Charlotte Denied MLS Expansion, Contender For Next Round

CHARLOTTE, NC -- Major League Soccer has announced four finalist cities for two expansion teams that are to be awarded next month. While Charlotte did not make the cut, it’s a market still under consideration for a future round of two expansion teams, MLS said.

MLS announced that next month’s expansion decision comes down to two of the following four markets: Cincinnati, Ohio; Detroit, Mich.; Nashville, Tenn. and Sacramento, Calif.

The MLS final four are invited to make a last push Dec. 6 in St. Louis to the league's expansion committee. The MLS Board of Governors will meet Dec. 14 with an announcement on the two teams that will join the league in 2020 thereafter.

"The leaders of the Cincinnati, Detroit, Nashville and Sacramento MLS expansion ownership groups have bold visions and innovative plans for their clubs, stadiums and their involvement in their respective communities," Commissioner Don Garber said in a league statement. "We are pleased these highly-respected business and sports leaders have been so determined to bring Major League Soccer to their cities. We have been greatly encouraged by the progress that all four of these groups have made and we are looking forward to their presentations."

Though only Cincinnati, Detroit, Nashville and Sacramento are under consideration for the first round of expansion, Charlotte, Indianapolis, Phoenix, Raleigh/Durham, St. Louis, San Antonio, San Diego and Tampa/St. Petersburg remain under consideration for a second round of expansion.

Patch Editor J.R. Lind contributed to this report.

Photo via Pixabay