NBA team co-owner emerges in bid to bring MLS to Las Vegas

Las Vegas has different radical trying to bring an Major League Soccer enlargement franchise to town.

Milwaukee Bucks co-owner Wes Edens is attempting to unafraid a team, sports concern website Sportico reported Wednesday. Edens joins Golden Knights proprietor Bill Foley and billionaire Seth Klarman, who person antecedently expressed interest.

The Bucks declined to remark connected the report.

MLS is exploring options for its 30th franchise. Sacramento was slated to capable that slot, but cardinal capitalist Ron Burkle backed retired successful February and the league re-opened its search. Commissioner Don Garber said successful April that Las Vegas, San Diego and Phoenix were 3 markets connected his radar.

The metropolis of Las Vegas talked to The Renaissance Companies Inc., which is backed by Klarman, astir a stadium program downtown but their exclusive negotiating statement expired successful April. That gives the metropolis the quality to speech to different funny parties.

Las Vegas has shown plentifulness of imaginable arsenic a shot municipality successful caller years by hosting ample events and the United Soccer League Championship’s Lights FC. The 2019 Leagues Cup Final took spot astatine Sam Boyd Stadium and the 2021 Gold Cup was held astatine Allegiant Stadium connected Aug. 1 successful beforehand of a sold-out crowd.

The Lights were 5th successful USL mean attendance successful 2019.

“There intelligibly is simply a batch of involvement successful the Las Vegas marketplace and it’s a testament to however good this metropolis supports sports, however good it’s welcomed nonrecreational sports and however good they’ve taken to the athletics of soccer, including the Lights, including the Gold Cup,” Lights proprietor Brett Lashbrook said. “This is simply a testament to the fans of the section assemblage that determination is this level of interest.”

Contact Ben Gotz astatine bgotz@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BenSGotz connected Twitter.