Why Nashville is a Bad MLS Expansion Choice
MLS commissioner Don Garber announced earlier today that Nashville would be the next expansion side to join Major League Soccer. This leaves the three other finalists (Detroit, Sacramento, and Cincinnati) to fight over just one expansion spot left for this round.
The decision seemed clear as day to me as to which cities should be granted the next two teams: Cincinnati and Sacramento. I was naive in believing MLS was competent enough to see that.
Cincinnati and Sacramento both have years of overwhelming support for their lower division professional teams that exist already. FC Cincinnati averaged over 21,000/game in 2016 (and almost 15,000 season tickets sold for 2017 already). Sacramento Republic sells out every game with over 11,000 in attendance. Sacramento has also begun construction on their MLS stadium and has over 10,000 MLS season ticket commitments.
The acceptance of Nashville means that one or both of these remarkable soccer cities were denied.
This is not a rip on the city of Nashville, nor their soccer supporters. It's simply an observation of what we know, and we know that the Nashville soccer market has not been tested on a level above NPSL. They have not proven they can provide exceptional support to soccer on a professional level. Their USL expansion side doesn't kick off until Spring 2018. Major League Soccer did a disservice to themselves by not waiting to see how the support would fare throughout next season, and possibly admitting Nashville in the next round of expansion. This was ignored at the expense of at least one proven soccer city.
In addition to this, the Nashville MLS stadium will largely be publicly funded, creating a burden for the taxpayers.
Don't be confused on what i'm saying here. I am not saying Nashville is a bad city nor am I saying I don't respect their soccer supporters. I am simply against MLS expanding to unproven professional soccer markets. Nevertheless, I hope MLS in Nashville is a resounding success. I want to be proven wrong. I want Nashville to become the shining city on a hill for American soccer, as I do all cities.
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| Garber at the County Music Hall of Fame earlier today to announce MLS expansion to Nashville |
The decision seemed clear as day to me as to which cities should be granted the next two teams: Cincinnati and Sacramento. I was naive in believing MLS was competent enough to see that.
Cincinnati and Sacramento both have years of overwhelming support for their lower division professional teams that exist already. FC Cincinnati averaged over 21,000/game in 2016 (and almost 15,000 season tickets sold for 2017 already). Sacramento Republic sells out every game with over 11,000 in attendance. Sacramento has also begun construction on their MLS stadium and has over 10,000 MLS season ticket commitments.
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| Credit to Mike Pendleton. Take notice of the two teams on this graphic. |
The acceptance of Nashville means that one or both of these remarkable soccer cities were denied.
This is not a rip on the city of Nashville, nor their soccer supporters. It's simply an observation of what we know, and we know that the Nashville soccer market has not been tested on a level above NPSL. They have not proven they can provide exceptional support to soccer on a professional level. Their USL expansion side doesn't kick off until Spring 2018. Major League Soccer did a disservice to themselves by not waiting to see how the support would fare throughout next season, and possibly admitting Nashville in the next round of expansion. This was ignored at the expense of at least one proven soccer city.
In addition to this, the Nashville MLS stadium will largely be publicly funded, creating a burden for the taxpayers.
 |
| Rendering of the soccer specific stadium to be constructed in Nashville. |
Don't be confused on what i'm saying here. I am not saying Nashville is a bad city nor am I saying I don't respect their soccer supporters. I am simply against MLS expanding to unproven professional soccer markets. Nevertheless, I hope MLS in Nashville is a resounding success. I want to be proven wrong. I want Nashville to become the shining city on a hill for American soccer, as I do all cities.
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