Nashville is next, but MLS is still expanding

Nashville is in. Now, three other MLS expansion hopefuls — and a fourth in limbo for years — will await their fate with the growing soccer league.

The league said Tuesday that MLS commissioner Don Garber will join political and business figures Wednesday at the Country Music Hall of Fame for a “major soccer announcement.” Multiple sources confirmed MLS will announce it’s expanding to Nashville, with the team probably beginning play in 2020.

The city and team plan to build a 27,500-seat, US$275-million stadium. The construction timeline would require the club to initially play in a temporary location, such as Vanderbilt University.

The league’s board of governors approved the Tennessee bid at meetings in New York last week. It is planning to soon invite a second city, with Cincinnati, Sacramento and Detroit in the running. Also, a long-delayed Miami bid, led by former superstar David Beckham, is moving closer to fruition and could receive official approval this winter.

A second team in Southern California, Los Angeles FC, will begin play in 2018, raising the number of teams to 23. MLS is likely to have one newcomer start in 2019 and two in 2020.

With FC Cincinnati setting second-division attendance records, it is a strong candidate to receive the next slot and enter in 2019, followed by Nashville and Miami the following year.

If Cincinnati gets the next slot, Detroit, Sacramento and other bidding cities not among the finalists will vie for two additional spots in the coming years. The other cities are Charlotte, N.C.; Raleigh, S.C.; Tampa; Indianapolis; San Antonio; Phoenix; St. Louis; and San Diego.