Regardless of the sport, expansion is inevitable which not only helps the league, but brings or ingests a new life to the City that now calls the franchise home.
In this case it’s the MLS that expands to Music City in Nashville that see’s it’s the league welcome it newest 24th franchise to the League and anyone that has doubt about it surviving, have a look at the NHL Predators.
The announcement was made official by MLS Commissioner Don Garber along with Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam, Mayor Megan Barry along with the head of the group that will own the team, John R. Ingram.
Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber, center, poses for pictures after announcing that Nashville, Tenn., has been awarded a Major League Soccer franchise Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017, in Nashville. From left are Nashville Mayor Megan Barry; John Ingram, chairman of Ingram Industries Inc.; Garber; Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam; and Mark Wilf, of the Wilf family, owners of the Minnesota Vikings NFL football team. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Nashville has been in search of a franchise along with Cincinnati, Sacramento and Detroit and let’s not forget that the choice or decision for a second club could be made in the next few weeks.
Both Minnesota and Atlanta joined this season and it should be noted that LA will join in March which will give the league 23 teams, but a start date for Nashville is listed as a TBA, but more of a 2020 deadline for the first official “Kick-Off”.
We are hearing that the City supported 46,000 at the Gold Cup US-Panama match and there were over 50,000 go through the turnstiles for when Man City came to town.
The ownership for Nashville Soccer Holdings includes Ingram who is the chairman of Ingram Industries Inc as well as the Wilf Family who own the NFL Minnesota Vikings.
It’s reported that the Nashville City Council approved $225 million in revenue bonds allowing them to construct a 27,500 seat soccer stadium plus an additional $50 million in bonds that will allow for renovations and improvements located at the site at the current fairgrounds.
It’s expected the stadium will or could be open by March 2012 with the bonds only waiting for the City and the Group waiting to receive an expansion franchise.
Other pro clubs in the area are the NFL Tennessee Titans and the Nashville predators!!
Great day for soccer fans, but I for one can see Whitecap “Road Trips” in the next while and if Vegas can do it – so can Nashville.
Country Music and Soccer a winning tradition!!!
