MLS commissioner Don Garber reiterated today that New York is at the top of the heap for league expansion in 2013, and a major priority as the 20th team. He said the league has spoken with the Wilpon family that owns the Mets, the owners of the Cosmos brand, and some other interested investors.
“We’re obviously very focused on our 20th team in New York,” Garber said. “We’ve been meeting with the city, the Wilpon family, the owners of the Cosmos name and brand, and other investors. We are VERY focused on the entire process, and hopeful of getting something done for 2013.”
When the Red Bulls bought the MetroStars and re-branded the team, the territorial rights to an MLS club in New York went back to the league. But Garber reiterated the Red Bulls’ public stance that they welcome a second team in the area and a built-in rivalry that would outstrip theirs with Philadelphia or D.C.
“The Red Bulls are very supportive,” Garber said. “There are 13 million people in this city, more than enough to go around, especially if one is in the city and the other is across the river in New Jersey. I’m not at all concerned about saturation.”
Garber stated that he “can’t imagine this will be a league that does not have teams in the South,” and that expansion south of D.C. is a matter of when not if. He mentioned Atlanta and Florida, saying he’s been inundated with letters from Miami, while Orlando, Tampa and San Diego are possibilities as well.
But Garber also said the league is intent on building rivalries, pointing to how the teams in the Pacific northwest have driven attention; and the Montclair (NJ) resident has long been a bullish on what a local derby in New York would bring.
“We’re very focused on local rivalries being a key driver in growing our clubs’ relevance, and by growing local relevance, we believe that can translate into national relevance,” said Garber. “Rivalries really do matter. While we’ve been very focused on broadening our footprint, we do believe we need to have more rivalries and that second team in New York will help us do that.”