Expansion of Major League Soccer#Contraction from Florida (2002)

MLS expansion got off to a mixed start in its initial years. MLS began playing with 10 teams in 1996, grew to 12 teams in 1998, but put expansion plans on hold and then eliminated two teams following the 2001 season to return to 10 teams.

Major League Soccer was established in 1993, as part of an agreement with FIFA that the United States set up a professional first division to gain the right to host the 1994 FIFA World Cup.{{Cite web |url=http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/soccerhistory.html |title=History of Association Football (Soccer) From Early Beginnings To Present |publisher=Thepeoplehistory.com |access-date=February 22, 2012}} No successful professional outdoor soccer league existed since the North American Soccer League folded in 1985. Due to rapid over-expansion and poor franchise placement, the NASL collapse led future MLS leaders to be extremely cautious of establishing new franchises.

Initially 12 teams were to be placed in carefully selected cities where a strong soccer market was thought to exist, which was scaled back to 10 after potential backers could not be found.Wangerin p.272 Eventually 22 communities submitted formal bids to host an inaugural MLS franchise.{{Cite news |last=Landman |first=Brian |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/51837814.html?dids=51837814:51837814&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=May+19,+1994&author=BRIAN+LANDMAN&pub=St.+Petersburg+Times&desc=Tampa+in,+Orlando+out+of+MLS+running+Series:+SOCCER&pqatl=google |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629031920/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/51837814.html?dids=51837814:51837814&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=May+19,+1994&author=BRIAN+LANDMAN&pub=St.+Petersburg+Times&desc=Tampa+in,+Orlando+out+of+MLS+running+Series:+SOCCER&pqatl=google |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 29, 2011 |title=Tampa in, Orlando out of MLS running Series: SOCCER |date=May 19, 1994 |work=St. Petersburg Times}}

The initial 10 teams were the Columbus Crew, D.C. United, New England Revolution, New York/New Jersey MetroStars (now New York Red Bulls), Tampa Bay Mutiny, Colorado Rapids, Dallas Burn (now FC Dallas), Kansas City Wiz (eventually Wizards; now Sporting Kansas City), Los Angeles Galaxy and San Jose Clash (now San Jose Earthquakes). Although New York City and Los Angeles were awarded franchises, the next four largest American cities – Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia, and Detroit – were without a team. Using American football stadiums, the new league kicked off in April 1996.

{{Main|Chicago Fire FC|Miami Fusion}}

In 1998, the league expanded for the first time, rising from 10 teams to 12. The new teams were the Chicago Fire SC (now Chicago Fire FC) and Miami Fusion. Miami owner Ken Horowitz paid a $20 million expansion fee to join MLS, while the expansion fee for the Chicago team was $5 million.{{Cite news |last=Wagman |first=Robert |url=http://www.soccertimes.com/wagman/2001/dec27.htm |title=MLS fans in several cities wait nervously for contraction decision |date=December 27, 2001 |work=SoccerTimes |access-date=June 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924115539/http://www.soccertimes.com/wagman/2001/dec27.htm |archive-date=September 24, 2015}}{{cite news|last=Ozanian|first=Mike|title=David Beckham To Earn Huge Windfall From New York's MLS Expansion |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikeozanian/2013/05/21/david-beckham-to-earn-huge-windfall-from-new-yorks-mls-expansion/?sh=27349aad577d |date=May 21, 2013|access-date=August 14, 2022}}

{{Main|Tampa Bay Mutiny|Miami Fusion}}

Major League Soccer reportedly lost an estimated $250 million during its first five years.{{Cite news |last=Holmes |first=Stanley |url=http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/04_47/b3909099.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050208034331/http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/04_47/b3909099.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 8, 2005 |title=Soccer: Time To Kick It Up A Notch |date=November 22, 2004 |work=Bloomberg BusinessWeek |access-date=May 11, 2008}}{{Cite news |last=Eligon |first=John |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/11/sports/soccer/11soccer.html |title=For M.L.S., the Sport's Future Is in the Eye of the Beholder |date=November 11, 2005 |work=The New York Times}} During the winter break between the 2000 and 2001 seasons, reports began circulating that MLS was considering trimming the league from 12 teams back to 10 teams.{{Cite news |last=Bradley |first=Jeff |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/s/2000/1228/977891.html |title=MLS considering weight-loss program |date=December 28, 2000 |work=ESPN Soccernet}}

MLS announced in January 2002 that it had decided to contract the two Florida franchises, the Tampa Bay Mutiny and Miami Fusion.{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/us_sport/1750024.stm |title=Fusion and Mutiny fold |date=January 9, 2002 |work=BBC News |access-date=May 2, 2010}} The league chose to fold Miami, in part because their ownership reportedly lacked financial resources, had been trying to run the Fusion on a bare-minimum budget, and had asked the league to pay some of the club's expenses. Miami ownership had reportedly experienced $15 million in operating losses since Miami joined the league. The league folded the Tampa Bay Mutiny in part because the team was operated by the league instead of by an individual owner, meaning that the league had to absorb 100% of the team's operating losses.

This contraction left the league with 10 teams, the same number as when MLS began.{{Cite web |url=http://www.sptimes.com/2002/01/09/news_pf/Sports/MLS_folds_Mutiny.shtml |title=Sports: MLS folds Mutiny |date=January 9, 2002 |website=St Petersburg Times |access-date=February 22, 2012}}

In 2005, MLS began a significant expansion phase, nearly doubling in size from 10 teams in 2004 to 19 teams in 2014.

{{Main|Chivas USA|Real Salt Lake}}

File:Dave Checketts, cropped.jpg, owner of Real Salt Lake, who kicked off in 2005]]

The performance of the US national team at the 2002 World Cup, where they reached the quarter-final,{{Cite web |url=http://german.about.com/library/weekly/aa020614a.htm |title=Germany and Soccer – Fussball in Deutschland |date=June 22, 2010 |website=German.about.com |access-date=February 22, 2012 |archive-date=March 29, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329183036/http://german.about.com/library/weekly/aa020614a.htm |url-status=dead }} sparked a recovery in the league's fortunes, and attendances once again began to rise. MLS began looking to expand once more with a number of cities interested in hosting new teams. The demand for an expansion team grew.

MLS awarded a second franchise to the Los Angeles area, Chivas USA, in 2004 and began play in 2005. The expansion fee was $7.5 million. The team was owned partly by C.D. Guadalajara owner Jorge Vergara, and took the name and colors from the Mexican club with the aim of appealing to the Hispanic community in Southern California.{{Cite news |last=Goff |first=Steven |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A17184-2005Mar31.html?nav=rss_sports/leaguesandsports/mls/dcunited |title=MLS's New club Has a Mexican Upbringing |date=April 1, 2005 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=October 28, 2014}} Chivas and the Los Angeles Galaxy shared The Home Depot Center (now Dignity Health Sports Park) and played in the league's first local derby game.{{Cite web |url=http://www.utsandiego.com/uniontrib/20050424/news_1s24chivas.html |title=Galaxy takes first derby between crosstown rivals |last=Zeigler |first=Mark |date=April 24, 2005 |website=U-T San Diego |access-date=October 28, 2014}}

The league also announced Real Salt Lake in 2004 and began play in 2005. The expansion fee was $7.5 million for the team in Utah. The franchise received permission to use the "Real" name from Real Madrid as part of a business agreement between the Salt Lake owner Dave Checketts and the Spanish club.{{Cite news |url=http://goal.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/07/21/the-real-story-madrid-to-salt-lake-city/ |title=The Real Story: Madrid to Salt Lake City |date=July 21, 2007 |work=The New York Times |access-date=October 28, 2014 |series=Goal}} Real Salt Lake initially played its home games at Rice-Eccles Stadium on the University of Utah campus before moving to Rio Tinto Stadium in the suburb of Sandy in October 2008.{{Cite news |last=Black |first=Michael |url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700265433/Real-Salt-Lake-fans-get-a-kick-out-of-Rio-Tinto-Stadium.html?pg=all |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141108011137/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700265433/Real-Salt-Lake-fans-get-a-kick-out-of-Rio-Tinto-Stadium.html?pg=all |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 8, 2014 |title=Real Salt Lake fans get a kick out of Rio Tinto Stadium |date=October 10, 2008 |work=Deseret News |access-date=October 28, 2014}}

{{Main|Houston Dynamo FC}}

In 2005, the San Jose Earthquakes were put on hiatus because of a failure to secure a soccer-specific stadium. The players and the coach were moved to an expansion team in Houston, Texas, where they became the Houston Dynamo playing out of Robertson Stadium.{{Cite press release |title=San Jose Earthquakes to return to Major League Soccer in 2008 |date=July 18, 2007 |publisher=Major League Soccer |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/san-jose-earthquakes-return-major-league-soccer-2008 |access-date=June 3, 2014 |archive-date=June 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606222150/http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/san-jose-earthquakes-return-major-league-soccer-2008 |url-status=dead }} The number of teams in the league did not change.

{{Main|Toronto FC}}

Image:BMO Field Toronto 2007.jpg.]]

In November 2005, Major League Soccer announced that it had approved an expansion franchise in Toronto to be owned and operated by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, which also owns the Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors. The expansion fee was $10 million for the Toronto team. The Toronto City Council had previously approved $9.8 million in funding for a $62.8-million stadium, with the rest of the money coming from MLSE, the federal government, and the provincial government.{{Cite news |url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/mls-approves-toronto-expansion-franchise-1.530033 |title=MLS approves Toronto expansion franchise |date=November 12, 2005 |publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation}} The team name Toronto FC and logo were announced in May 2006.{{Cite news |url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/indepth/mls_toronto/index.html |title=The beautiful game in Toronto |date=May 11, 2006 |access-date=June 3, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108215658/http://www.cbc.ca/sports/indepth/mls_toronto/index.html |archive-date=November 8, 2012 |publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation}} The club played their first season in MLS in 2007, finishing at the bottom of the standings. The introduction of MLS into Canada took MLS into a separate country for the first time.

{{Main|San Jose Earthquakes}}

After a two-year hiatus, the San Jose Earthquakes were reactivated in 2007 and resumed play in MLS in 2008 under new ownership. The expansion fee was $20 million for the reinstated San Jose/Bay Area team.

{{Main|Seattle Sounders FC}}

Seattle was awarded a franchise in 2009 for a reported expansion fee of $30 million.{{Cite news |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/seattle-mls-expansion/ |title=Seattle granted MLS expansion team }} Following a write-in vote by supporters, the team chose the name Seattle Sounders FC, after the Seattle Sounders that played in the North American Soccer League in the 1970s and '80s.{{Cite news |url=http://www.soundersfc.com/post/2008/04/07/seattle-sounders-fc-selected-team-name |title=Seattle Sounders FC Selected as Team Name |via=soundersfc.com}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=soccer&id=3334786 |title=New Seattle MLS team will be called Seattle Sounders FC |date=April 7, 2008 |publisher=ESPN Sports |access-date=February 22, 2012}} The city did not have a soccer-specific stadium or any plans to construct one,{{Cite news |last=Bell |first=Gregg |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/2007-11-09-3226911324_x.htm |title=Seattle to get expansion MLS franchise for 2009 |date=November 9, 2007 |work=USA Today |access-date=May 2, 2010}} and instead, it shared Qwest Field (now known as Lumen Field) with the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League who, like the Sounders, were owned in part by the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen.{{Cite web |url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/11/10/sports/NA-SPT-SOC-Seattle-MLS-Franchise.php |title=Search – Global Edition – The New York Times |date=March 29, 2009 |website=International Herald Tribune |access-date=February 22, 2012}} The stadium was built as a combined football/soccer stadium with an MLS team in mind, including soccer-specific features.{{Cite web |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/20000510/4020160/mls-team-in-seattle-no-sure-bet |title=Sports – MLS team in Seattle no sure bet – Seattle Times Newspaper |website=nwsource.com}}

{{Main|Philadelphia Union}}

On February 28, 2008, MLS announced that the sixteenth franchise would be awarded to Philadelphia.{{Cite press release |title=MLS awards Philadelphia 2010 expansion team |date=February 28, 2008 |publisher=Major League Soccer |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/mls-awards-philadelphia-2010-expansion-team |access-date=June 3, 2014 |archive-date=June 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606222522/http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/mls-awards-philadelphia-2010-expansion-team |url-status=dead }} Philadelphia was appealing to MLS because Philadelphia was the largest metropolitan area in the U.S. without an MLS franchise, and it had a strong ownership group.{{Cite news |last=Gammage |first=Jeff |url=http://articles.philly.com/2008-02-13/news/24989024_1_dan-courtemanche-mls-officials-stadium-deal |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203070128/http://articles.philly.com/2008-02-13/news/24989024_1_dan-courtemanche-mls-officials-stadium-deal |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 3, 2013 |title=Soccer deal is within reach, say sources |date=February 13, 2008 |work=Philadelphia Inquirer}} There had been a strong campaign to bring a team to the city, with intense lobbying by supporters groups such as the Sons of Ben.

