Watch discussions on site for possible MLS stadium in Indianapolis
Listen to discussions at the Metropolitan Development Commission on a proposed stadium site to attract a Major League Soccer team to Indianapolis.
Brett Phelps/IndyStar
Major League Soccer has 30 teams, and commissioner Don Garber has said that expansion to 32 teams is possible. Indianapolis is among the hot contenders seeking teams, along with Detroit, Las Vegas, Louisville, Oklahoma City, Phoenix and Tampa Bay.
Indiana Gov. Mike Braun has talked with Garber about bringing a team to Indianapolis, echoing Mayor Joe Hogsett’s effort announced last year. An existing team could move, though that has happened just once.
The league could also relocate a current team. MLS previously tried to move the Columbus Crew out of Ohio to Austin, Texas, but ultimately awarded Austin an expansion team and kept Columbus.
The 2025 MLS regular season begins Saturday, March 1, and runs through mid-October.
Vancouver MLS team is for sale
The Vancouver Whitecaps are for sale. Greg Kerfoot has been a primary owner of the team since 2002, when they played at a lower level of soccer. Steve Luczo, Jeff Mallett and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Steve Nash joined the ownership group in 2008, and the next year paid $30 million to join MLS. Forbes estimates the team’s value at $440 million. Garber recently said the average MLS team value is about $700 million.
Major League Soccer expands to 30 teams
San Diego FC is beginning MLS play in 2025 as its 30th team. The team plays in a 35,000-seat soccer-specific stadium, the largest such venue in the United States. The ownership group led by Mohamed Mansour reportedly paid a $500 million expansion fee.
MLS team relocations
In 2006, the San Jose Earthquakes moved to Houston and became the Dynamo. However, the Earthquakes records remained and they resumed MLS play in San Jose in 2008 under new ownership.
MLS attendance
According to Transfermarkt, MLS games averaged 23,240 fans in 2024. Teams that averaged less than 20,000 fans per game in 2024: CF Montreal (19,619), Minnesota United (19,579), FC Dallas (19,094), Philadelphia Union (18,835), San Jose Earthquakes (17,501), D.C. United (18,061), New York Red Bulls (17,150), Houston Dynamo (16,653), Colorado Rapids (15,181).
Major League Soccer growth
The league started with 10 teams (Columbus Crew, D.C. United, New England Revolution, NY/NJ Red Bulls, Tampa Bay Mutiny, Colorado Rapids, Dallas Burn, Kansas City Wiz, Los Angeles Galaxy, San Jose Clash) in 1996. Here’s how it has grown:
1998-2001: 12 teams (Added Chicago Fire FC, Miami Fusion)
2002-04: 10 (Contracted Tampa Bay, Miami)
2005-06: 12 (Added Chivas USA, Real Salt Lake)
2007: 13 (Added Toronto FC)
2008: 14 (San Jose Earthquakes resumed play)
2009: 15 (Added Seattle Sounders)
2010: 16 (Added Philadelphia Union)
2011: 18 (Added Vancouver Whitecaps FC, Portland Timbers)
2012-14: 19 (Added CF Montreal)
2014: 18 (Contracted Chivas USA)
2015-16: 20 (Added New York City FC, Orlando City FC)
2017: 22 (Added Atlanta United FC, Minnesota United FC)
2018: 23 (Added Los Angeles FC)
2019: 24 (Added FC Cincinnati)
2020: 26 (Added Inter Miami CF, Nashville SC)
2021: 27 (Added Austin FC)
2022: 28 (Added Charlotte FC)
2023-24: 29 (Added St. Louis City SC)
2025: 30 (Added San Diego FC)
Major League Soccer teams
- Atlanta United
- Austin FC
- Charlotte FC
- Chicago Fire FC
- FC Cincinnati
- Colorado Rapids
- Columbus Crew
- D.C. United
- FC Dallas
- Houston Dynamo FC
- Sporting Kansas City
- L.A. Galaxy
- Los Angeles Football Club
- Inter Miami CF
- Minnesota United FC
- CF Montreal
- Nashville SC
- New England Revolution
- New York Red Bulls
- New York City FC
- Orlando City
- Philadelphia Union
- Portland Timbers
- Real Salt Lake
- San Diego FC
- San Jose Earthquakes
- Seattle Sounders FC
- St. Louis City FC
- Toronto FC
- Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Indy Eleven
The Indy Eleven compete in the United Soccer League, a professional league one step below MLS. The Eleven season begins March 15 and runs through late October. They play at Michael A. Carroll Stadium on the IU-Indianapolis campus with a capacity of about 10,500. MLS’ efforts have complicated the Eleven’s efforts to build a stadium.
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