Sacramento soccer team

In a startling move that could speed up Sacramento Republic FC’s entry into major-league Soccer, the league launched Saturday it intends to add four even more groups.

Even though the league didn’t establish a schedule for expansion, the statement that it intends to develop to a total of 28 teams would seem to bolster Sacramento’s quote for a slot.

Just two days ago, MLS Commissioner Don Garber in effect announced that Sacramento will have to show patience. He said Republic FC will have to wait for Miami, which has been awarded the league’s 24th place, to put together an agenda for a stadium ahead of the league would consider programs off their places. Miami and its lead investor, resigned football legend David Beckham, have actually struggled for two years to obtain a stadium development going.

The problem started initially to alter drastically Friday. Beckham’s group announced that, after three unsuccessful attempts, it had signed a contract to get land for a privately financed MLS arena. MLS proprietors, satisfying the afternoon before the MLS tournament game in Columbus, Ohio, announced their assistance Saturday when it comes to Miami website.

With Miami eventually getting on track, league proprietors turned their particular attention to the next thing of growth. The league’s board of governors, consisting of staff proprietors, voted Saturday to grow to 28 groups “with an activity and timeline to-be unveiled later on, ” the league launched.

The league announced last springtime it would start thinking about growing beyond 24 teams, but Saturday’s decision because of the board of governors is considered the most definitive declaration however in regards to the league’s development programs.

The “path to MLS became clearer today, ” Republic FC handling partner Kevin Nagle said on Twitter. “More to accomplish but our company is one step closer to achieving our goal.”

Garber happens to be clear that Sacramento, thanks to the remarkable fan support for minor-league Republic FC, had been a serious prospect for an area when the Miami circumstance had been clarified.

“Sacramento will be very at the top of our set of after that groups in the future to the league” once the after that phase starts, he said during a conference call Thursday with reporters.

Saturday’s announcement made no reference to Sacramento or any other cities that have expressed a pastime in a group, like St. Louis and San Antonio. But Sacramento is commonly regarded as a premier prospect. The town Council the other day accepted a nonbinding term sheet on a $226 million privately financed arena within the northeast place associated with the downtown railyard. The parcel is managed by creator Larry Kelley, a Republic FC minority partner.

“There isn't any shortage of interest in MLS growth groups and now we believe the ability exists to cultivate beyond our current plans, ” Garber stated in a news release Saturday. “We will examine simple tips to grow the league to 28 groups and establish an activity and schedule for future development.”