MLS to expand to 30 teams; St. Louis, Sacramento to make formal bids

(ESPN)

Major League Soccer’s finances are, to me, similar to the Mueller Report. That MLS is, and continues to be, a pyramid scheme because of a business model that obviously is fatally flawed and unsustainable is plain as day. But they won’t say that. And here they go again. Ownership in St Louis and Sacramento will pay $200 million each to lose money and become the 28th and 29th teams and number 30 will follow. That is classic Bernie Madoff. Last in keeps the early suckers afloat. Pretty soon Don Garber is going to run out of cities with billionaire suckers. Then what, Johnstown? They are already planting the flag in some cities that one has to strain one’s eyes to call major league. I mean, Austin? Salt Lake City? “Real” Salt Lake, are you kidding me, “ROYAL” Salt Lake City?  Columbus? Meanwhile teams in bona fide big cities are drawing flies: New England “Revolution,” Colorado “Rapids,” Chicago “Fire,” FC Dallas, Philadelphia “Union,” Houston “Dynamo.” Inter Miami is a disaster in waiting. The only thing keeping those old, older, oldest teams afloat are the expansion fees paid and attendances of the newbies. MLS has unearthed a half dozen or so tremendous markets for minor league quality soccer: Seattle, Portland, Atlanta, Los Angeles, maybe Orlando, maybe New York City, maybe Minnesota, maybe Toronto. You can get at least six out of that group. That’s what MLS has got: at least six strong markets for second division soccer with absolutely no chance of becoming major league. One hand clapping.