Mexican businessmen Jorge Vergara Antonio Cue had already bought a $10 million option on a new franchise. The issue facing them and the league was where it would be located. San Diego, Houston and Chicago were all mooted.
The new team, which will be named later this month, will play at Anschutz Entertainment Group’s Home Depot Centre along with city rivals the Los Angeles Galaxy. The new owners have had to pay a fee to AEG to operate in the Galaxy’s territory but clearly believe that the potential of the area’s soccer savvy Hispanic population will make it worth the investment.
"In only nine short years, Major League Soccer has become one of the top leagues in the Western Hemisphere," Vergara said. "Our new team will excite and entertain soccer fans across this country, and we thank AEG for opening their home as we amplify the rivalry and passion in MLS."
Vergara also owns two other soccer clubs, Club Deportivo de Guadalajara (Chivas) of the Mexican top flight and Saprissa, a top Costa Rican club.
In addition to receiving a fee from the Vergara/Cue ownership group, AEG will also serve as the agents regarding the new team's local marketing and broadcast rights.
Former Galaxy vice president of marketing and communications Whit Haskel, an experienced Hispanic marketing executive, was named general manager of the second Los Angeles-based MLS team.
In July it was announced that Salt Lake City, whose organisation is owned and operated by Sports Capital Partners, LLC and long time sports executive David W. Checketts, would be the home of MLS' 12th team.
The league is also pressing forward with its expansion plans, with its sights set on adding two more teams in either 2006 or 2007. Seattle, Cleveland, San Antonio, Houston and Philadelphia are some of the cities being considered.
