San Diego will gain a Major League Soccer expansion team beginning in 2025, with Padres superstar third baseman Manny Machado as a minority owner.
“San Diego Padres All-Star 3B Manny Machado will be a minority owner in San Diego’s new MLS expansion franchise that begins play in 2025,” said USA Today Sports’ Bob Nightengale on Thursday.
Major League Soccer announced the expansion franchise on Thursday, which is co-owned by Egyptian millionaire and former politician Mohamed Mansour and the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, according to The Athletic.
The franchise’s ownership is reportedly paying a $500 million expansion fee, and the yet-to-be-named team will play at Snapdragon Stadium, which currently hosts the NSWL’s San Diego Wave FC.
“I don’t see any reason why, at the right time, if we can accommodate it in terms of schedule, players, and the MLS ecosystem, we can’t have more teams in the future,” MLS commissioner Don Garber previously stated about a San Diego team.
“But this is an example—life is lengthy. We don’t need to expand. We expand so that we can grow our fan base. We grow our fan base, which produces revenue, and we can reinvest that money in the sport.
The NWSL introduced the Wave last year, and it smashed the league’s single-match attendance record with 32,000 fans versus Angel City FC, according to The Athletic.
It’s obviously wonderful for the city of San Diego to have an MLS team, as well as for Manny Machado, who will start playing soccer in 2025.
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