5.11.2007

Las Vegas Expansion in the Cards?

Could MLS be looking to expand to Sin City? According to the Las Vegas Sun, the answer is yes. The Las Vegas Sports & Entertainment Group is aiming to have a team playing in that city by 2010. "We are committed to bringing an MLS team to Las Vegas. I think Las Vegas would be the premier franchise in MLS," said Mark Noorzai, the sports group's president.

The group is hoping to build a stadium with a retractable roof that would be linked with a casino - I'm not sure how well that will mix with the current family-friendly MLS atmosphere. But Commissioner Don Garber has told Noorzai that he doesn't have a problem with the gaming industry, unlike other sports' commissioners.

Garber recently spoke about expanding the league to 16 franchises by 2010 and a 14th club will likely be announced later this year - with Vegas in the running, according to sources. "We continue to work on the right market, the right facility and the right owner," Garber said.

So what do you think? If a team is placed in Las Vegas, would it be successful?

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think it would probably draw more road trips from the opposing teams fans than any other MLS team. They have no other pro sports and avg college sports. So there is a lack of high quality sporting events there outside of Ulitmate fighting and the typical Vegas things. I seem to remember they were somewhere around #30 in total population for Cities throughout the US, but are growing faster than most cities as well. There could be a decent fan base.

Unknown said...

I have to agree with the first comment. Opposing fans would have a great excuse to travel. The team in Las Vegas, though, could be a different story. Athletes are known for abusing their free time, and Vegas could be too much of a diversion away from play to produce team success.