30 April 2008
MLS Expansion Price Tag Just Went Up
Posted by drew.epperley under: MLS; MLS Philly; News and Rumors; Seattle Sounders FC; expansion talk .
Want Major League Soccer in your city? Well, the price for your potential owner(s) just went up a bit. News today out of Portland says that in order for the city (and probably any other city now) to get a MLS franchise they will have to fork over $40 million.
The new entry fee: at least $40 million. That’s up from the $30 million MLS is charging ownership groups in Seattle and Philadelphia to bring their cities franchises in the next two years.
A lot would have to happen as we all know by now for Portland to get a MLS club. The stadium they play in (PGE Park) would have to undergo a serious update from it’s current state. Second, the owner group lead by Portland Timbers and Portland Beavers owner Merritt Paulson would have to propose a deal that would make sense for MLS (one like with Seattle and Philly).
Paulson’s biggest hurdle could be getting his Triple-A baseball team into a park of its own. MLS has been pretty strict on where their teams play and who they share their stadiums with these days. Right now they would like the Timbers to be out of PGE within five years of being granted a potential expansion site.
He is expected to present his plan to MLS within the next two months, most likely in June but more than likely nothing will get done on any stadium renovations at PGE or a deal for the new baseball park for the Timbers until after November, one the elections are over.
Most who know my stance on expansion know that I believe there has to be a team in the northwest with Seattle for the league to be a success in that area. I know some in the south in Miami will cry foul about not having a team in that area and how they will be better but I am willing to bet a lot more money on Portland (or even Vancouver) being a better success in MLS than a rebirth in Miami or Tampa, or even a team in Atlanta.
PGE Park may not be the sexiest looking place to see a game but with a little makeover it would easily be one of the toughest venues in MLS. With recent expansions to Toronto, Seattle and Philly, MLS has put in place a club in areas with homemade supporters groups. Portland would be just like those three in that they would gobble up season tickets, be loud and proud during games, and most importantly give Seattle the rival it needs in this league.
The one concern has to be though, will Paulson be able to not only spend the money on the expansion bid but be able to impress MLS enough to get that bid. He said he is willing to spend the money on the bid and let the city take care of the rest (reportedly a $55 million slice of the pie).
There is also no assurance that the league won’t raise the expansion fee again. Toronto paid just $10 million, San Jose paid $20 million to rejoin the league, while Seattle and Philly are in the $30 million neighborhood. Also beating out the likely front-runner in the expansion bid (St. Louis) will be tough as well as beating out other high hopefuls like Montreal and Miami.
Expansion is getting more expensive but as the league grows I think it has to be that way.
4 Comments so far...
KD Says:
30 April 2008 at 4:49 pm.
I think Portland has already surpassed Miami. Seriously, Garber would have to be high to put a team back in a city that averaged about 9k all-time over a city that currently averages better than that in USL. And if they do stop granting teams after 18, then it’s a shame because Portland deserves a team, but cannot beat out St. Louis or Montreal (St. Louis? Really? Look at KC. Yeeeeaah. NO).
The order it SHOULD be is:
1. Montreal
2. Portland
3. Vancouver
4. St. Louis
5. Miami
6. New York City (this is just DUMB; if you don’t like rooting for a walking endorsement, root for the Rev’s. Or United. Or shut up).
7. I think I heard something about Atlanta? Um… no comment.
Julio Says:
30 April 2008 at 8:00 pm.
I think all of you a dead wrong about Miami. The MLS can’t ignore the south anymore and Miami is the right place.
drew.epperley Says:
30 April 2008 at 8:07 pm.
Sorry Julio…I know all the reasons for and against Miami’s re-expansion into the league. And right now MLS can overlook that area. They don’t draw an audience from that area and even as large of a demographic as it is in that region it still doesn’t draw nearly as well as others that are hoping to get an expansion bid. Face it, Miami isn’t a great sports town for many reasons. Sure they like their Dolphins but that is about it. Everything else full of fair-weather fans because there is just better things to do in Miami than go see sports in person. Believe me most sports writers in America will agree with me on that.
Cannon Girl Says:
1 May 2008 at 12:53 am.
I can’t believe I’m saying this…but I actually agree with you on this one Drew. Surprise, surprise!
