MLS Las Vegas Expansion Odds Strong, League Commissioner Reveals

Posted on: December 7, 2021, 01:49h. 

Last updated on: December 8, 2021, 08:47h.

Devin O'Connor @CasinoorgDevinO Read More
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Major League Soccer (MLS) is eyeing Las Vegas for a potential home for one of its next expansion teams.

MLS Las Vegas Expansion Odds Strong, League Commissioner Reveals
MLS Commissioner Don Garber takes questions today during his State of the League address. The US soccer official says Las Vegas is being strongly considered for an expansion team in the coming years. (Image: MLS)

MLS Commissioner Don Garber said today in his annual State of the League address that Las Vegas is an ideal market for professional soccer. The MLS chief executive explained during his virtual press conference that billionaire Wes Edens, co-owner of the NBA Milwaukee Bucks, is interested in pursuing an MLS expansion team in Las Vegas.

We’re excited about the [Las Vegas] market,” Garber said on the virtual conference video call.

MLS presently has 27 franchises, but is expected to increase to 29 in the coming years with new teams in Phoenix and San Diego. A 30th team — Las Vegas being the odds-on favorite currently — wouldn’t play until at least 2024, Garber explained.

Sports Capital

Las Vegas was shunned by professional sports leagues prior to the US Supreme Court in 2018 overturning the federal ban on sports betting outside of Nevada. But since that landmark SCOTUS decision, Sin City has become a major sports destination.

Las Vegas is today home to the NFL Raiders, NHL Golden Knights, and WNBA Aces. The MLB Oakland A’s are also strongly considering relocating to Southern Nevada.

Garber said the A’s decision will have no impact on MLS and Las Vegas. The commissioner says the casino capital is more than able to accommodate numerous professional sports teams.

I’m blown away by what’s going on in Las Vegas, and I’ve been in the sports business world for a really long time,” Garber stated.

The commissioner added that Las Vegas has been considered by MLS for a host location since the league’s founding in 1993. Garber says that he’s met with Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman and her husband Oscar — also a former Las Vegas mayor — multiple times over his career regarding Las Vegas and professional soccer.

However, Garber thinks now presents the strongest chances of a team actually coming to Las Vegas. He justified that Las Vegas’ debut of the Golden Knights was perhaps the greatest “expansion launch in the history of professional sports.”

We’re very bullish on the market, and we’ll continue to plow forward,” Garber declared.

The Golden Knights did the nearly unthinkable in their first season of play in the NHL. The expansion franchise entered the 2017-18 season with odds of 100/1 to win the Stanley Cup in their inaugural campaign. They almost did, but lost in the Stanley Cup Finals in five games to the Winnipeg Jets.

Stadium Plans Coming

An MLS venue certainly wouldn’t cost anywhere near the $1.9 billion that was needed to build the Raiders’ Allegiant Stadium. Garber said discussions regarding an MLS stadium in Las Vegas are ongoing, and details should be expected in the coming months.

However, Allegiant would be a most suitable venue for a Las Vegas MLS team. The MLS schedule largely runs opposite of the NFL, and its dome capabilities would ease concerns regarding extreme heat during the summer months.

Several MLS teams play their home matches in NFL stadiums, including the New England Revolution (Gillette Stadium), Atlanta United FC (Mercedes-Benz Stadium), and Chicago Fire FC (Soldier Field).