MLS: entry fee for expansion franchises 25 to 28 could reach $200m (€180m) per club

The entry fee for the next wave of expansion franchises in MLS, clubs number 25 to 28 (see below), could reach up to $200m (€180m) per club, reported the American financial media outlet Bloomberg on 01/08/2016. MLS currently has 20 franchises for the 2016 season. Franchises 21 through 24 will arrive by 2018.

"There has been incredible interest from cities across the country in acquiring an MLS club and we continue to have productive discussions with a number of prospective ownership groups. Following the board of governors meeting (on 27/07/2016), the league is continuing to work on the timetable and the details, including pricing, for future expansion and no decisions have been made. Based on the increasing value of MLS clubs, expansion fees could be as high as $200 million," stated Mark Abbott, the deputy commissioner of MLS, on 01/08/2016.

However, other American media outlets speculate that MLS has publicly stated the $200m figure to set the market, and that the next expansion fees are likely to be within the $125m (€112.5m) to $135m (€120.5m) range. The last expansion fee paid…