Philadelphia won the bid over a competing bid from St. Louis that was led by St. Louis investor Jeff Cooper. St. Louis had a stadium deal in Collinsville, Illinois, but lacked sufficient financing.{{Cite news |last=Bell |first=Jack |url=http://goal.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/11/17/meet-mls-in-st-louis/ |title=Meet M.L.S. in St. Louis |date=November 17, 2007 |work=The New York Times |series=Goal}} The expansion fee was $30 million for the Philadelphia team.

On May 11, 2009, it was announced that the team name would be Philadelphia Union.{{Cite web |url=http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/articles/16620/cover-story |title=The Sons Also Rise | News and Opinion |date=April 28, 2008 |website=Philadelphia Weekly |access-date=February 22, 2012}} The new team announced their intention to construct an 18,500-seat stadium in Chester, Pennsylvania, which opened as PPL Park and is now known as Subaru Park.

{{Main|Vancouver Whitecaps FC|Portland Timbers}}

One of three Canadian cities in the running for 2011 MLS expansion, Vancouver's bid was led by local businessman Greg Kerfoot, at that time owner of the Vancouver Whitecaps FC in USSF D2 Pro. NBA star Steve Nash was also involved as a minority stakeholder. The city's bid was boosted by the proposed construction of the Whitecaps Waterfront Stadium, with an initial capacity of 20,000 and the potential for further expansion.{{Cite news |url=http://www.torontosun.com/sports/soccer/2008/10/08/7012621-sun.html |title=Vancouver MLS bid hits NYC |date=October 8, 2008 |newspaper=Toronto Sun |agency=The Canadian Press |location=Vancouver}} Don Garber called the bid presentation by Vancouver "one of the best I've ever seen."{{Cite news |last=Walker |first=Ian |url=http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/sports/story.html?id=a0af2cc5-5873-45db-a550-724e0daac136 |title=MLS expansion fee won't scare away Whitecaps |date=October 25, 2008 |work=The Vancouver Sun |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304090632/http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/sports/story.html?id=a0af2cc5-5873-45db-a550-724e0daac136 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 }}

On March 18, 2009, MLS commissioner Don Garber announced that Vancouver had been awarded one of the two 2011 expansion spots for a reported $35 million expansion fee.{{cite news|last=Grange|first=Michael|title=Has soccer's time come in Canada?|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rob-magazine/has-soccers-time-come-in-canada/article1918123/|newspaper=The Globe and Mail|date=February 24, 2011|access-date=October 7, 2012|archive-date=March 17, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140317125003/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rob-magazine/has-soccers-time-come-in-canada/article1918123/|url-status=dead}} Vancouver continued to field the second-tier Whitecaps until the MLS team made its debut in 2011.{{Cite news |last1=Brown |first1=Scott |url=https://nationalpost.com/sports/story.html?id=2206727 |title=Whitecaps, Impact announce plans for new league |date=May 11, 2006 |access-date=June 3, 2014 |agency=Canwest News Service |last2=Randy Phillips}} The MLS Whitecaps began the 2011 season at Empire Field, sharing it with the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League, before both teams moved into the renovated BC Place in October 2011.{{Cite press release |title=MLS awards Vancouver team for 2011 |date=March 18, 2009 |publisher=Major League Soccer |url=http://www.whitecapsfc.com/news/2009/03/mls-awards-vancouver-team-2011}}

On July 31, 2008, Merritt Paulson announced that he would apply for an MLS franchise for Portland as an MLS continuation of the Portland Timbers.{{Cite news |url=http://blog.oregonlive.com/sportsupdates/2008/07/portland_paulson_to_submit_app.html |title=Portland, Paulson to submit application for MLS expansion franchise |date=July 31, 2008 |work=The Oregonian}} Paulson further outlined his plan by launching a website.{{Cite web |url=http://www.mlstoportland.com |title=mlstoportland.com |website=mlstoportland.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140910082302/http://www.mlstoportland.com/ |archive-date=September 10, 2014 |access-date=February 22, 2012}} The MLS Timbers would play in a renovated PGE Park, which was renamed to Jeld-Wen Field by the time the team made its MLS debut in 2011 and is now known as Providence Park, sharing with the Portland State University football team.

On March 20, 2009, commissioner Don Garber confirmed in a news conference that Portland would receive the 18th franchise.{{Cite press release |title=MLS awards 18th franchise to Portland |date=March 20, 2009 |publisher=Major League Soccer |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/mls-awards-18th-franchise-portland |access-date=June 3, 2014 |archive-date=June 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606210350/http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/mls-awards-18th-franchise-portland |url-status=dead }} Portland's expansion fee was $35 million.

{{Main|CF Montréal}}

The city of Montreal had been in consideration by the Major League Soccer for a club since the league's founding and planning stages in 1993. In the fall of 2008, the Joey Saputo group was on a short list for the next round of expansion. On May 7, 2010, Commissioner Don Garber announced that Saputo and the Impact group (now CF Montréal) would join the league as its 19th club for the 2012 MLS season for an expansion fee of $40 million, with Stade Saputo being renovated to increase the seating capacity to around 20,000.{{Cite web |url=https://montrealgazette.com/Long+wait+over+Impact+joins/3001135/story.html |title=Long wait over as Impact joins MLS |date=May 7, 2010 |website=The Gazette |location=Montreal |access-date=February 10, 2013}}

{{See also|Chivas USA}}

Bookending the first growth phase of MLS was the dissolution of Chivas USA at the end of the 2014 regular season; this phase had begun with the addition of Chivas USA (along with Real Salt Lake) in 2005, and ended with Chivas USA's dissolution in 2014. The league bought the franchise and took over the operations from Jorge Vergara and Angélica Fuentes in February that year. The club had suffered poor performance on the field, low attendance and a series of discrimination lawsuits against the ownership.{{Cite news |last=Carlisle |first=Jeff |url=http://www.espnfc.com/chivas-usa/story/2112968/mls-shuts-down-chivas-usanew-clubownership-to-return-in-2017 |title=MLS shuts down Chivas USA; new club, ownership to return in 2017 |date=October 27, 2014 |access-date=October 28, 2014 |publisher=ESPN FC}} Commissioner Garber cited the "brand that was targeted specifically to the Hispanic market" and the belief that "the club could coexist with the Galaxy and share the StubHub Center" as mistakes.{{Cite news |last=Tolmich |first=Ryan |url=http://www.soccerbyives.net/2014/10/discusses-failures-torres.html |title=With Chivas USA a memory, MLS commish looks ahead to new LA team |date=October 28, 2014 |work=Soccer By Ives |access-date=October 28, 2014}}

{{MLS labeled map}}

MLS began its current growth phase in 2015. With the 2014 contraction of Chivas USA behind them and not having added any teams since 2012, the league set off on expanding from a 18-team league to a 30-team league by 2025. This phase is also marked by the significant increase in expansion fees. While the previous five expansion teams, Montreal (2012), Portland (2011), Vancouver (2011), Philadelphia (2010) and Seattle (2009) each paid expansion fees of $30–40 million, when the second growth phase began, Orlando (2015), Atlanta (2016), Minnesota (2016) and NYC (2015) paid fees of $70–100 million, marking a stark contrast to the previous phase. In 2019, Charlotte FC agreed to a reported $325 million expansion fee{{cite web |last1=Negley |first1=Cassandra |title=Charlotte's MLS expansion fee reportedly a record $325M — two-thirds more than recent expansions |url=https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/charlotte-will-reportedly-become-30th-mls-franchise-for-record-325-m-twothirds-more-than-recent-expansions-212710659.html |website=Yahoo Sports |access-date=January 17, 2021 |date=December 16, 2019}} which was topped by a $500 million fee from San Diego FC in 2023.

{{Main|New York City FC|Orlando City SC}}

The 2015 MLS season marked the return of MLS to the state of Florida and the addition of a second team in the New York metro area. On June 27, 2012, MLS announced plans to build a new soccer-specific stadium in Queens, New York City, with a seating capacity of 25,000 and located near the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows.{{Cite web |url=https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2012/6/27/3122008/mls-expansion-new-york-city |title=Plans To Bring MLS Expansion Team To New York City Proper Take Step Forward |last=Oshan |first=Jeremiah |date=June 27, 2012 |publisher=SBNation.com |access-date=October 25, 2012}}

On May 21, 2013, MLS announced New York City FC and the location in NYC as the next expansion team. The team's rights were purchased by the English Premier League club Manchester City and the New York Yankees baseball team for the expansion fee of $100 million, and the team began play in 2015.{{Cite journal |date=May 21, 2013 |title=Manchester City and Yankees to Own M.L.S. Franchise in New York |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/22/sports/soccer/manchester-city-and-yankees-to-own-mls-franchise-in-new-york.html |journal=The New York Times |access-date=May 21, 2013 }}

On October 25, 2010, Phil Rawlins and his investor group of Orlando City SC, announced their intentions of joining Major League Soccer within the next three to five years.{{Cite web |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/investors-targeting-mls-club-orlando |title=Investors targeting MLS club for Orlando |last=Borg |first=Simon |date=October 25, 2010 |website=MLSsoccer.com |access-date=February 22, 2012 |archive-date=April 11, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110411012430/http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/investors-targeting-mls-club-orlando |url-status=dead }}

In March 2012, Garber met with Orlando city and county officials, and said, "It's not a matter of if, but when", addressing Orlando's chances of joining MLS.{{Cite web |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2012/03/01/orlando-city-put-mls-ambitions-show-commissioner |title=Orlando City put MLS ambitions on show for Commissioner |date=March 1, 2012 |website=MLSsoccer.com |access-date=October 25, 2012 |archive-date=October 24, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024041849/http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2012/03/01/orlando-city-put-mls-ambitions-show-commissioner |url-status=dead }}

In April 2013, the City of Orlando purchased downtown land to be used towards the construction of a $110 million MLS soccer stadium.{{Cite news |url=http://www.wftv.com/news/news/local/dyer-opens-about-land-purchase-new-mls-stadium/nXPb3/ |title=Dyer opens up about land purchase for new MLS stadium |date=April 17, 2013 |publisher=WFTV |access-date=April 20, 2013 |archive-date=April 20, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130420091318/http://www.wftv.com/news/news/local/dyer-opens-about-land-purchase-new-mls-stadium/nXPb3/ |url-status=dead }} Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs and Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer reached an agreement on a deal to provide financial support for a variety of Orlando projects including the new MLS soccer stadium on August 8, 2013.{{Cite web |url=http://www.socceramerica.com/article/53106/mayors-line-up-behind-orlando-stadium-deal.html |title=Mayors line up behind Orlando stadium deal 08/09/2013 |last=Kennedy |first=Paul |date=August 9, 2013 |publisher=SoccerAmerica |access-date=September 12, 2013}}{{Cite news |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2013/05/06/orlando-city-determined-join-mls-despite-legislation-impasse-florida-house-r |title=Orlando City determined to join MLS despite legislation impasse in Florida House |date=May 6, 2013 |work=mlssoccer.com |access-date=May 24, 2013 |archive-date=May 9, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509035731/http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2013/05/06/orlando-city-determined-join-mls-despite-legislation-impasse-florida-house-r |url-status=dead }} The Orange County Board of Commissioners voted 5–2 on October 22, 2013, to approve the use of $20 million in tourist development tax funds to build an $84 million multi-purpose soccer stadium in downtown Orlando.{{Cite news |last1=Schlueb |first1=Mark |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2013/10/21/report-mls-will-move-very-quickly-expansion-process-should-final-orlando-cit |title='We are going MLS!' Pro soccer stadium is coming to Orlando |date=October 22, 2013 |work=Orlando Sentinel |last2=David Damron}}{{Cite magazine |last=Straus |first=Brian |url=http://soccer.si.com/2013/09/13/mls-expansion-team-likely-heading-atlantas-way/ |title=MLS expansion team likely heading Atlanta's way |date=September 13, 2013 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140513153145/http://soccer.si.com/2013/09/13/mls-expansion-team-likely-heading-atlantas-way/ |archive-date=May 13, 2014 |series=Planet Fútbol}}

