MLS Expansion Team Favorites (Part 2)
G'day tribe! Yesterday I posted the first part of MLS expansion team favourites featuring Louisville, Sacramento and Phoenix. Check part one out here. Can you guess who the top three are?
3. Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay is the largest U.S. market without an MLS franchise. A team in Tampa Bay would be a great rival to Inter Miami and Orlando City SC. Historically the city has strong soccer links with the Tampa Bay Rowdies who were one of the strongest teams in the North American Soccer League throughout the 70s and 80s. After folding in 1993, the Rowdies returned as a phoenix club in 2010.
The club have been members of the USL Championship since 2017 and play out of the 7,500 capacity Al Lang Stadium. Team owner Bill Edwards even has the city's support to expand the stadium to 18,000 seats if the need arises with the next MLS expansion team.
It's time for a real MLS franchise in Tampa Bay. Our time is long overdue. #MLS2StPete #COYR pic.twitter.com/91hxncO89H
— Ralph’s Mob (@RalphsMob) March 6, 2017
Source: Originally posted on Twitter by @RalphsMob
2. San Diego
As the eighth largest city in America an MLS expansion team in San Diego makes sense. San Diego has a huge sporting community with more people playing soccer per capita than any other city in America. The San Diego Loyal is the city's team co-founded in 2020 by one of the best MLS players of all time Landon Donovan as an expansion team in the USL Championship.
San Diego State University's 35,000-capacity Snapdragon Stadium has been discussed as a home ground option for a potential MLS expansion franchise in San Diego if they can grow their fan base.
Landon Donovan is throwing his support behind San Diego's bid for an #MLS expansion franchise in 2018. https://t.co/EiHrgdvVnP pic.twitter.com/2QGqocTeXh
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) March 4, 2017
Source: Originally posted on Twitter by @ESPNFC
1. Las Vegas
A Las Vegas NBA expansion team is now the favourite in the NBA and the city is now the favourite for the next MLS expansion team. An MLS team would join the Golden Knights, Raiders and Aces. Unlike Sacramento's issue of funding, the Las Vegas bid is bankrolled by owners of the Golden Knights, Aston Villa and Milwaukee Bucks.
Las Vegas hosted the 2021 Gold Cup at Allegiant Stadium and USL Championship team Las Vegas Lights is well supported. It's a matter of when and not if Las Vegas will be awarded an MLS expansion team.
🆕🇺🇸🦁 Las Vegas closing in on getting new #MLS franchise, says Commissioner Don Garber. Confirms Aston Villa owners involved in bid. Get ready for the "Las Vegas Villains" perhaps? | #AVFC https://t.co/OPjG9WVPxS
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) December 7, 2021
Source: Originally posted on Twitter by @NBCSportsSoccer
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Wolfgang Sport started in 2017 as a way to connect my passion for American and British sports. Today it's evolved into a blockchain sports blog pushing the boundaries into the crypto world and embracing Web3 technologies.