Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber has made it clear that while Indianapolis is on the league's radar, there's no fast track for the Circle City to join the ranks of MLS teams. On Wednesday, amidst the build-up to San Diego's big league welcome set for 2025, Garber put a pause on expansion chatter. He emphasized during a press conference that following San Diego's entry, there will be a halt in bringing new teams into the fold "for a period of time."
Such proclamation might be taken as a discouragement for a city striving to elevate its sports portfolio. Nevertheless, Garber insisted that Indianapolis is "doing everything right," but it's a marathon, not a sprint, to cross the finish line into MLS territory. Despite the City of Indianapolis' clear intent, which included hosting Mayor Joe Hogsett at this week's MLS All-Star activities, an obvious energy toward attracting an expansion team was not enough to seal an immediate deal. "Right now, there isn't a specific plan to expand," Garber said, according to a WRTV report.
Garber's remarks at the All-Star event were not entirely dousing the flames of hope for Indy's MLS aspirations. He acknowledged the city's ongoing efforts in preparing the groundwork for securing a team. "They are following the playbook," Garber said in a statement obtained by IndyStar. Indianapolis' methodical process entails rallying ownership, city leadership, fans, and partners. While protracted, these efforts have not been discounted.
Earlier in April, Mayor Hogsett took a definitive step by announcing plans for a new stadium aimed at luring MLS to downtown Indianapolis, close to Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The ambition for a Professional Sports Development Area to spur funding for the stadium and surrounding infrastructure has been given the nod by the City-County Council. However, as FOX59 reports, Garber reiterated that expansion is a "process" and that the league isn't adhering to specific timing. For Indianapolis and its soccer fans, the waiting game continues, with eyes firmly on the eventual goal despite no concrete timetable in sight.
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