On November 19, 2013, Orlando was officially announced as the league's newest team, and began play in MLS in 2015.{{Cite web |url=http://www.orlandocitysoccer.com/news/?article_id=1655 |title=MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER AWARDS EXPANSION TEAM TO ORLANDO |website=orlandocitysoccer.com |publisher=Orlando City Soccer Club |access-date=November 20, 2013 |archive-date=November 24, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131124081339/http://www.orlandocitysoccer.com/news/?article_id=1655 }} The expansion fee was $70 million for the Orlando team.{{Cite web |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mls/2013/11/19/orlando-city-mls-expansion-franchise/3646413/ |title=Orlando awarded MLS expansion franchise |date=November 19, 2013 |website=usatoday.com }}

{{Main|Atlanta United FC|Minnesota United FC}}

The league announced it was awarding an expansion franchise in Atlanta to Atlanta Falcons owner and Home Depot co-founder Arthur Blank on April 16, 2014, with plans to begin play in 2017. The expansion fee was $70 million for the Atlanta team.{{Cite news |last=Roberson |first=Doug |url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/pro-sports/atlanta-gets-mls-franchise/HvSPqVRFe47jyYxbmMAJTP/ |title=Atlanta gets MLS franchise

|date=April 17, 2014 }} The team shares Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which was completed in 2017, with the Falcons. Discussions between Blank and MLS "accelerated" following approval of the stadium plans in late 2013.

Atlanta became the third city in the southeastern United States in five months to announce an expansion team, following Orlando City in late 2013 and Miami, whose tentative approval was announced earlier in 2014.{{Cite magazine |last=Creditor |first=Avi |url=http://soccer.si.com/2014/04/16/mls-awards-2017-expansion-franchise-to-atlanta-owner-arthur-blank/ |title=MLS awards 2017 expansion franchise to Atlanta, owner Arthur Blank |date=April 16, 2014 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |access-date=April 16, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140417143740/http://soccer.si.com/2014/04/16/mls-awards-2017-expansion-franchise-to-atlanta-owner-arthur-blank/ |archive-date=April 17, 2014 |series=Planet Fútbol}} The Atlanta metropolitan area was at the time the largest media market without an MLS franchise.{{Cite news |last=Newberry |first=Paul |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/atlanta-lands-mls-expansion-team-2017-23353432 |title=Atlanta Lands MLS Expansion Team for 2017 |date=April 16, 2014 |access-date=April 16, 2014 |agency=AP Sports}} Previously, in October 2008, Arthur Blank's AMB Group had submitted a bid for an expansion franchise,{{Cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/2008-10-14-4126789750_x.htm |title=Falcons owner Blank puts in bid for MLS franchise |date=October 14, 2008 |work=USA Today |access-date=June 7, 2012}} but withdrew its bid in early 2009 due to its inability to have a stadium built.{{Cite news |last=Manasso |first=John |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2009/01/12/daily110.html |title=Blank withdraws MLS soccer team bid |date=January 16, 2009 |work=Atlanta Business Chronicle}}

On March 25, 2015, the league announced that it had awarded the 23rd MLS team to an investor group in Minneapolis–Saint Paul led by Bill McGuire, owner of the NASL team Minnesota United FC.{{Cite news |last=Nelson |first=Tim |url=http://www.mprnews.org/story/2015/03/25/mls-soccer-minneapolis |title=Major League Soccer team coming to Minneapolis |date=March 25, 2015 |access-date=March 25, 2015 |publisher=Minnesota Public Radio News}} Club president Nick Rodgers said he expected much of the team, including the name, logo, coach and some players, to remain intact.{{Cite news |last=Blount |first=Rachel |url=http://www.startribune.com/sports/297599881.html |title=United president expects team name, logo, coach to stay the same |date=March 25, 2015 |work=Minneapolis Star Tribune |access-date=March 26, 2015}} In addition to the Minnesota United bid, a group led by the Wilf family, owners of the NFL's Minnesota Vikings, had also been vying for a franchise, to play at the Vikings' new U.S. Bank Stadium, but were unsuccessful.{{Cite web |url=http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2012/05/12/mls-commissioner-don-garber-says-minnesota-goes-on-list-with-new-vikings-stadium |title=MLS Commissioner Don Garber Says Minnesota 'Goes on List' with New Vikings Stadium |last=Quarstad |first=Brian |date=May 12, 2012 |website=Inside MN Soccer |access-date=May 12, 2012 |archive-date=May 16, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120516090852/http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2012/05/12/mls-commissioner-don-garber-says-minnesota-goes-on-list-with-new-vikings-stadium/ }} The Wilfs would later become investors in Nashville's successful MLS bid.

The team had been expected to begin play in MLS in 2018, though the timing of their start date was described as "fluid."{{Cite news |last=Stejkal |first=Sam |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2015/03/25/mls-commissioner-don-garber-minneapolis-represents-everything-spurring-growt |title=MLS Commissioner Don Garber: Minneapolis represents everything that is spurring growth of MLS |date=March 25, 2015 |work=MLSsoccer.com |access-date=March 27, 2015 |archive-date=March 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150328124447/http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2015/03/25/mls-commissioner-don-garber-minneapolis-represents-everything-spurring-growt |url-status=dead }} The ownership group did not meet its July 1, 2015, deadline to present stadium plans to MLS after the Minnesota state legislature failed to take up the club's proposal by the end of its session in May 2015.[https://www.si.com/planet-futbol/2015/07/01/mls-minnesota-expansion-stadium-deadline-st-paul "MLS's stadium deadline passes, but Minnesota still in play for expansion"], Sports Illustrated, July 2, 2015. In October 2015, the team announced it had selected a stadium site in St. Paul.{{Cite web |url=http://www.startribune.com/st-paul-to-get-major-league-soccer/336279821/ |title=With team and stadium, St. Paul savors soccer triumph – StarTribune.com |website=Star Tribune |access-date=November 15, 2015}} The expansion fee was $100 million for the team in Minnesota{{Cite web |url=https://www.mnufc.com/news/minnesota-commits-private-finance-stadium |title=Minnesota Commits To Private Finance Of Stadium

|website=mnufc.com }} The league later announced that Minnesota United would join MLS in 2017 and play in Minneapolis at the University of Minnesota's football home of TCF Bank Stadium{{Cite news |last=Quarstad |first=Brian |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2016/08/19/minnesota-united-play-inaugural-mls-season-new-home-tcf-bank-stadium |title=Minnesota United to play inaugural MLS season at new home: TCF Bank Stadium |date=August 19, 2016 |access-date=August 28, 2016 |publisher=Major League Soccer}} until its new stadium was ready.

{{Main|Los Angeles FC}}

On October 30, 2014, MLS commissioner Don Garber announced that a new team was awarded to Los Angeles and its ownership group led by Henry Nguyen for an expansion fee of $110 million. Other notable members of the ownership group included Peter Guber, Magic Johnson, Mia Hamm, Nomar Garciaparra, Tom Penn, and Tony Robbins, among others. The new team was announced with the working name, "Los Angeles Football Club", which later became its official name in September 2015. Originally set to begin play in 2017, the team did not begin until 2018 when construction of their new soccer-specific stadium, Banc of California Stadium, was completed.{{Cite news |last=Koren |first=James Rufus |url=http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-boc-naming-rights-20160822-snap-story.html |title=Banc of California snags naming rights for L.A. Football Club soccer stadium |date=August 23, 2016 |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=August 23, 2016}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/major-league-soccer-awards-new-team-los-angeles |title=Major League Soccer awards new team to Los Angeles |date=October 30, 2014 }}

{{Main|FC Cincinnati}}

File:MLS2CINCY town hall - Don Garber raising scarf (31735676666) (cropped).jpg scarf during his 2016 visit to Cincinnati.]]

On November 29, 2016, Don Garber visited with Cincinnati's mayor John Cranley, officials from FC Cincinnati of the USL, and civic and business leaders of the city to talk about a possible expansion. FC Cincinnati, in its first season in the USL in 2016, broke the USL's single-season attendance record, averaging 17,296 fans per game at Nippert Stadium. They also set the league's single-game playoff record for attendance with 30,187 spectators on October 2, 2016. On the heels of those attendance numbers, Cincinnati entered the expansion conversation.{{Cite web |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2016/11/15/cincinnati-set-welcome-commissioner-don-garber-push-mls-expansion |title=Cincinnati set to welcome Commissioner Don Garber in push for MLS expansion |publisher=Major League Soccer |access-date=November 16, 2016}} On June 12, 2017, FC Cincinnati revealed designs for a soccer-specific stadium to be built in conjunction with an MLS bid.{{Cite news |url=http://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/soccer/fc-cincinnati/2017/06/12/fc-cincinnati-unveils-stadium-design/102795934/ |title=FC Cincinnati unveils stadium design, emphasizes Newport at OTR event |work=Cincinnati.com |access-date=June 14, 2017}} FC Cincinnati was awarded an expansion on May 29, 2018, to start play in MLS in 2019 for the expansion fee of $150 million.{{Cite web |url=http://www.espn.com/soccer/major-league-soccer/story/3512103/fc-cincinnati-to-join-mls-as-expansion-team-next-season |title=FC Cincinnati to join MLS as expansion team |date=May 29, 2018 |access-date=June 4, 2018}}{{cite news|last=Yoesting|first=Travis|title=Why MLS Expansion Fees Are So Damn High But Also Kind Of A Great Deal |url=https://the18.com/en/soccer-news/why-mls-expansion-fees-are-so-high-charlotte |date=December 17, 2019 |access-date=August 15, 2022}}

{{Main|Inter Miami CF|Nashville SC}}

Garber confirmed in a July 5, 2013, interview that Miami, Atlanta, Orlando, and San Antonio were all candidates for MLS expansion.{{Cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/video/summertime-is-soccer-time-in-america-0DkiYhYNTCevS6wSInlweQ.html |title=Summertime Is Soccer Time in America |date=July 5, 2013 |publisher=Bloomberg TV}}

On February 5, 2014, the league announced that it would award a franchise in Miami to an investment group led by former player David Beckham, his business partner Simon Fuller, and Miami-based businessman Marcelo Claure for the expansion fee of $25 million.{{Cite news |last=Mazzei |first=Patricia |url=http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/02/05/3914127/soccer-star-david-beckham-to-bring.html |title=Soccer star David Beckham to bring MLS team to Miami |date=February 5, 2014 |work=The Miami Herald}} However, the ownership group's two stadium sites were rejected by city and county governments by July 2014.{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.si.com/planet-futbol/2014/07/29/mls-miami-downtown-stadium-david-beckham |title=David Beckham's Miami MLS plans on hold until stadium secured |date=July 29, 2014 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |access-date=August 4, 2014}}

In an August 2014 Q&A session, deputy commissioner Mark Abbott said Miami would be the 23rd team as long as a downtown stadium deal could be reached.{{Cite news |last=Bird |first=Liviu |url=https://www.si.com/soccer/planet-futbol/2014/08/05/mls-all-star-game-bayern-munich-mark-abbott-expansion-tv-blatter |title=MLS All-Star Notes: Mark Abbott on expansion, Blatter; Training contrast |date=August 5, 2014 |work=Planet Futbol |access-date=August 6, 2014}}

