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New faces to watch during 2017 MLS season

Landon Donovan announces role in San Diego's MLS expansion effort

San Diego's MLS expansion bid is getting a boost from Landon Donovan.

San Diego's MLS expansion bid is getting a boost from one of its newest and most recognized citizens.

Landon Donovan, the MLS and U.S. men's national team all-time leading scorer, has joined the ownership group attempting to bring an MLS team to San Diego, he announced Friday afternoon via Facebook Live. 

Donovan, who came out of retirement to play for the LA Galaxy last season, recently moved to San Diego, where he and his wife are expecting their second child. 

San Diego is hoping to fill the void left behind by the NFL's Chargers with an MLS team. The expansion bid proposes a shared stadium with the San Diego State University football team on the Qualcomm Stadium site where the Chargers previously played.

Potential, future soccer stadiums in America

North Carolina FC

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The Raleigh bid for an MLS expansion team unveiled a stadium plan for a downtown venue within the boundaries of Peace St., Salisbury St., Lane St. and the N.C. Railroad easement.

Miami

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David Beckham's ownership group in Miami has released a rendering for a stadium in the Overtown neighborhood, the latest desired site for an MLS expansion bid that kicked off in 2014.

FC Cincinnati

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FC Cincinnati doesn't yet have a nailed-down location for an MLS stadium, but the expansion hopeful has released renderings for a 25,000-seat stadium inspired by Bayern Munich's Allianz Arena.

FC Cincinnati

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FC Cincinnati doesn't yet have a nailed-down location for an MLS stadium, but the expansion hopeful has released renderings for a 25,000-seat stadium inspired by Bayern Munich's Allianz Arena.

FC Cincinnati

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FC Cincinnati doesn't yet have a nailed-down location for an MLS stadium, but the expansion hopeful has released renderings for a 25,000-seat stadium inspired by Bayern Munich's Allianz Arena.

FC Cincinnati

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FC Cincinnati doesn't yet have a nailed-down location for an MLS stadium, but the expansion hopeful has released renderings for a 25,000-seat stadium inspired by Bayern Munich's Allianz Arena.

Portland Timbers

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The Timbers are adding 4,000 seats as part of a $50 million renovation to Providence Park.

Portland Timbers

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The Timbers are adding 4,000 seats as part of a $50 million renovation to Providence Park.

Atlanta United FC

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Atlanta United will share Mercedes-Benz Stadium along with the Atlanta Falcons in a state-of-the-art venue.

Minnesota United

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2017 MLS expansion team Minnesota will eventually move to its new soccer-specific venue in St. Paul.

Minnesota United

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2017 MLS expansion team Minnesota will eventually move to its new soccer-specific venue in St. Paul.

Minnesota United

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2017 MLS expansion team Minnesota will eventually move to its new soccer-specific venue in St. Paul.

Minnesota United

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2017 MLS expansion team Minnesota will eventually move to its new soccer-specific venue in St. Paul.

Minnesota United

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2017 MLS expansion team Minnesota will eventually move to its new soccer-specific venue in St. Paul.

Minnesota United

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2017 MLS expansion team Minnesota will eventually move to its new soccer-specific venue in St. Paul.

Sacramento Republic FC

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Sacramento Republic has been pushing hard for an MLS team, with Don Garber acknowledging the USL side is one of the leaders of the pack for when the league expands to 28 teams.

Sacramento Republic FC

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Sacramento Republic has been pushing hard for an MLS team, with Don Garber acknowledging the USL side is one of the leaders of the pack for when the league expands to 28 teams.

Sacramento Republic FC

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Sacramento Republic has been pushing hard for an MLS team, with Don Garber acknowledging the USL side is one of the leaders of the pack for when the league expands to 28 teams.

Los Angeles FC

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LAFC has broken ground on Banc of California Stadium at the site of the L.A. Memorial Sports Arena.

