The Final Four

On November 29, Major League Soccer announced its four candidates for MLS expansion. Cincinnati, Detroit, Nashville, and Sacramento were named as the four candidates that will present their bids to MLS on December 6 in hopes of attaining an expansion team. MLS has stated that two teams will be selected to begin play by the 2020 season as teams 25 and 26.

As a diehard FC Cincinnati fan who has been following this journey to MLS ever since the club was established in the summer of 2015, this is very exciting news. FC Cincinnati could be just a few weeks away from being announced as an MLS expansion team. On the other hand, it is pretty scary as the new capital of American soccer could be on the outside looking in if MLS decides not to award Cincinnati an expansion bid.

There are many reasons why FCC should be awarded the bid, but there are also a few reasons why MLS might pass on giving Cincinnati an expansion team. I will go into detail on those reasons in another post. As for now though, it is very exciting that Cincinnati was named as a finalist. Out of the other three finalists, the only city that I would consider a “lock” is Sacramento. I believe they have a stadium deal in place and are second only to FCC in terms of USL attendance. They are also the only team that is considered to be in the west. That is favorable for them as many people, myself included, think MLS will grant expansion bids to one city in the west and one in the east.

In the east, Cincinnati is contending with Detroit and Nashville. A few weeks ago, Detroit’s bid seemed to be dead as they announced plans to use Ford Field, home of the Detroit Lions of the National Football League, as their soccer stadium. MLS insists on having a soccer specific stadium so I was surprised to hear that Detroit was still in running. Nashville is perceived to be a real threat to Cincinnati’s MLS bid as they have a soccer stadium deal cemented. While that is a big requirement by MLS, there are other factors that go against Nashville. Unlike FC Cincinnati, Nashville has not yet taken to the pitch as they are slated to start USL play in 2018. There is no proven fan base for soccer in that city and no point of reference for MLS to gauge how well received soccer will be in Nashville.

In conclusion, FCC is up against Detroit, Sacramento, and Nashville for one of two MLS expansion bids. To me, the only team that is guaranteed to be promoted to MLS is Sacramento in the west with the other three teams battling it out for the eastern slot. I am both excited and nervous and I hope to hear good news from Don Garber when he announces which two cities will be awarded MLS expansion teams by the end of the year.