COULD MLS BE ON WAY TO S.D.?
SDSU ‘trading’ info regarding expansion team at new stadium
San Diego State has been eager to get a Major League Soccer team to play at Aztec Stadium ever since the SDSU Mission Valley project was proposed.
The subject gained new energy over the weekend with an ESPN story on MLS expansion.
When billionaire Ron Burkle decided against becoming the lead investor for a Sacramento expansion franchise, the city’s MLS future was put in limbo and fueled speculation for another city to step in as a replacement. There also is a possibility the league could award two more expansion franchises to get to 32 teams.
Citing a source with knowledge of the situation, ESPN said “initial discussions have taken place between MLS and SDSU regarding the framework of a deal that would see an MLS expansion team play in 35,000-seat Aztec Stadium.”
“Throughout the design and construction of the stadium, we have placed a high priority on providing the very best venue for soccer in general, and Major League Soccer in particular,” John David Wicker, SDSU’s Director of Athletics, said in a statement released to ESPN. “In support of this priority, we regularly provide project details and updates to Major League Soccer as we march towards the stadium opening.”
Such discussions could occur with more frequency as SDSU’s stadium moves closer to becoming a reality.
“Obviously, they were coming if the SoccerCity folks won (in the November 2018 election), so they like the San Diego market,” Wicker said when contacted by phone Monday afternoon. “It’s a market that has shown strong support for soccer. They like our stadium design as they’ve seen it to this point.
“We’ll continue to put the best opportunity forward that we can provide and work from there.”
One critical element is identifying a potential ownership group, a subject that hasn’t been broached in Wicker’s discussions.
“We’re not getting that granular at this point,” he said. “It’s more about trading information at this point.”
Another obstacle is MLS prefers teams play in soccerspecific stadiums owned by the franchise, although that’s not believed to be a deal breaker.
Four teams play in NFL stadiums (with reduced capacity for soccer) and New York City FC plays at Yankee Stadium.
Stadium ownership wouldn’t be an option at Aztec Stadium, but what MLS brings to the table could make a deal appealing to both sides.
“(MLS) is something that is going to improve naming rights opportunities and founding sponsorship opportunities,” Wicker said. “It may help us draw other types of events into the building . ...
“If you provide equity into the cost of building the stadium or helping us pay down our debt, then we’re certainly willing to talk about sharing revenue streams.”
SDSU is intent on hosting everything from its own football and soccer games to high school sports events, monster trucks, motocross, concerts, graduations and religious gatherings.
Getting an MLS team to play at Aztec Stadium has been a clear goal from the outset.
The final environmental impact report for SDSU Mission Valley includes a section titled “Project Description” with a line item for professional soccer that estimates 17 events a year. That corresponds to the number of home matches in the 34-game MLS season.
“Now that we’re in the ground, we let them know that September of 2022 is when we plan on opening the stadium,” Wicker said. “They have a chance to see and understand what the stadium is that we’re building.”
Among the accommodations incorporated in the design for soccer are a wider field (soccer fields are 70-80 yards wide while a football field is 531⁄3 yards wide) and better sight lines.
“Usually the seating bowl is steeper with soccer than it is for football,” Wicker said. “I, personally, like the steeper seating bowl for football as well. We’ve done that.”
The stadium also will be built in such a way construction of a canopy — “which the MLS wants to have on their buildings,” Wicker said — would be possible as well as additional locker rooms and other areas.
“We’ve planned for all of the back of house things,” he said.
Soccer notes
The Champions League quarterfinals begin today with Manchester City hosting Dortmund and Liverpool traveling to Real Madrid in a rematch of the 2018 final won by the Spanish club.
• Much of the focus on City-Dortmund is on Erling Haaland, the Dortmund striker who has been heavily linked with a move to City. The 20-year-old Norway international is the top scorer in the Champions League this season with 10 goals and the youngest player in the competition’s history to reach 20 goals.
City, the Premier League leader, is trying to reach the semifinals for the second time, and first time under Pep Guardiola. The English team has been eliminated at the quarterfinal stage in the last three seasons.
• Real Madrid will be without winger Eden Hazard, who has been deemed not fit enough following the latest in a long list of injuries.
With Sergio Ramos also injured, Nacho Fernandez is set to be picked as a replacement in central defense at Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium.
Liverpool has no fresh injury worries for the meeting between two of the aristocrats of European soccer, who have won the competition 19 times between them. Diogo Jota could start after coming off the bench to score twice Saturday against Arsenal.
• Jesse Lingard ran from the halfway line to score one goal and then set up another to lead West Ham to a 3-2 win over Wolverhampton as the London club jumped above Liverpool, Tottenham and Chelsea into the top four of the Premier League. Also Monday, Everton conceded an 86th-minute goal to draw 1-1 with Crystal Palace.
• Ousmane Dembele scored a 90th-minute winner as Barcelona defeated 10man Valladolid 1-0 to move within a point of Spanish league leader Atletico Madrid. Barcelona can secure the title by winning all its remaining games, as it hosts Atletico in one of the final rounds in May.