Push comes to shove on bringing MLS team to Las Vegas

Article posted by Coliseum, January 31^st, 2020

Image: The Renaissance Companies / Populous

Rumors have been doing the rounds for years as to the possibility of a Major League Soccer (MLS) team coming to Las Vegas in the US. MLS was established as the top level of professional soccer in the United States in 1993 with 10 teams and began play in 1996. MLS is currently at 26 teams.

Mayor of Las Vegas Carolyn Goodman has reiterated that she will remain steadfast in her resolve to push for a Las Vegas-based MLS team. The push has almost come to shove for her.

“The city continues to pursue a new MLS franchise in a new state-of-the-art stadium complex,” Goodman said in her 2020 State of the City address.

To bring the whole vision to fruition, the city needs a tangible stadium plan to present to MLS and get the league’s endorsement on the same.

“We really have gotten down into deep detail on it, so it’s really just a question of getting everything into the MLS hands and to Commissioner Garber who we know very well,” Goodman asserted.

The city has been working with the construction management firm The Renaissance Companies Inc. for nearly 18 months on a stadium proposal to be built near Cashman Field in downtown Las Vegas, Nevada, formerly used by the Las Vegas 51s and currently used by the Las Vegas Lights FC.

The deadline for the proposal is February 5. A city council meeting has also been fixed on the same date.

MLS which boasts 26 teams at present with Inter Miami CF and Nashville SC becoming the 25th and 26th teams in 2020, respectively. Austin FC and Charlotte will be joining the fold in 2021. Las Vegas will be competing with contenders Detroit and Phoenix for the 30th spot. Of course, St Louis will be taking a shot as team 29. It may expand to 32 teams in the near future.

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