• Loading stock data...
Sunday, March 16, 2025
Nominations Are Open for Front Office Sports Honors! Submit Now

San Diego Nears Finish Line For MLS Expansion Team

  • An official announcement on the league’s 30th franchise could come as soon as mid-May.
  • San Diego club’s expansion fee is expected to be around $500 million.
A general view inside Snapdragon Stadium during a San Diego Wave match.
Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

Egyptian billionaire Mohamed Mansour is closing in on an MLS expansion club based in San Diego and is expected to begin play in 2025.

An official announcement on the league’s 30th franchise could come as soon as mid-May, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. 

The San Diego club’s expansion fee is expected to be around $500 million, surpassing the MLS record of $325 million reportedly paid by Charlotte FC in 2019.

San Diego State University’s Snapdragon Stadium, which is also home to the NWSL’s San Diego Wave, is close to finalizing a lease agreement with Monsour’s investment group. The Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, a Native American tribe, is also part of Monsour’s ownership bid.

According to the report, the two sides are “working together to make the deal a reality.”

Reports emerged last month that San Diego had pulled ahead of Las Vegas as the likeliest destination for a 30th franchise. 

Snapdragon Stadium is set to host an international friendly between Mexico and Cameroon in June, followed by a Wrexham FC-Manchester City friendly match in July. The venue will also host the 2023 World Lacrosse Championship this summer. 

Mansour is chairman of the Mansour Group, an Egyptian conglomerate valued at $6 billion that serves as an international distributor for brands such as McDonald’s, Chevrolet, Red Bull, and UPS. 

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

SEC to Earn $26M With Record 14 Men’s NCAA Tournament Bids

The conference’s investment in the sport is paying off.
Jan 13, 2025; Glendale, AZ, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Daniel Jones (13) against the Los Angeles Rams during an NFC wild card game at State Farm Stadium.

As NFL’s QB Carousel Spins, Even Backups Are Getting Big Money

Daniel Jones signed a $14 million deal with the Colts.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) rushes up the court against Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray (15) on Thursday, May 9, 2024, during the preseason game against the Atlanta Dream at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Indiana Fever defeated the Atlanta Dream, 83-80.

Fever-Dream Scheduling Conflict: High School Graduations

The Dream got roasted on social media for citing a “scheduling conflict.”
exclusive

How One Team Purchase Could Shake Up MLB Minor-League Valuations

The Dragons have sold out every home game since arriving in Dayton.

Featured Today

Auburn Tigers guard Miles Kelly (13) reacts after hitting a three-point shot against Kentucky during the first half in SEC basketball at Rupp Arena Saturday afternoon in Lexington, Kentucky March 1, 2025

The SEC’s Ascent to Men’s Basketball Supremacy

The league brought its football pageantry and power to college hoops.
San Diego Wave FC falls to Orlando Pride at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, CA on April 29, 2023.
March 14, 2025

The New Tailored Approach to Women’s Sports Uniforms

For new women’s sports leagues, every detail is custom.
Iowa Hawkeyes guard Caitlin Clark (22) cuts down the net after beating LSU in the Elite 8 round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament between Iowa and LSU at MVP Arena, Monday, April 1, 2024 in Albany, N.Y.
opinion
March 9, 2025

Reader Mailbag: Leagues Need Must-Watch Moments

Readers responded to NHL success and what it means for other leagues.
Moolah Kicks
March 8, 2025

Breaking the Mold: The Brands Designing Footwear Specifically for Female Athletes

New companies are laser focused on changing the women’s athletic footwear landscape.

F1’s New Landscape: Parity Near Top, Hamilton 10th-Place Debut

The Australian Grand Prix kicked off the new season in Melbourne on Sunday.
March 14, 2025

Olympics Power Play: Trump’s Influence Drives IOC Leadership Race

Notable candidate Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr. diverges from his late father.
exclusive
March 16, 2025

Alexis Ohanian Wants TGL to Expand Into Women’s Golf: Q&A

Ohanian is bullish on the future of TGL.
Sponsored

How UBS Crafts Impactful Partnerships Across Sports, Arts, and Culture

As UBS continues to expand its impressive array of sports and entertainment partnerships, the company solidifies its position as a leader in wealth management.
March 14, 2025

Cheryl Miller on Caitlin Clark’s Foes: ‘Big Dummies, You Getting Paid’

Cheryl Miller was a guest on the “All the Smoke” podcast.
March 13, 2025

NBA Fines Jazz for Markkanen Absence Amid Tanking Concerns

The NBA instituted its Player Participation Policy last season.
March 13, 2025

49ers Lead Adjusted NFL Salary Cap List As Seven Teams Exceed $300M

The league annually adjusts each team’s salary-cap number.
Mar 9, 2025; Port Charlotte, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays second base Richie Palacios (1) and Tampa Bay Rays second base Brandon Lowe (8) run back to the dugout at the end of the inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Charlotte Sports Park.
March 12, 2025

MLB Rarely Forces Owners Like Stu Sternberg to Sell

The commissioner and fellow owners are reportedly pressuring the Rays owner to sell.