for their expansion bid to be accepted.<br />
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===Wolff encouraged by MLS expansion news===<br />
''By John Whisler | December 7, 2015''<br />
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“It’s good to see the commissioner say that,” Wolff said. “The future of MLS in San Antonio is going to depend on how we come out of that process, a process that might play out in 2017, 2018 or 2019, somewhere in there. That’s why we want to get this deal done.” Source [https://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/soccer/article/Wolff-encouraged-by-MLS-expansion-news-6681965.php mySA]<br />
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===City approves purchase of Toyota Field, moves closer to MLS franchise===<br />
''By Robert Taylor | December 17, 2015'' <br />
…the city and county to split the $18 million, with with Spurs Sports and Entertainment contributing another $3 million, bringing the total purchase price to $21 million. - Source [https://www.ksat.com/news/city-approves-purchase-of-toyota-field-moves-closer-to-mls-franchise KSAT ABC 12]<br />
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===San Antonio City Council approves purchase of Toyota Field, furthers quest to land MLS team===<br />
''MLSsoccer staff | December 17, 2015''<br />
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San Antonio lined up the next step in their quest to land an MLS team on Thursday, as the city council unanimously approved the joint purchase of local soccer-specific stadium Toyota Field. - Source [https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2015/12/17/san-antonio-city-council-approves-purchase-toyota-field-furthers-quest-land-mls-team MLS Website]<br />
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===Wolff asks DA to investigate MLS in Toyota Field deal===<br />
''By Brian Chasnoff | October 30, 2017''<br />
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County officials were taken by surprise two weeks ago when they learned that Precourt was exploring relocating the Columbus Crew to Austin. Two years ago, Wolff and Bexar County Manager David Smith met with MLS Soccer President Mark Abbott, who encouraged them to purchase Toyota Field — an $18 million public investment — and submit a bid. Wolff and Smith also were told that MLS would not establish franchises in both Austin and San Antonio. - Source [https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/Wolff-asks-DA-to-investigate-MLS-in-Toyota-Field-12316966.php San Antonio Express News]<br />
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===MLS denies Wolff's claim that it misled San Antonio leaders on expansion===<br />
''By W. Scott Bailey | October 30, 2017''<br />
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“I was angry. I wanted to get the facts straight,” Wolff told me when asked what prompted his letter to Garber — delivered less than two weeks after Columbus Crew Chairman Anthony Precourt confirmed that Austin was his lone relocation option if the team is unable to secure a new stadium in its current market.<br />
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“We are in the process of reviewing the letter and preparing a formal response,” the league said in a statement shared first with the San Antonio Business Journal, while nevertheless saying: “We strongly disagree with Judge Wolff’s assertion that we misled either him or any public official about the prospects for San Antonio acquiring an MLS expansion team.” - Source [https://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/news/2017/10/30/mls-responds-to-wolffs-assertion-it-mishandled.html San Antonio Business Journal]<br />
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===Major League Soccer made Austin inquiries in September 2016, emails show===<br />
''By Andrew Erickson | June 14 2018'' <br />
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In February 2017, after the 12 expansion applicants for MLS teams 24 through 28 were announced, Barrett emailed Adler and others thanking them for the January meeting. He also noted the content of San Antonio’s bid material.<br />
“I thought it was interesting, though not surprising, that San Antonio referenced Austin in their video,” Barrett wrote. “As Mark (Abbott) mentioned during the meeting, the fact that Austin did not submit a proposal does not mean that it will not have an opportunity for a franchise in the future. We look forward to continuing our research and our discussions with you.“ - Source [http://www.dispatch.com/sports/20180614/major-league-soccer-made-austin-inquiries-in-september-2016-emails-show Dispatch]</div>Futbolrg3897