Major League Soccer (MLS) Commissioner Don Garber recently announced that San Diego and Las Vegas are two potential cities for MLS expansion. This news has been met with great excitement by soccer fans in both cities, as they look forward to the possibility of having a professional soccer team in their own backyard.
The announcement comes as part of the league’s ongoing effort to expand to 28 teams by 2020. Currently, MLS has 20 teams, with Atlanta United FC set to join in 2017 and Los Angeles FC set to join in 2018.
San Diego and Las Vegas have both been identified as potential expansion cities due to their strong soccer fanbases and the potential for strong local support. San Diego is home to a large Hispanic population, which is a key demographic for MLS. Las Vegas, meanwhile, has seen its population boom in recent years, and the city is now home to a large and diverse population that could support an MLS team.
Both cities have also made significant investments in soccer-specific stadiums in recent years. San Diego has invested in the University of California San Diego’s Triton Stadium, while Las Vegas has built Cashman Field, which is home to the Las Vegas Lights FC of the United Soccer League.
The potential for MLS expansion into San Diego and Las Vegas is exciting news for soccer fans in both cities. With strong local support and the potential for strong fanbases, these two cities could be great additions to the MLS family. It will be interesting to see if either city is chosen for expansion in the coming years.