Commissioner Garber said he hoped to see Miami join the league with Atlanta in 2017, but repeated that the team would not play without political support for a downtown stadium.{{Cite news |last=Evans |first=Simon |url=http://wtaq.com/news/articles/2014/oct/23/political-will-key-to-beckhams-mls-miami-plan-garber/ |title=Political will key to Beckham's MLS Miami plan: Garber |date=October 23, 2014 |publisher=WTAQ}}

The next development in the Beckham plan came on July 17, 2015, when Miami mayor Tomás Regalado announced a tentative deal with the ownership group, now known as Beckham United, for a new privately financed stadium in Little Havana next to Marlins Park, at the former site of the Orange Bowl.{{Cite press release |title=Beckham United & Miami mayor agree on new MLS stadium plan |date=July 17, 2015 |publisher=Major League Soccer |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2015/07/17/beckham-united-miami-mayor-agree-new-mls-stadium-plan |access-date=July 17, 2015}} However, the plans for the Orange Bowl site fell through later that year after Beckham United was unable to secure deals with private owners of adjacent land.{{Cite news |last=DeMause |first=Neil |url=http://www.fieldofschemes.com/2015/11/30/10172/beckham-reportedly-throws-in-towel-on-soccer-stadium-alongside-marlins-park/ |title=Beckham reportedly throws in towel on soccer stadium alongside Marlins Park |date=November 30, 2015 |work=Field of Schemes}}

In December of that year, Beckham United announced that a new stadium site, mostly private land but also containing a tract owned by Miami-Dade County, had been selected in Miami's Overtown neighborhood.{{Cite news |last1=Hanks |first1=Douglas |url=http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article47939140.html |title=Beckham announces Overtown site for soccer stadium |date=December 4, 2015 |work=The Miami Herald |access-date=December 4, 2015 |last2=Smiley |first2=David}} The MLS governing board soon approved the location,{{Cite web |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/blog/morning-edition/2015/12/mls-approves-miami-beckham-united-expansion.html |title=Major League Soccer approves David Beckham's expansion team in Miami, Overtown location – South Florida Business Journal |last=Bandell |first=Brian |date=December 7, 2015 |website=South Florida Business Journal}} and the Beckham group completed the purchase of the privately owned tracts in March 2016.{{Cite news |last1=Hanks |first1=Douglas |url=http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article68064887.html |title=David Beckham group buys private land needed for Miami soccer stadium |date=March 24, 2016 |work=The Miami Herald |access-date=November 5, 2016 |last2=Smiley |first2=David}} Negotiations with county officials to assemble the final section of the stadium site are ongoing.{{Cite news |last=Hanks |first=Douglas |url=http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article76065727.html |title=David Beckham stadium talks with Miami-Dade hit a snag |date=May 6, 2016 |work=The Miami Herald |access-date=August 21, 2016}}

Beckham had received an option to buy an expansion franchise for $25 million as part of the contract he signed with the league when he joined the Los Angeles Galaxy.{{Cite news |last=Kaufman |first=Michelle |url=http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/02/03/3908896/beckham-miami-deal-one-step-closer.htmlg |title=Beckham-Miami deal one step closer; local visit plans revealed |date=February 2, 2014 |work=The Miami Herald}}

In August 2016, a group of Nashville business leaders from several of the city's largest corporations formed the Nashville MLS Organizing Committee and began efforts to secure funding for an MLS stadium.[http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2016/12/19/tennessee-legislature-proposes-bill-help-fund-nashville-mls-stadium"Tennessee legislature proposes bill to help fund Nashville MLS stadium"], MLS Soccer, December 19, 2016. The group, led by Bill Hagerty, pursued an MLS team immediately rather than work up the soccer pyramid. The group fully supports the recently awarded USL expansion team, Nashville SC, which began play in 2018. Both groups support each other in their common vision to grow the sport in Tennessee.[http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2016/08/09/nashville-business-leaders-form-group-bring-mls-music-city"Nashville business leaders form group to bring MLS to the Music City"], MLS Soccer, August 9, 2016. In October 2017, the group unveiled their plans for $275 million stadium and redevelopment project,{{Cite web |url=http://www.nashvillepost.com/business/development/article/20980225/soccer-stadium-backers-detail-redevelopment-plans |title=Soccer stadium backers detail redevelopment plans |date=October 23, 2017 |website=Nashville Post}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2017/10/24/nashville-mls-stadium-supporters-pack-hearing-fairgrounds-proposal/790117001/ |title=Nashville soccer fans come out in force for $275M MLS stadium proposal |date=October 24, 2017 |website=The Tennessean}} which was approved by the city in November.{{Cite web |url=http://www.espnfc.com/major-league-soccer/story/3263044/nashville-mls-expansion-bid-gets-boost-from-initial-$275m-stadium-approval |title=Nashville MLS expansion bid gets boost from $275m stadium approval |date=November 8, 2017 |publisher=ESPN}} Nashville was granted a team for the expansion fee of $150 million on December 20, 2017, with the team was expected begin to play in 2020 season.{{Cite web |url=http://www.espn.com/soccer/major-league-soccer/story/3318519/mls-confirms-nashville-will-be-home-to-its-latest-expansion-franchise |title=MLS confirms Nashville will be home to its latest expansion franchise |date=December 20, 2017 |publisher=ESPN}}

On January 29, 2018, MLS officially approved Beckham's expansion team in Miami with play expected to start in 2020.{{Cite news |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/01/29/miami-mls-expansion-team-begin-play-2020 |title=Miami MLS expansion team to begin play in 2020 |date=January 29, 2018 |access-date=March 28, 2019 |website=MLSSoccer.com|publisher=MLS Digital }}{{Cite web |url=http://www.espn.com/soccer/major-league-soccer/story/3361118/mls-finally-announces-david-beckhams-expansion-team-in-miami |title=MLS announces David Beckham's expansion team in Miami |date=January 29, 2018 |publisher=ESPN}}

{{Main|Austin FC}}

On December 7, 2018, Garber announced in his annual State of the League news conference that "within the next few years MLS will become the first major sports league to have a team in the culturally dynamic city of Austin".{{Cite web |url=https://www.statesman.com/sports/20181207/commissioner-don-garber-more-details-on-mls-in-austin-soon |title=Commissioner Don Garber: More details on MLS in Austin soon |date=December 7, 2018 |website=Austin American-Statesman}} On January 15, 2019, MLS officially announced that Austin had been granted a franchise for the expansion fee of $150 million and would begin play in 2021.{{Cite press release |title=Austin FC to Begin Play in MLS in 2021 |date=January 15, 2019 |website=MLSSoccer.com|publisher=MLS Digital |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2019/01/15/austin-fc-begin-play-mls-2021 |access-date=February 11, 2019 }}

{{Main|Charlotte FC}}

In 2017, Speedway Motorsports CEO Marcus Smith led an effort for MLS expansion to Charlotte that initially included a 20,000 to 30,000-seat stadium.{{Cite web |url=http://www.twcnews.com/nc/charlotte/news/2017/01/9/charlotte-leaders-negotiating-deal-to-bid-for-major-league-soccer-team-at-memorial-stadium.html |title=Charlotte Leaders Negotiating Deal to Bid for Major League Soccer Team at Memorial Stadium |access-date=January 11, 2017}} In October 2017, however, the Charlotte city council confirmed that they would be unable to come up with the financing needed for the MLS deadline for expansion proposals, at which point the bid was effectively dead.{{Cite web |url=http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/article180429991.html |title=Charlotte's Major League Soccer dreams are dead for now. Here's how the deal unraveled |date=October 23, 2017 |website=The Charlotte Observer}}

In March 2019, Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper and officials began discussions with MLS to start another bid for a Charlotte-based MLS team. After MLS announced that they would be expanding to 30 teams, the Panthers officially reactivated the bid.{{Cite web |url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/article229456349.html |title=Major League Soccer expands again, opening door for Charlotte and David Tepper |date=April 19, 2019 |website=The Charlotte Observer}}

MLS officially announced, on December 17, 2019, that Charlotte would be awarded with an MLS franchise and would begin play in the 2021 season.{{Cite news |last=Bogert |first=Tom |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2019/12/17/major-league-soccer-awards-expansion-team-charlotte |title=Major League Soccer awards expansion team to Charlotte |date=December 17, 2019 |access-date=December 17, 2019 |publisher=Major League Soccer}} The expansion fee was reported to be $325M. The team plays in the Bank of America Stadium located in downtown Charlotte, Tepper and the ownership group announced under the team name, logo, and kits on July 22, 2020.{{Cite web |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/soccer/2019/12/17/mls-expansion-charlotte-awarded-soccer-team-begin-play-2021/2680361001/ |title=Major League Soccer awards expansion team to Charlotte, which will begin play in 2021 |website=USA Today |access-date=February 27, 2020}}

On July 17, 2020, MLS announced that the Charlotte expansion team's debut would be delayed by a year to 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in North Carolina.{{cite press release |date=July 17, 2020 |title=MLS Expansion: New timeline released for inaugural season of newest clubs |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2020/07/17/mls-expansion-new-timeline-released-inaugural-season-newest-clubs |publisher=Major League Soccer |access-date=July 17, 2020}}

{{Main|St. Louis City SC}}

Jeff Cooper attempted in 2008 and 2009 to bring an MLS expansion team to St. Louis, only to have both bids turned down in favor of other cities; MLS was not impressed with the bid's financial backing and suggested Cooper expand his group of investors.{{citation needed|date=January 2015}}

St. Louis announced in late 2014 that it was planning a new stadium to host both soccer and American football for the NFL's St. Louis Rams.{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/05/sports/football/wary-of-losing-rams-st-louis-is-set-to-huddle-on-stadium.html |title=Saint Louis is set to huddle on stadium |date=November 5, 2014 |work=The New York Times |access-date=January 14, 2015}}

In May 2015, Garber visited St. Louis to talk about a possible new stadium that could hold soccer games.[http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2015/05/19/mls-commissioner-don-garber-meets-st-louis-officials-discuss-future-expansion "MLS Commissioner Don Garber meets with St. Louis officials to discuss future expansion"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127220929/https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2015/05/19/mls-commissioner-don-garber-meets-st-louis-officials-discuss-future-expansion |date=January 27, 2021 }}, MLSsoccer.com, Dan Itel, May 19, 2015.

