St. Louis, San Diego Bidding for MLS Expansion Teams

NEW YORK (AP) —St. Louis and San Diego are among bidders from 12 areas applying for four Major League Soccer expansion teams.

Other to submit bids were groups from Charlotte, North Carolina; Cincinnati; Detroit; Indianapolis; Nashville, Tennessee; Phoenix; Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina; Sacramento, California; San Antonio; and Tampa-St. Petersburg, Florida.

Two of the teams, which have $150 million expansion fees, will start play in 2020. MLS Commissioner Don Garber said Tuesday that having stadium financing in place is a condition for selection.

The expansion committee will start to review applications in February. MLS will pare the field in the next few months and plans to announce its two selections by the end of the year. The start for the 27th and 28th teams is not certain.