Representatives for Detroit’s bid to bring a Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise to the Motor City were in nearby Chicago a week ago today to meet with league leadership.
While no decisions have been made on which cities will get the next two expansion teams, Detroit “at least seemed to get an endorsement, or two, from commissioner Don Garber,” according to The Detroit News.
“Detroit just got one step closer to having access to the jail site,” said Garber, “the preferred site for an MLS expansion team.”
Billionaire sports owners Dan Gilbert (Cleveland Cavaliers) and Tom Gores (Detroit Pistons) have teamed up to bring major league soccer to Detroit. In January 2017, they submitted their formal application, listing the failed Wayne County jail site at Gratiot Avenue and I-375 — and, last week, it was reported that the county is ready to negotiate over the site.
In April 2016, Gilbert and Gores first announced their plans, “insisting Detroit would support soccer. And there is evidence to support that,” The Detroit News suggests.
This could be great news for Detroit, a city with four professional sports teams already. A new MLS team would bring more fans, and more revenue, for the City and its local business owners.
