(12-22-2017 10:44 AM)NoDak Wrote:  

(12-22-2017 08:58 AM)CliftonAve Wrote:  

(12-21-2017 12:21 PM)AllTideUp Wrote:  My bet is Cincinnati.

Sounds like the Crew has basically already made their decision to go to Austin. I would guess MLS would not want to lose out on the OH market given that reality.

It's between Cincinnati, Sacramento and Detroit. Detroit has a stadium issue, Sacramento needs a financial backer and Cincinnati's market is cited as a weakness. FC Cincinnati averaged ~22K a game in the USL last year, which would put them in the top 7 (likely would be increased with a MLS schedule vs. USL).

Meg Whitman withdrew as a Sacromento Republic owner, which is a huge blow to them.

Cincy probably wins the second slot now, but there is more news coming on the stadium plan. Second team won't be announced until January.

A second team needs to start playing earlier to balance the new LA team. Miami would join in 2020 with Nashville. Detroit cou,d be the backup team if a Cincinnati stadium doesn't get finalized. But Cincy will play at Nippert for at least a few years.

At this point, can we be certain that Miami will join at all?

It shouldn't have taken this long for them to get their house in order. It's a good market and Beckham brings star power, but something has to be fundamentally wrong with the plan because we don't have news of any real progress.