MLS Looking To Expand in N.Y. and Other Markets

Emboldened by strong fan support in some of its major markets, Major League Soccer now wants to expand to 20 franchises. MLS commissioner Don Garber announced on Thursday that confirmation of the newest team will come in “four to six weeks.”

Negotiations are ongoing with the city of New York, Garber told a press conference. The target is a new soccer-only stadium to be situated in Flushing Meadow Park in the borough of Queens. When asked if the new group would have any ties or linkage to the Cosmos of the North American Soccer League, Garber demurred.

“We have been very public in saying we support what the NASL is doing and wish them luck,” he said. “We’ve got a close relationship with USL-Pro and we’re really committed to getting a close, competitive business relationship with them, and we’re hopeful that anyone who wants to make soccer more popular in North America is successful in doing so.”

Rumours have the new owners being the same group which owns Manchester City Football Club of the Barclays Premier League, Abu Dhabi United Group. It is headed by a member of the ruling family of the United Arab Emirates, Sheik Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The interest in a franchise by the ADUG has been discussed for several months. A report in February put the franchise fee in the range of $100 million, while a stadium in Queens would cost a minimum of $300 million. This could also be in conjunction with a plan to have Manchester City play some friendly matches in the New York area after the completion of the Premier League season in May, but nothing has been confirmed there either.

What’s also not clear is how MLS expects a second franchise in the New York area when the original team, the Red Bulls, appears to be regressing somewhat, at least at the gate. Average attendance for games at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey so far in 2013 is 17,053, a decline of 6.85 percent since 2011.

While that’s not great news, it’s a runaway success compared to the disaster unfolding at Chivas USA. Based at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California, the club shares its home ground with the wildly successful L.A. Galaxy, which attracts an average of 21,271 fans to its games. In comparison, Chivas USA draws a paltry 7,624 spectators, a drop of more than 40 percent from two seasons ago.

Garber has announced he will visit Sacramento next month to discuss that city’s plan to seek a franchise in the USL-Pro ranks. He might want to make a side trip to southern California to deal with the Chivas USA situation too.