Los Angeles FC

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LAFC has broken ground on Banc of California Stadium at the site of the L.A. Memorial Sports Arena.

Los Angeles FC

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LAFC has broken ground on Banc of California Stadium at the site of the L.A. Memorial Sports Arena.

Los Angeles FC

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LAFC has broken ground on Banc of California Stadium at the site of the L.A. Memorial Sports Arena.

Los Angeles FC

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LAFC has broken ground on Banc of California Stadium at the site of the L.A. Memorial Sports Arena.

D.C. United

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D.C. United is aiming to put an end to a seemingly never-ending quest to move out of RFK Stadium to its own venue and it claims it will begin play at Audi Field at D.C.'s Buzzard Point in 2018.

D.C. United

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D.C. United is aiming to put an end to a seemingly never-ending quest to move out of RFK Stadium to its own venue and it claims it will begin play at Audi Field at D.C.'s Buzzard Point in 2018.

Potential St. Louis expansion team

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St. Louis's MLS expansion bid has picked up considerable steam, with Don Garber confirming it's one of two, along with Sacramento, in the lead for spots 24-28.

Potential St. Louis expansion team

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St. Louis's MLS expansion bid has picked up considerable steam, with Don Garber confirming it's one of two, along with Sacramento, in the lead for spots 24-28.

Potential St. Louis expansion team

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St. Louis's MLS expansion bid has picked up considerable steam, with Don Garber confirming it's one of two, along with Sacramento, in the lead for spots 24-28.

Potential Detroit expansion team

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A group led by NBA owners Dan Gilbert and Tom Gores is aiming to bring MLS to Detroit with this downtown venue.

Potential Detroit expansion team

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A group led by NBA owners Dan Gilbert and Tom Gores is aiming to bring MLS to Detroit with this downtown venue.

Potential Detroit expansion team

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A group led by NBA owners Dan Gilbert and Tom Gores is aiming to bring MLS to Detroit with this downtown venue.

Tampa Bay Rowdies

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The Tampa Bay Rowdies announced their plans to launch an aggressive bid for an MLS expansion spot, full with these renovations to the existing Al Lang Stadium.

Tampa Bay Rowdies

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The Tampa Bay Rowdies announced their plans to launch an aggressive bid for an MLS expansion spot, full with these renovations to the existing Al Lang Stadium.

Tampa Bay Rowdies

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The Tampa Bay Rowdies announced their plans to launch an aggressive bid for an MLS expansion spot, full with these renovations to the existing Al Lang Stadium.

Tampa Bay Rowdies

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The Tampa Bay Rowdies announced their plans to launch an aggressive bid for an MLS expansion spot, full with these renovations to the existing Al Lang Stadium.

Tampa Bay Rowdies

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The Tampa Bay Rowdies announced their plans to launch an aggressive bid for an MLS expansion spot, full with these renovations to the existing Al Lang Stadium.

Potential San Diego expansion team

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The group behind San Diego's push for an MLS expansion team revealed its plans for a shared, 30,000-seat stadium with the San Diego State University football team on the site where Qualcomm Stadium currently stands.

Potential San Diego expansion team

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The group behind San Diego's push for an MLS expansion team revealed its plans for a shared, 30,000-seat stadium with the San Diego State University football team on the site where Qualcomm Stadium currently stands.

Indy Eleven

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The NASL's Indy Eleven emerged as a late contender for MLS expansion, becoming the 12th bid to be submitted to the league.

Phoenix Rising FC

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USL's Phoenix Rising FC aims to snag one of MLS's four expansion berths with this stadium and training field complex.

Potential Charlotte expansion team

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Charlotte's MLS bid includes this downtown soccer-specific venue.

The bid is being led by Mike and Nick Stone, unrelated colleagues at FS Investors. Former Qualcomm president Steve Altman, San Diego Padres managing partner Peter Seidler and Univision Deportes president Juan Carlos Rodriguez are among the other investors in the bid, according to SI's Brian Straus.

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