On January 12, 2016, the NFL's Rams relocated to Los Angeles from St. Louis and the Rams relocation initially accelerated the talks of an MLS expansion team.{{Cite web |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2016/01/19/mls-commissioner-don-garber-talks-st-louis-expansion-sports-illustrated |title=MLS Commissioner Don Garber talks St. Louis expansion with Sports Illustrated |website=MLSsoccer.com |access-date=March 24, 2016}}

On January 27, 2016, St. Louis lawmaker, Keith English proposed a bill that would put a tax of not more than one-tenth of one percent on the ballot in St. Louis and St. Louis County, it also calls for the RSA to oversee the soccer stadium.{{Citation needed|date=February 2016}} The proposed tax would only go into effect if MLS awards a team to St. Louis by December 20, 2020. On February 17, 2016, the MLS2STL group was formed to bring an MLS team to the St. Louis area.{{Cite news |url=http://www.sj-r.com/news/20160217/st-louis-group-formed-to-attract-mls-expansion-franchise |title=St. Louis group formed to attract MLS expansion franchise |date=February 17, 2016 |work=The State Journal-Register}}

In early 2017, a funding plan for a soccer-specific stadium adjacent to Union Station in downtown St. Louis was approved by the city's Board of Aldermen, before it was brought to a public vote on April 4, 2017, but the public vote failed.{{Cite web |url=http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/st-louis-bid-for-soccer-team-back-in-play-after/article_e86ec674-e480-5b4e-baa7-f3119992bd19.html |title=New life emerges for St. Louis soccer stadium |last=Faulk |first=Mike |date=January 27, 2017 |access-date=March 17, 2017}}{{Cite news |url=https://fox2now.com/2017/04/05/mls-stadium-measure-fails-in-st-louis/ |title=MLS stadium measure fails in St. Louis |date=April 5, 2017 |work=FOX2now.com |access-date=September 30, 2018}}

On September 27, 2018, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that a group was trying to bring a team to St. Louis.{{Cite news |last=Feldt |first=Brian |url=https://www.stltoday.com/business/local/soccer-stadium-talks-back-on-again-in-st-louis/article_d66a9e8e-1439-57be-be85-b697715d6b79.html |title=Soccer stadium talks back on in St. Louis |work=stltoday.com |access-date=September 29, 2018}} On October 9, 2018, the bid was effectively relaunched, with Carolyn Kindle Betz and other members of the Taylor family, principal owners of the Enterprise Holdings car rental company, as primary investors in the proposal. The stadium location remains the same as in the original 2016 location near Union Station.{{Cite news |last=Barker |first=Jacob |url=https://www.stltoday.com/business/local/soccer-gets-another-shot-in-st-louis-as-family-that/article_f77a29a7-9a97-577e-84ea-92107ace964c.html#tracking-source=home-top-story |title=Soccer gets another shot in St. Louis as family that owns Enterprise launches bid for MLS team |work=stltoday.com |access-date=October 9, 2018}} On November 30, 2018, the board of aldermen passed by 26 out of 28.{{Cite news |url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/st-louis-soccer-stadium-plan-approved-by-aldermanic-committee/article_62b2ef08-beee-5316-a076-f5a4b765a388.html# |title=St. Louis soccer stadium plan approved by aldermanic committee, 8-0 |work=stltoday.com |access-date=November 28, 2018}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.stltoday.com/sports/soccer/st-louis-hailed-as-great-soccer-city-but-mls-vote-on-expansion-is-a-ways/article_c2b23429-904a-5854-93a3-69c1f574c76b.html|title=St. Louis hailed as 'great soccer city,' but MLS vote on expansion is a ways off|first=David|last=Hunn|website=STLtoday.com|date=December 14, 2018 |access-date=February 1, 2022}}

On August 20, 2019, Garber announced at a press conference in St. Louis that the city had been granted a franchise to begin play in 2022 for the expansion fee of $200 million.{{Cite web |url=https://fox2now.com/2019/08/20/major-league-soccer-awards-expansion-franchise-to-st-louis-announcement-tuesday/ |title=Major League Soccer awards expansion franchise to St. Louis; announcement Tuesday |date=August 29, 2019 |website=Fox-2 Now: St. Louis}} The St. Louis expansion team's debut, originally scheduled for 2022, was later pushed to 2023 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Missouri.

{{Main|San Diego FC}}

In 1996, then-MLS commissioner Doug Logan called San Diego, California, a "prime candidate" for potential expansion for the newly established league.{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/https://www.espn.com/soccer/story?id=37676377&_slug_=mls-names-san-diego-30th-team-debut-2025|title=San Diego awarded 30th MLS team, will debut in 2025|last=Hernandez|first=Cesar|website=ESPN|date=May 18, 2023|access-date=May 18, 2023|language=en}} In 2014, Commissioner Garber mentioned San Diego as an expansion candidate,[http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2014/02/20/mls-commissioner-don-garber-gives-update-leagues-expansion-plans MLS Commissioner Don Garber gives update on league's expansion plans] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301225255/http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2014/02/20/mls-commissioner-don-garber-gives-update-leagues-expansion-plans |date=March 1, 2014 }}, February 20, 2014, MLSsoccer.com and again in April 2016.[http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2016/04/14/commissioner-garber-next-round-mls-expansion-likely-happening-2020"Commissioner Garber: Next round of MLS expansion likely happening in 2020"], MLS Soccer, April 14, 2016. The potential ownership group included MLB San Diego Padres owner Peter Seidler.[http://www.espnfc.us/major-league-soccer/story/2901235/san-diego-padres-owner-among-those-interested-in-mls-franchise "San Diego Padres owner among those interested in MLS franchise"], ESPN FC, June 24, 2016. An MLS team in San Diego would be located close to two MLS teams in Los Angeles, as well as the Liga MX side Xolos of Tijuana.[http://www.espnfc.us/major-league-soccer/19/blog/post/2859611/talking-points-which-cities-will-major-league-soccer-expand-to-next "Talking Points: Which cities will Major League Soccer expand to next?"], ESPN FC, April 28, 2016. The NFL's Chargers 2017 relocation to Los Angeles accelerated the chances for an MLS expansion team in San Diego.{{Cite web |url=https://www.si.com/planet-futbol/2017/01/12/chargers-san-diego-la-relocation-galaxy-stub-hub-center-mls-expansion |title=How does the Chargers move to LA impact MLS? |last=Creditor |first=Avi |date=January 12, 2017 |access-date=January 19, 2017}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/01/14/mls-commissioner-don-garber-sees-expansion-opportunity-san-diego |title=MLS Commissioner Don Garber sees expansion opportunity in San Diego |date=January 14, 2017 |access-date=November 3, 2017}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.espnfc.com/major-league-soccer/story/3038118/mls-commissioner-don-garber-hopeful-over-st-louis-san-diego-and-miami-expansion |title=MLS chief Don Garber still hopeful on St. Louis, San Diego, Miami expansion |date=January 14, 2017 |access-date=January 19, 2017}}

On February 20, 2017, a new plan for the Mission Valley site of the facility then known as Qualcomm Stadium was unveiled by a La Jolla investment group that was trying to lure a Major League Soccer team to San Diego.{{Cite web |url=http://www.cbs8.com/story/34545817/san-diego-investment-group-unveils-new-qualcomm-stadium-proposal |title=San Diego investment group unveils new Qualcomm stadium proposal |date=February 20, 2017 |publisher=CBS}} The former LA Galaxy striker Landon Donovan joined the San Diego ownership group on March 3, 2017.{{Cite web |url=http://www.foxsports.com/soccer/story/landon-donovan-owner-san-diego-mls-expansion-030317 |title=Landon Donovan joins ownership group trying to bring MLS expansion team to San Diego |date=March 3, 2017 |work=Fox Sports}} Donovan's group missed its attempt to bring an MLS team after losing the ballot measure to San Diego State University's new football stadium project in November 2018.{{cite news |title=San Diego's MLS expansion hopes take major hit after losing vote on stadium project |url=https://www.goal.com/en-us/news/san-diegos-mls-expansion-hopes-take-big-hit-after-losing-vote-on-/1p5rl6p30sgua1dzp4c8a910zu |work=Goal |date=November 8, 2018}} By May 2022, MLS was interested in San Diego again as other groups began to pursue the city's franchise.{{cite news |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/soccer/story/2022-05-15/soccer-mls-expansion-team-san-diego-state-snapdragon-stadium-don-garber-las-vegas |title=Major League Soccer continues to eye San Diego as attractive expansion candidate |access-date=July 6, 2022 |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |date=May 15, 2022}} In February 2023, Don Garber said San Diego remains an option for expansion.

On May 18, 2023, Don Garber announced at Snapdragon Stadium that San Diego would be the league's 30th team, starting play during the 2025 season.{{Cite press release |title=Major League Soccer awards expansion team to San Diego |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/major-league-soccer-awards-expansion-team-to-san-diego-x9222 |access-date=2023-05-18 |website=mlssoccer |language=en}} The San Diego FC ownership group includes Mohamed Mansour and the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, which paid an expansion fee of $500 million.{{Cite web |date=2023-05-18 |title=San Diego named 30th MLS club; debut in '25 |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/37676377/mls-names-san-diego-30th-team-debut-2025 |access-date=2023-09-09 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}

On April 18, 2019, the league announced it would expand to 30 teams. Ownership groups from Sacramento and St. Louis were given exclusive rights to negotiate for spots 28 and 29 at an expansion fee of $200 million each, while the league's Board of Governors deferred a decision on a fee and timetable for the 30th team. St. Louis was announced as an expansion team in August 2019. Sacramento was announced as an expansion team on October 21, 2019, but the owner later abandoned the bid. Charlotte was announced as an expansion team on December 17.

In February 2020, Garber stated there are more cities aiming to join the league and at some point they were to expand further. According to him, Las Vegas, Indianapolis, San Diego, Detroit and Phoenix still had interest in joining the league, and Garber kept the discussions going.{{Cite web |url=https://www.sportbusiness.com/news/garber-mls-expansion-not-over-but-firmly-on-hold/ |title=Garber: MLS expansion not over, but firmly on hold |publisher=Sport Business |date=February 27, 2020}}

In February 2023, Garber said that the league's plan was to announce the 30th team by the end of the year, and that the league was open to expanding beyond 30 teams.{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/mls/story/4884285/mls-expansion-san-diego-las-vegas-top-candidates-for-30th-team-garber|title=San Diego or Las Vegas top MLS expansion candidates - Garber|website=ESPN.com|date=February 22, 2023|access-date=February 22, 2023|language=en}} However, after San Diego was awarded the 30th team in May 2023, Garber said "I don't think sitting here today that we have any plan in the near future to go beyond 30 teams."

The Las Vegas Sun reported on May 14, 2014, that a potential ownership group held talks about an expansion team in Las Vegas.{{Cite news |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2014/05/14/report-las-vegas-talks-mls-bring-expansion-club-city-build-soccer-specific-s |title=Report: Las Vegas in talks with MLS to bring expansion club to city, build soccer-specific stadium |date=May 14, 2014 |work=MLSsoccer.com |access-date=May 19, 2014}} The investor group, consisting of Findlay Sports and Entertainment and real estate developers, Cordish Company, acquired a site at Symphony Park in Downtown Las Vegas and planned to build a stadium there.{{Cite news |url=https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2014/5/14/5718422/las-vegas-mls-expansion |title=Las Vegas launches MLS expansion bid |work=SBNation.com |access-date=May 19, 2014}} Las Vegas Mayor, Carolyn Goodman, and the Findlay group expressed preference for a downtown stadium.{{Cite news |last=Snel |first=Alan |url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/business/city-las-vegas-turns-suitor-s-attention-toward-major-league-soccer |title=City of Las Vegas turns suitor's attention toward Major League Soccer |date=May 24, 2014 |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |access-date=June 3, 2014}} League deputy commissioner Mark Abbott met with Mayor Goodman and toured the downtown area in July 2014.{{Cite news |last=Firchau |first=Nick |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2014/07/21/thinking-long-term-mls-preliminary-discussions-over-expansion-franchise-las- |title=Thinking long-term, MLS in "preliminary discussions" over expansion franchise in Las Vegas |date=July 22, 2014 |work=MLSsoccer.com |access-date=August 6, 2014}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/lights-fc-soccer/5-things-to-know-as-las-vegas-pursues-mls-expansion-team-1689254/ |title=5 things to know as Las Vegas pursues MLS expansion team |date=June 17, 2019 |access-date=June 18, 2019}}

On December 17, 2014, the Las Vegas City Council approved public funding of $56.5 million for the proposed soccer stadium in Symphony Park, contingent on MLS granting an expansion franchise to Las Vegas.{{Cite news |last=Shine |first=Conor |url=http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2014/dec/17/city-council-set-vote-las-vegas-soccer-stadium/ |title=City Council approves funding for Las Vegas soccer stadium |date=December 17, 2014 |work=Las Vegas Sun}} Garber notified Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman on February 12, 2015, that MLS no longer considered Las Vegas as an expansion market until after 2018.{{Cite news |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2015/02/12/las-vegas-no-longer-consideration-mls-expansion-until-after-2018/ |title=Las Vegas no longer in consideration for MLS expansion until after 2018 |date=February 12, 2015 |work=MLSsoccer.com}} The potential for a Las Vegas team was revived in January 2017 by the city council approaching a sports investment bank but an official bid was not reported by MLS.{{Cite web |url=http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/12-groups-submit-mls-expansion-applications/n-5232189 |title=12 Groups Submit MLS Expansion Applications |date=January 31, 2017 |publisher=Our Sports Central}}

In December 2021, Garber confirmed "Vegas is the frontrunner" and the 30th team was to be officially announced in the first quarter of 2022. Wes Edens and Nassef Sawiris, who co-own English football club Aston Villa had been in exclusive negotiations as prospective owners under their V Sports holding company, with the name Las Vegas Villains trademarked.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/commissioner-garber-las-vegas-frontrunner-for-mls-30th-team-potential-stadium-ri|title=Commissioner Garber: Las Vegas "frontrunner" for MLS' 30th team, potential stadium "right off the strip"|website=MLS|access-date=February 1, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.si.com/soccer/2021/12/07/don-garber-mls-cup-expansion-las-vegas-update|title = Las Vegas the Clear Frontrunner for MLS's 30th Team| date=December 7, 2021 }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Morning-Buzz/2022/02/21/Las-Vegas-MLS.aspx|title=Edens, Sawiris in talks for MLS team in Vegas|website=Sports Business Journal|date=February 21, 2022 |access-date=March 1, 2022}} By June 2022, those negotiations were ongoing.{{cite news |last1=Akers |first1=Mick |title=MLS expansion look, major matches cement Las Vegas as 'soccer town' |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/soccer/mls-expansion-look-major-matches-cement-las-vegas-as-soccer-town-2586944/ |access-date=July 6, 2022 |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |date=June 3, 2022}} In February 2023, Don Garber said the Las Vegas bid remains active. Las Vegas is currently home to Las Vegas Lights FC who play at Cashman Field.

