San Antonio announces plan for MLS expansion team
Officials announced on Wednesday a bid to bring an MLS team to San Antonio, the San Antonio Express-News reports.
The City of San Antonio and Bexar County will purchase Toyota Field, current home of the North American Soccer League’s San Antonio Scorpions, for a reported $18 million, and split payment equally. The bid also includes Spurs Sports & Entertainment, which will pay an added $3 million to finance the purchase. City and county will have a 20-year lease on the jointly owned stadium.
San Antonio will now be able to bid for an MLS expansion team, and Spurs ownership will have 13 years to complete the process and win a team. A 10,000-seat expansion of Toyota Field has been proposed, reportedly a $38–45 million venture. If the group cannot land a team, it will pay the city and county $5 million, according to the report.
MLS said in a statement that the league “sincerely appreciates” the city’s demonstration of interest. MLS has no set timetable for expansion from its current 24 teams.
- Jeremy Woo
