Alex Gallardo / AP
Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber speaks at a news conference in Los Angeles, Thursday, April 18, 2019.
Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021 | 6:15 p.m.
The top Major League Soccer official said Tuesday that Las Vegas is in line to eventually be home to an expansion franchise.
MLS Commissioner Don Garber said during a state-of-the-league address that the city is now considered the “front-runner” for what would be the league’s 30th franchise.
The news comes just days after it was reported that the Oakland A’s baseball team has zeroed in on a small number of potential sites for a new ballpark in the Las Vegas Valley as it continues to struggle to work out a stadium with elected officials in Oakland.
“We’re excited about the market, as are all the other leagues here in North America,” Garber said of Las Vegas. “We’ll continue discussions and try to get something done with our 30th team.”
Garber confirmed what he referred to as recent “leaked” reports that identified American billionaire businessman Wes Edens as one of the point men for an ownership group for the pending franchise.
Edens is co-owner of the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks.
“Wes is a guy who we all have long-standing relationships with,” Garber said. “He’s looked at other MLS clubs over the years. We hope to be able to have some great news as it relates to our facility plans in Las Vegas.”
Garber added that league officials are still in talks about a 30th MLS franchise going to Phoenix or San Diego.
MLS has 27 franchises now, but new teams will begin play in Charlotte, N.C., next year and in St. Louis in 2023.
As Las Vegas continues to grow its reputation as a major U.S. sports city — the Las Vegas Raiders moved from California to Southern Nevada beginning with the 2020 NFL season and the Vegas Golden Knights started play during the 2017-18 NHL season — Garber said a possible relocation of the A’s wouldn’t influence his league’s expansion decision.
John Fisher, owner of the A’s, is the majority owner of the San Jose Earthquakes MLS franchise.
“I’m blown away by what’s going on in Las Vegas,” Garber said. “I didn’t see it coming. What has been done with the (Golden) Knights, what Bill Foley has done, and what Mark Davis has done with the Raiders and with Allegiant (Stadium) is spectacular.”
When asked about where a new team might play in Las Vegas, Garber said “stadium plans are fluid,” but added that more information could be released in the next couple of months.