In 2017, Phoenix entered the race for an expansion team.{{Cite web |url=http://www.foxsports.com/soccer/story/mls-expansion-phoenix-cities-list-012617 |title=Phoenix set to join the race for an MLS expansion team |date=January 26, 2017}} The bid for expansion is led by the ownership group of Phoenix Rising FC of the USLC including former Chelsea and Phoenix Rising FC player Didier Drogba. That year, Phoenix Rising signed an agreement with Goldman Sachs to help the funding of a new 20,000 person stadium on land purchased from the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community if selected.{{Cite news |url=http://www.phxrisingfc.com/news_article/show/788390 |title=Phoenix Rising Football Club retains Goldman Sachs as Structuring Agent for MLS Soccer Stadium |date=May 3, 2017 |work=Phoenix Rising FC |access-date=May 4, 2017}} After Bally Sports Arizona agreed to air most Rising matches in March 2022, Phoenix was reported to have been drawn closer to becoming an MLS franchise.{{cite news |title=After securing broadcast deal, could MLS be in Phoenix Rising's future? |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2022/03/05/could-mls-be-in-rising-future.html |access-date=July 8, 2022 |work=March 5, 2022 |agency=Cronkite News |issue=Phoenix Business Journal}}

In December 2024, Mesa mayor John Giles stated to local media that he had met with MLS officials and developers to build a stadium for a future team. A {{convert|200|acre|ha|adj=mid}} site in northwestern Mesa once proposed for the new Arizona Coyotes arena was identified for a potential bid.{{cite news |last=Dominguez |first=Maritza |date=December 20, 2024 |title=What would it take for Mesa to land an MLS team? City officials say they're 'cheerleaders' |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/mesa/2024/12/20/could-major-league-soccer-come-to-mesa-az/77071223007/ |work=The Arizona Republic |url-access=subscription |accessdate=December 23, 2024}}

This section includes cities with bids that have either failed or stalled, or are otherwise not explicitly included in MLS's expansion roadmap, the latest of which was announced in December 2013.

MLS announced in 2004 that Cleveland would be getting an expansion franchise for the 2005 season, as area businessman Bert Wolstein had signed a letter of intent to launch an MLS club.{{Cite news |last=Wagman |first=Robert |url=http://www.soccertimes.com/mls/2004/may16.htm |title=Several cities vie for expansion teams as complications delay decision |date=May 16, 2004 |work=Soccer Times}} However, Wolstein ran into delays in trying to obtain public financing for a stadium, and died in 2004.{{Cite news |url=http://www.soccertimes.com/mls/2004/may17 |title=Bert Wolstein, a soccer pioneer, dies at 77 |date=May 17, 2004 |work=Soccer Times}}

In 2006 the Wolstein Sports and Entertainment Group proposed the construction of a soccer-specific stadium for an MLS club in the Cleveland suburb of Macedonia.{{Cite news |last=Johnston |first=Laura |url=http://blog.cleveland.com/pdextra/2010/09/macedonia_planning_for_soccer.html |title=Macedonia planning for soccer |date=July 21, 2007 |work=The Plain Dealer}} However, Summit County voters rejected a tax to raise $104 million of the $165 million needed, environmental groups raised concerns about area wetlands, and the area was hit by the Great Recession of 2008.{{Cite news |url=http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2010/09/post_353.html |title=Star Calendar print shop; a soccer stadium in Macedonia: Whatever happened to …? |date=September 20, 2010 |work=The Plain Dealer}}

In March 2014, Commissioner Garber said there had not been any developments regarding MLS expansion in Cleveland since talks were held "many years ago."

On April 19, 2025, Cleveland hosted their first MLS regular season game when the Columbus Crew and Inter Miami CF played a game at Huntington Bank Field, the home of the NFL's Cleveland Browns (who are also owned by Crew's owner Haslam Sports Group), with an attendance of 60,614 fans.

A Miami expansion team led by Barcelona and Marcelo Claure, a Bolivian businessman based in the city, announced an expansion bid in October 2008, with plans to begin play in 2011.{{Cite news |url=http://espnfc.com/print?id=581958&type=story |title=Barcelona to bid for Miami MLS franchise |date=October 15, 2008 |work=ESPNsoccernet |access-date=February 8, 2014}} But in March 2009, the league and Barcelona announced that Miami was no longer a candidate due to local market conditions.{{Cite news |url=http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/1110/major-league-soccer/2009/03/03/1137156/miami-barcelona-mls-campaign-is-dead |title=Miami Barcelona MLS Campaign Is Dead |date=March 3, 2009 |work=Goal.com}} Additionally, MLS expressed concerns about Miami's lack of fan interest in an MLS franchise, the fact that USL team Miami FC was not doing well, and the plan to use FIU Stadium relegating the team to a secondary tenant in a college football stadium with an artificial surface.{{Cite news |last=Rusnak |first=Jeff |url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2009-03-04/sports/0903030502_1_fc-barcelona-mls-garber |title=Miami bid is yanked |date=March 4, 2009 |work=Sun-Sentinel |access-date=July 30, 2013 |archive-date=December 13, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213175119/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2009-03-04/sports/0903030502_1_fc-barcelona-mls-garber |url-status=dead }} However, Garber said that Miami would be an expansion target in the future.{{Cite news |last=Rusnak |first=Jeff |url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2009-03-08/sports/0903070054_1_mls-cup-garber-mls-team |title=MLS, Miami have miles to go before new club could thrive |date=March 8, 2009 |work=Sun-Sentinel |access-date=July 30, 2013 |archive-date=December 13, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213175811/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2009-03-08/sports/0903070054_1_mls-cup-garber-mls-team |url-status=dead }} Claure later joined David Beckham's group of investors for the Miami expansion bid that was accepted by the league in 2014.

A previous San Antonio expansion bid ended in 2005, when negotiations between the league and then-mayor Ed Garza ended. Incoming mayor Phil Hardberger criticized the proposed deal, while Garber claimed that the criticisms were politically motivated and hurt efforts to sell season tickets and recruit local investors.{{Cite news |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/mls/2005-06-09-san-antonio_x.htm |title=Major League Soccer ends talks with San Antonio |date=June 9, 2005 |access-date=October 25, 2012 |agency=Associated Press}}

In late 2011, San Antonio announced its bid to be MLS's 20th team.{{Cite news |url=http://aol.sportingnews.com/soccer/story/2011-12-14/sacramento-san-antonio-join-fight-for-mls-expansion-team |title=San Antonio joins fight for MLS expansion team |date=December 14, 2011 |work=Sporting News |access-date=October 25, 2012}} The city's North American Soccer League franchise, the San Antonio Scorpions, launched in 2012 and led the league in attendance in 2012 and 2013 seasons.{{Cite news |url=http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/2012/09/28/Research-and-Ratings/NASL-attendance.aspx |title=NASL Attendance Up 1.1%; San Antonio Scorpions Lead League in Debut Season |date=September 28, 2012 |work=Sports Business Daily}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.sanantonioscorpions.com/stadium/toyota-field |title=San Antonio Scorpions Toyota Field |date=October 25, 2012 |publisher=San Antonio Scorpions |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107213036/http://sanantonioscorpions.com/stadium/toyota-field |archive-date=November 7, 2012 |access-date=October 25, 2012}}

In Commissioner Garber's December 2013 State of the League address, San Antonio was one of five cities listed on a presentation map of potential expansion locations.{{Cite news |last=Oshan |first=Jeremiah |url=https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2013/12/3/5171460/mls-five-candidiate-cities-expansion |title=MLS names five candidate cities for expansion |date=December 3, 2013 |work=SBNation.com |access-date=February 4, 2014}}

In March 2014, Garber said that expansion in the immediate future was "premature" for both San Antonio and Texas, though it was "something that is likely to happen".{{Cite news |last=Creditor |first=Avi |url=http://soccer.si.com/2014/03/04/location-by-location-mls-commissioner-don-garbers-response-to-expansion-questions/ |title=Location by location, MLS commissioner Don Garber's response to expansion questions |date=March 4, 2014 |work=Planet Fútbol}}

In December 2014, Garber stated that the league was continuing to evaluate and receive updates on developments in San Antonio.[http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/article/MLS-officials-provide-update-on-city-s-5940924.php "MLS officials provide update on city's development for expansion"], San Antonio Express-News, December 7, 2014. Potential developments include the emergence of an outside investment group[http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/scorpions/article/Investors-detail-plan-to-buy-Scorpions-with-MLS-5868769.php "Investors detail plan to buy Scorpions, with MLS goal"], San Antonio Express-News, November 4, 2014. and the expansion plan of the current North American Soccer League stadium.[http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2014/09/02/san-antonio-scorpions-release-stadium-expansion-plan-additional-opportunitie "San Antonio Scorpions release stadium expansion plan with 'additional opportunities' like MLS entry in mind"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141218181137/http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2014/09/02/san-antonio-scorpions-release-stadium-expansion-plan-additional-opportunitie |date=December 18, 2014 }}, MLSsoccer.com, September 2, 2014. In early December 2014, Garber revealed that San Antonio was "not as far along" as the three other cities under consideration at the time.[http://www.woai.com/articles/woai-local-news-sponsored-by-five-119078/scorpions-owner-san-antonio-made-the-13050933/ "Scorpions Owner: San Antonio 'Made the Cut' for Big League Consideration"], WOAI, December 10, 2014. But the league continues to monitor progress and efforts toward expansion in San Antonio.[http://prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com/2015/01/16/mls-expansion-st-louis-san-antonio-join-race-with-minneapolis-sacramento-las-vegas/ "MLS expansion: St. Louis, San Antonio join race with Minneapolis, Sacramento, Las Vegas"], ProSoccerTalk, January 16, 2015.

On November 4, 2015, the city of San Antonio and Bexar County announced plans to purchase Toyota Field for $18 million with the intentions of acquiring an MLS franchise. Additionally, Spurs Sports & Entertainment, owners of the NBA's San Antonio Spurs, would hold a 20-year lease to operate the stadium; if SS&E fails to secure an MLS franchise for the stadium within 10 years, the group would owe the city and county a $5 million penalty.{{Cite web |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/news/2015/11/04/spurs-city-and-county-strike-a-deal-for-toyota.html?ana=twt |title=Spurs, city and county strike a deal for Toyota Field; MLS team part of the long-term plan |last=Bailey |first=W. Scott |website=San Antonio Business Journal |access-date=November 5, 2015}} On December 22, 2015, the USL announced that Spurs Sports & Entertainment would operate the league's 31st team, San Antonio FC. The establishment of the club, along with the concurrent purchase of Toyota Field by the city of San Antonio and Bexar County, is part of a plan by local officials to obtain an expansion franchise in Major League Soccer. As a result, the Scorpions franchise was shut down.

