MLS is set to announce on Thursday the addition of a new team based in San Diego, Calif., acquired by Egyptian-British billionaire Mohamed Mansour for a record $500 million. , told AFP a source with knowledge of this negotiation.
The franchise, which will be the 30th north american league (MLS) and debuting in the 2025 season, will play at Snapdragon Stadium, a newly built facility with a capacity of 35,000 spectators.
The highest amount previously paid for a new MLS team was US$ 325 million (R$ 1.5 billion, quoted) for the purchase of Charlotte FC in 2019.
In 1996, the MLS entry fee for its first season was $5 million.
The new San Diego team, whose name has not yet been revealed, will join three other franchises from the state of California in 2025: the San Jose Earthquakes, the Los Angeles Galaxy and the defending MLS champions Los Angeles FC.
The Californian city, with about 1.4 million inhabitants, is on the border with the Mexican Tijuana.
According to the source, the new MLS club will not have a link with the San Diego Loyal team, which currently competes in the USL Championship, a lower category championship, and which belongs to the former star of the American selection Landon Donovan.
Last March, MLS commissioner Don Garber said he was “optimistic” about San Diego’s chances of hosting a new team.
Among the league’s plans would also be the entry of two other franchises in the coming years, for which the cities of Las Vegas, Sacramento, Detroit, Phoenix and Tampa were identified as possible candidates.
The American Football League (NFL) and Ice Hockey League (NHL) are made up of 32 franchises each, while Basketball (NBA) and Baseball (MLB) have 30.
Mansour, born in Egypt, lives in London and has British nationality.
The 75-year-old tycoon chairs the Mansour Group, which operates in the automotive industry, financial services and real estate. He is also the senior treasurer of the British Conservative Party.
The United States is preparing to host two major soccer events in the coming years, the America Cup from 2024 and world Cup 2026, the latter together with Mexico and Canada.
Source: Gazetaesportiva
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