On October 16, 2017, Columbus Crew owner Anthony Precourt announced his intentions of moving his club to Austin in 2019 if a new stadium in downtown Columbus was not built. As downtown Austin is approximately {{convert|75|mi|km|-1}} north of downtown San Antonio, the proposed relocation would have been in direct conflict with expansion efforts in San Antonio.{{Cite web |url=https://www.ksat.com/sports/mls-team-may-move-to-austin-could-ruin-sas-chances-of-landing-team |title=MLS team may move to Austin, could ruin SA's chances of landing team |last=Stacy |first=Mitch |publisher=KSAT-TV |access-date=November 1, 2017}} However, Jimmy Haslam, owner of the NFL's Cleveland Browns, and Pete Edwards Jr. acquired the Crew in order to keep the club in Columbus and Precourt was granted rights to an expansion franchise in Austin.{{Cite news |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/10/12/cleveland-browns-owners-emerge-potential-buyers-columbus-crew-sc |title=Cleveland Browns owners emerge as potential buyers of Columbus Crew SC |date=October 12, 2018 |access-date=October 13, 2018 |website=MLSSoccer.com|publisher=MLS Digital }}

Triple Sports & Entertainment, a firm owned by Andreas Apostolopoulos, planned to convert the Pontiac Silverdome into a soccer-specific stadium,{{Cite news |last=Scott |first=Melanie |url=http://www.freep.com/article/20091116/NEWS03/91116065/ |title=Canadian firm submits winning bid of $583,000 for Silverdome |date=November 16, 2009 |work=Detroit Free Press}} and applied to MLS for an expansion franchise in June 2011, but without success.{{Cite web |url=http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/2011/06/08/Franchises/MLS-Detroit.aspx |title=Silverdome Owners Submit Application To MLS in Hopes of Landing Franchise – SportsBusiness Daily | SportsBusiness Journal |date=June 8, 2011 |website=SportsBusiness Daily |access-date=February 22, 2012}} The company later submitted plans in July 2013 for the site that is being considered for the current Detroit expansion proposal, but was again unsuccessful.{{Cite web |url=http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20130724/NEWS/130729936/silverdome-owners-pitch-plan-for-mls-stadium-mall-condos-on-jail-site/ |title=Silverdome owners pitch plan for MLS stadium, mall, condos on jail site | Crain's Detroit Business |date=July 24, 2013 |publisher=Crains Detroit |access-date=September 12, 2013}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20131029/NEWS/131029799/wayne-co-committee-recommends-gilbert-bid-for-jail-site/ |title=Wayne Co. committee recommends Gilbert bid for jail site |date=October 29, 2013 |publisher=Crains Detroit |access-date=July 22, 2014}}

NBA owners Dan Gilbert and Tom Gores unveiled in April 2016 a $1 billion plan to bring an MLS expansion team to Detroit.{{Cite web |url=http://www.freep.com/story/sports/2016/04/30/soccer-roger-faulkner-detroit-mls/83774178/ |title=Soccer mogul Roger Faulkner backs Detroit MLS plan |last=Sipple |first=George |date=April 30, 2016 |website=Detroit Free Press |access-date=May 4, 2016}} MLS Commissioner Don Garber has said that Detroit is on the list of cities that could get an expansion team in 2020, and has stated that MLS' interest in Detroit hinges on the fate of the 15-acre site of the stalled Wayne County jail development, which can connect the Greektown Entertainment District, Eastern Market and the three other sports facilities – Comerica Park, Ford Field, and Little Caesars Arena.{{Cite web |url=http://www.freep.com/story/sports/2016/04/27/detroit-mls-major-league-soccer/83607532/ |title=Detroit's Major League Soccer expansion bid hinges on failed jail site |last=George |first=Sipple |date=April 28, 2016 |website=Detroit Free Press |access-date=May 4, 2016}} Their plan received a boost at the end of July when Wayne County Executive Warren Evans announced that he had instructed his team to work towards a final deal on moving the jail and allowing Gilbert and Gores to build the stadium.{{Cite web |url=http://www.espnfc.com/major-league-soccer/story/3169786/detroit-plan-that-would-allow-for-mls-stadium-backed-by-county-executive |title=Detroit plan that would allow for MLS stadium backed by county executive |date=July 31, 2017 |publisher=ESPN |access-date=August 16, 2017}}

Detroit was considered by MLS to be one of the frontrunners for a 2020 bid, but MLS soured on Detroit when the ownership group decided not to build a soccer-specific stadium and to use Ford Field instead.[http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20180529/news/662121/detroit-bid-in-limbo-after-mls-awards-latest-expansion-club-to "Detroit bid in limbo after MLS awards latest expansion club to Cincinnati"], Crain's Detroit Business, May 29, 2018.

File:NCFCps-084.jpg

On December 6, 2016, Carolina Railhawks (later rebranded as North Carolina FC) owner Steve Malik announced a push for Raleigh's minor league team to become an MLS team,{{Cite press release |title=USL Adds North Carolina FC for the 2018 Season |date=November 16, 2017 |publisher=United Soccer League |url=http://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/857350 |access-date=December 7, 2017}} and build a privately funded $150 million, 22,000-seat stadium in Wake County.{{Cite web |url=http://www.newsobserver.com/sports/soccer/north-carolina-fc-courage/article160717454.html |title=MLS president to visit Triangle as part of North Carolina FC expansion bid. Here's how you can participate. |publisher=News and Observer |access-date=July 13, 2017}}

On June 18, 2019, the team unveiled plans for a 20,000-seat stadium as part of a $1.9 billion mixed use development in downtown Raleigh, intended to boost their MLS bid.[https://www.wralsportsfan.com/ncfc-s-malik-will-announce-1-9b-plan-for-multi-use-soccer-complex-next-week/18458998/ NCFC's Malik will announce $1.9B plan for multi-use soccer complex next week] - WRAL Sports Fan, June 18, 2019

In December 2016, MLS confirmed that Tampa / St. Petersburg was one of its ten potential expansion cities. Bill Edwards, the majority owner of the Tampa Bay Rowdies started a campaign to join the league.{{Cite web |url=http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/major-league-soccer-announces-tampa-bay-rowdies-as-potential-expansion-team/n-5222501 |title=Major League Soccer Announces Tampa Bay Rowdies as Potential Expansion Team |date=December 15, 2016 |publisher=OurSports Central}} On May 2, 2017, a special election referendum was held in St. Petersburg to vote on the city negotiating a 25-year land lease for the Tampa Bay Rowdies current waterfront Al Lang Stadium and increasing capacity to 18,000 pending MLS expansion acceptance. The vote was 87% in favor of Al Lang Stadium redesign/expansion, and 13% against.{{Cite web |url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/localgovernment/tampa-bay-rowdies-major-league-soccer-hopes-rest-with-st-petersburg-voters/2322337/ |title=St. Petersburg voters overwhelmingly bless Tampa Bay Rowdies' bid to join Major League Soccer |website=Tampa Bay Times |access-date=May 3, 2017}}

{{Main|Sacramento Republic FC}}

In December 2011, a group led by former California Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez began exploring the possibility of landing an MLS franchise for the Sacramento area, with the suburb of Elk Grove as a possible stadium site.{{Cite news |last=Kasler |first=Dale |url=http://www.sacbee.com/2011/12/14/4121137/group-exploring-major-league-soccer.html |title=Group exploring Major League Soccer franchise for Elk Grove |date=December 14, 2011 |work=Sacramento Bee |access-date=February 22, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120107223525/http://www.sacbee.com/2011/12/14/4121137/group-exploring-major-league-soccer.html |archive-date=January 7, 2012}} On March 13, 2013, the Elk Grove city council voted unanimously to study potential sites for a soccer-specific stadium in the city that could host either an MLS or NASL team.{{Cite web |url=http://elkgrove.patch.com/articles/city-will-look-for-land-where-pro-soccer-stadium-could-be-built |title=City Will Look for Land Where Pro Soccer Stadium Could be Built |year=2013}}

Sacramento was granted a USL Pro team that began play in the 2014 season.{{Cite web |url=http://www.uslsoccer.com/home/681229.html |title=Sacramento to Join USL PRO in 2014 |date=December 3, 2012 |publisher=USLsoccer.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130926104815/http://www.uslsoccer.com/home/681229.html |archive-date=September 26, 2013 |access-date=December 29, 2012}} A group of investors, led by local business leader Warren Smith, expressed their hope to eventually convert this franchise to an MLS team. In November 2013, Smith restated his goal of having the team, christened Sacramento Republic FC, ascend to MLS in 2016.{{Cite news |last=Lillis |first=Ryan |url=http://www.sacbee.com/2013/11/28/5952941/sacramento-soccer-franchise-has.html |title=Sacramento soccer franchise has ambitious goal |date=November 28, 2013 |work=Sacramento Bee |access-date=December 3, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202033300/http://www.sacbee.com/2013/11/28/5952941/sacramento-soccer-franchise-has.html |archive-date=December 2, 2013}}

In August 2014, owners of the Sacramento Kings NBA basketball team led by businessman Vivek Ranadivé expressed an interest in buying Republic FC with the ultimate goal of elevating the team to MLS. They met with league officials during the week of the 2014 MLS All-Star Game, and deputy commissioner Mark Abbott said league executives would visit the city and tour possible stadium locations.{{Cite news |last=Lillis |first=Ryan |url=http://www.sacbee.com/2014/08/05/6607197/major-league-soccer-to-tour-possible.html |title=Major League Soccer to tour possible stadium sites in Sacramento |date=August 5, 2014 |work=Sacramento Bee |access-date=August 6, 2014}} Kings owner Ranadive announced in January 2015 that he had joined the Republic ownership group, in a move seen as bolstering the city's chances of landing an MLS berth.[http://www.sbisoccer.com/2015/01/sacramento-republic-investor.html "SACRAMENTO KINGS JOIN REPUBLIC AS INVESTOR IN MLS PUSH"], SBI Soccer, January 28, 2015. Also in January 2015, the York family, owners of the NFL's San Francisco 49ers, agreed to invest in the Republic.[http://www.sacbee.com/sports/mls/article8604596.html "49ers' owners to invest in Sacramento Republic FC"], Sacramento Bee, January 29, 2015.

Sacramento's bid is also strengthened by its fan support. Upon their debut in 2014, the Republic set a USL single-game attendance record by selling out their first-ever home game at 20,000-seat Hughes Stadium;[http://www.sacbee.com/2014/04/26/6357273/republic-fc-loses-home-opener.html "Republic FC loses home opener before sellout crowd at Hughes Stadium"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140427210131/http://www.sacbee.com/2014/04/26/6357273/republic-fc-loses-home-opener.html |date=April 27, 2014 }}, Sacramento Bee, April 27, 2014. since moving to the smaller, soccer-specific stadium now known as Papa Murphy's Park midway through 2014, the team has continued to play in front of capacity crowds. As of January 2015, the club had nearly 10,000 ticket deposits as part of its "Built for MLS" campaign.

In March 2015, Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson announced a joint initiative of the city and the club dubbed "Operation Turnkey", which would have stadium construction ready to begin should one of the other expansion candidates without a firm stadium plan fail to come up with one or the league decided to expand beyond 24 teams.{{Cite magazine |last=Straus |first=Brian |url=https://www.si.com/planet-futbol/2015/03/17/sacramento-mls-expansion-minnesota-miami-kevin-johnson-beckham# |title=MLS Expansion: Sacramento eyes team despite Miami, Minnesota |date=March 15, 2015 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |access-date=March 22, 2015}} In April 2016, MLS commissioner Don Garber announced that the league would expand to 28 teams and said "I hope, and fully expect, Sacramento to be one (of the 28)".[http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2016/04/14/commissioner-we-hopeexpect-sacramento-join-mls.html "Commissioner: 'We hope and expect' Sacramento will join MLS"], April 14, 2016.

On February 4, 2017, after the official bid package was submitted without the Republic name or brand, Sacramento mayor Darrell Steinberg announced an agreement in principle for the Republic to be acquired by Sac Soccer & Entertainment Holdings, the company behind the submitted bid. Should the city's bid for an MLS expansion team succeed, it will indeed enter the league as Sacramento Republic FC.{{Cite web |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/02/05/sacramento-mls-bid-group-enters-agreement-acquire-sacramento-republic-fc |title=Sacramento MLS bid group enters agreement to acquire Sacramento Republic FC |date=February 5, 2017 |publisher=MLSSoccer}} In July 2017, the group began preparations for building a 19,621-seat stadium in downtown Sacramento for the bid.{{Cite web |url=http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/news-columns-blogs/city-beat/article163854248.html |title=Big step in Sacramento's Major League Soccer bid |date=July 27, 2017 |website=The Sacramento Bee}} By October, the group had 10,000 commitments for season tickets for the proposed MLS team.{{Cite web |url=http://www.sacbee.com/sports/mls/article180795416.html |title=10,000 Sacramento fans commit to buy MLS season tickets, Republic FC reports |date=October 25, 2017 |website=The Sacramento Bee}}

On January 22, 2019, billionaire Ron Burkle was announced as the Republic's new lead investor to satisfy MLS requirements. Burkle has held a controlling stake in the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins since 1999, and previously made an attempt to buy the Sacramento Kings. Burkle also purchased the Republic's proposed stadium site at the Sacramento Railyards, along with an additional 14 acres to be developed into an entertainment district.{{Cite web |url=http://www.espn.com/soccer/major-league-soccer/story/3756895/sacramento-republics-mls-hopes-get-boost-as-ron-burkle-agrees-to-take-over-team |title=Sacramento Republic's MLS hopes get boost as Ron Burkle agrees to take over team |last=Carlisle |first=Jeff |date=January 22, 2019 |publisher=ESPN |access-date=January 22, 2019}} On October 21, 2019, the Republic was officially announced as the 29th team in Major League Soccer, scheduled to join the league in 2022.{{Cite web |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2019/10/21/major-league-soccer-awards-expansion-team-sacramento |title=Major League Soccer awards expansion team to Sacramento |date=October 21, 2019 |publisher=Major League Soccer}}

On July 17, 2020, Sacramento Republic and MLS announced that the team would instead begin play in 2023, due to delays from the COVID-19 pandemic in California. However, on February 26, 2021, MLS announced that Burkle "had decided not to acquire an expansion team in Sacramento," and that the league would continue to work with Sacramento authorities on the future of the expansion plan.{{Cite web|url=

https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2021/02/26/mls-announces-update-sacramento-expansion |title=MLS announces update on Sacramento expansion |website=MLSsoccer.com |date=February 26, 2021}} As a result, the bid was considered to be on indefinite hiatus, and on March 1 the Republic's logo was removed from the banner at the top of MLSSoccer.com.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203061606/https://www.mlssoccer.com/|url-status=live|title=mlssoccer|archive-date=February 3, 2022|website=mlssoccer|access-date=February 1, 2022}} Burkle similarly rejected a Sacramento expansion team in the National Women's Soccer League in conjunction with the Republic bid, and on June 8, 2021, instead announced his investment in San Diego Wave FC to begin play in the 2022 NWSL season.{{cite news |title=San Diego To Be Home to NWSL Expansion Team, Led by Jill Ellis as President |url=https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/san-diego-to-be-home-to-nwsl-expansion-team-led-by-jill-ellis-as-president |access-date=8 June 2021 |publisher=NWSL |date=8 June 2021}}

One year later, the Republic's Cinderella run to the 2022 U.S. Open Cup Final drew national attention, and inspired hopes of reviving the MLS expansion bid through a new investor group.{{cite news |last=Manna |first=Orko |date=July 29, 2022 |title=Fans, city leaders want Sacramento Republic FC in the MLS following huge US Open Cup semifinal win |url=https://www.kcra.com/article/sacramento-republic-fc-mls-push-us-open-cup/40749590 |publisher=KCRA |access-date=October 24, 2022}}

No current plans are in place for Louisville, Kentucky, to bid for a franchise in the league. Louisville City FC plays in the USL and was in the top 4 for league attendance in the 2019 season.{{Cite web |url=https://soccerstadiumdigest.com/2019-usl-championship-attendance/ |title=2019 USL Championship Attendance |website=Soccer Stadium Digest |access-date=February 27, 2020}} The team has constructed a stadium in downtown Louisville. MLS has had discussions with the ownership of the team in the past, although the team president has no plans to place a bid at this time.{{Cite web |url=https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/soccer/louisville-city-fc/2019/04/19/louisville-city-fc-focused-on-usl-despite-mls-expansion/3520220002/ |title=MLS is expanding, but Louisville City FC is focused on United Soccer League |website=The Courier-Journal |access-date=February 27, 2020}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/soccer/louisville-city-fc/2018/12/03/nba-mls-expansion-opportunities-louisville/1998010002/ |title=Louisville sees more 'opportunity' with an MLS franchise than NBA |website=The Courier-Journal |access-date=February 27, 2020}}

In June 2020, the Mayor of Louisville's office confirmed that the city has been in contact with the Major League Soccer, in coordination with Louisville City FC, for a possible expansion in the future.{{Cite web |url=https://louisvillefuture.com/archived-news/louisville-city-is-interested-in-an-mls-bid-heres-what-that-would-look-like/ |title=Louisville has been working with the Mayor's Office to speak with MLS about join the league|date=June 18, 2020 |website=Louisville Future |access-date=June 26, 2020}}

Rochester, New York, had been mentioned as an expansion candidate due to the success of the Rochester Rhinos. The Rhinos won the US Open Cup in 1999 – the only non-MLS team to win the Cup since MLS began play three years earlier – and the Rhinos averaged over 10,000 fans from 1999 to 2005.[http://www.soccernewsday.com/usa/a/170/the-lost-soccer-city-of-rochester The Lost Soccer City of Rochester] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310080001/http://soccernewsday.com/usa/a/170/the-lost-soccer-city-of-rochester |date=March 10, 2016 }}, Soccer Newsday, June 19, 2012. In 2006, Don Garber stated: "At some point we want to find a way we can have an MLS team in Rochester."{{Cite web |url=http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20110612/SPORTS05/106120356/Rochester-Rhinos-no-longer-MLS-radar |title=High School Sports – Democrat and Chronicle – democratandchronicle.com |website=Democrat and Chronicle |access-date=December 11, 2014}} However, the Rhinos saw a downturn in attendance and finances, and the city is no longer under consideration by MLS. The team ceased operations in 2023.[https://www.rochesterfirst.com/sports/rnyfc/rochester-ny-fc-ceases-operations-will-not-play-in-2023/ Rochester NY FC ceases operations, will not play in 2023] by AJ Feldman at Rochester First, 10 March 2023{{cite web|url=https://www.socceramerica.com/publications/article/95504/rochester-new-york-fc-co-owned-by-jamie-vardy-fo.html |title=Rochester New York FC, co-owned by Jamie Vardy, folds after first MLS Next Pro season |publisher=Soccer America |first=Mike |last=Woitalla |date=March 10, 2023 |access-date=March 10, 2023}}

Ottawa was a longshot candidate throughout late 2008 and early 2009 for one of two slots for MLS expansion,[http://www.soccerbyives.net/2008/10/mls-expansion-c.html "SEVEN MLS EXPANSION CANDIDATES REVEALED"], Soccer By Ives, October 15, 2008. Retrieved March 27, 2014. but the push ended in March 2009 when MLS selected Vancouver and Portland instead.Soccer By Ives, [http://www.soccerbyives.net/2009/03/vancouver-to-be-introduced-as-17th-mls-team.html VANCOUVER TO BE INTRODUCED AS 17TH MLS TEAM], March 18, 2009. Retrieved March 21, 2014. On June 20, 2011, Ottawa was awarded a NASL expansion franchise which began play as Ottawa Fury FC at TD Place Stadium in 2014; Fury FC moved to USL after the 2016 season.{{Cite news |last=Cariucci |first=Mario |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/oseg-backs-winner-with-ottawa-fury-fc-move-to-usl-1.3824164 |title=OSEG backs winner with Fury FC move to USL |date=October 29, 2016 |access-date=December 7, 2017 |publisher=CBC News}} The team ceased operations following the 2019 season.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/1452481/2019/12/11/sources-miami-fc-to-join-usl-championship-replacing-ottawa-fury-in-2020/|title=Sources: Miami FC to join USL Championship, replacing Ottawa Fury in 2020|work=The New York Times |access-date=December 11, 2019 |last1=Rueter |first1=Jeff }}

MLS announced in May 2010 its desire for a second franchise in the New York City area. The former owners of the New York Cosmos expressed interest in an MLS expansion franchise, but negotiations between MLS and the Cosmos broke down,{{Cite news |last=Bell |first=Jack |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/02/sports/soccer/02cosmos.html |title=Cosmos Begin Anew, With Eye Toward M.L.S |date=August 1, 2010 |work=The New York Times |access-date=May 22, 2013}}{{Cite news |last=Bell |first=Jack |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/03/sports/soccer/reborn-cosmos-return-to-the-field.html?pagewanted=all |title=Reborn Cosmos Return to the Field |date=August 2, 2013 |work=The New York Times |access-date=April 28, 2014}} and the new Cosmos began playing in the North American Soccer League in 2013.{{Cite web |url=http://nycosmos.com/news/new-york-cosmos-join-nasl-2013 |title=New York Cosmos Returns to NASL |last=O'Brien |first=Seamus |date=July 12, 2012 |website=nycosmos.com |publisher=New York Cosmos |location=New York City |access-date=May 22, 2013}}

The league also met with other prospective ownership groups for a New York expansion team.{{Cite news |last=Straus |first=Brian |url=http://www.sportingnews.com/soccer/story/2011-10-26/chuck-blazer-group-emerges-to-rival-cosmos-bid-for-mls-team-in-new-york-city |title=Rival emerges in Cosmos' bid to land MLS expansion team |date=October 26, 2011 |work=Sporting News |access-date=April 28, 2014}} For example, MLS held talks with New York Mets owner Fred Wilpon.{{Cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/sports/soccer/news/story?id=5170713 |title=MLS to play in Montreal in 2012 |date=May 7, 2010 |website=ESPN Sports |access-date=February 22, 2012}}{{Cite news |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/mls-focused-making-ny-club-its-20th-team |title=MLS focused on making NY club its 20th team |date=November 16, 2010 |work=mlssoccer.com |access-date=May 21, 2013 |archive-date=September 24, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924045842/http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/mls-focused-making-ny-club-its-20th-team |url-status=dead }}

MLS awarded the second New York franchise to New York City FC in May 2013.{{Cite news |last=Bercovici |first=Jeff |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffbercovici/2013/05/21/with-new-york-city-fc-does-mls-still-have-room-for-the-cosmos/ |title=With New York City FC, Does MLS Have Room for the Cosmos? |date=May 21, 2013 |work=Forbes |access-date=May 22, 2013}} Garber confirmed in April 2014 that there would not be a third New York team after the New York Red Bulls and New York City FC.{{Cite web |url=https://twitter.com/AndrewDasNYT/status/459698113322975232 |title=Twitter / AndrewDasNYT: Garber says @NYCosmos aren't |publisher=Twitter |access-date=April 28, 2014}}

Indianapolis launched an official bid in January 2017 to upgrade their NASL franchise, the Indy Eleven, to an MLS expansion member, but their bid was not chosen.{{Cite web |url=http://www.indystar.com/story/sports/2017/01/30/indy-eleven-apply-mls-expansion/97271092/ |title=Indy Eleven to apply for MLS expansion |date=January 30, 2017}}

• Major League Soccer defunct clubs

{{notelist}}

{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

{{Reflist}}

• Goldblatt, David. The Ball is Round: A Global History of Football. Penguin Books (2007).
• Tossell, David. Playing for Uncle Sam: The Brits' Story of the North American Soccer League. Mainstream Publishing (2003).
• Wangerin, David. Soccer in a Football World: The Story of America's Forgotten Game. WSC Books (2006).

{{Major League Soccer}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Expansion Of Major League Soccer}}

Category:Major League Soccer