Las Vegas officially loses out on MLS team

Las Vegas Review-Journal

2 years ago

Mohamed Mansour, co-owner of the new MLS team in San Diego, speaks during an announcement for t ... — Mohamed Mansour, co-owner of the new MLS team in San Diego, speaks during an announcement for the new team, Thursday, May 18, 2023, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

MLS Commissioner Don Garber, second from left, stands with members of the owners group of a new MLS team in San Diego, including Mohamed Mansour, left, Sycuan Tribe Chairman Cody Martinez, second from right, and San Diego Padres baseball player Manny Machado, right, during an announcement on Thursday, May 18, 2023, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

MLS Commissioner Don Garber, left, stands with Sycuan Tribe Chairman Cody Martinez, center with scarf, and other members of the tribe during the announcement of a new MLS team in San Diego, Thursday, May 18, 2023, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Sycuan Tribe Chairman Cody Martinez, right, stands alongside MLS Commissioner Don Garber, center, and Mohamed Mansour during the announcement of a new MLS team in San Diego, Thursday, May 18, 2023, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

MLS Commissioner Don Garber, left, stands alongside new co-owners Mohamed Mansour, center, and Chairman Cody Martinez, representing the Sycuan Tribe, during the announcement of a new MLS soccer team for San Diego, Thursday, May 18, 2023, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Sycuan Tribe Chairman Cody Martinez speaks during the announcement of a new MLS team in San Diego Thursday, May 18, 2023, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Major League Soccer officially announced Thursday that it has awarded its 30th franchise to San Diego, besting Las Vegas, which was also in the running for the expansion team.

The team will be owned by the London-based Monsour Group and the San Diego area Sycuan tribe, and will begin play in 2025 at the already open Snapdragon Stadium, where the news conference announcing the team took place.

Milwaukee Bucks co-owner Wes Edens and his business partner Nassef Sawiris were also pursing an expansion team, with hopes to land the 30th MLS franchise in Las Vegas before their bid hit roadblocks.

Last year, MLS entered into an exclusive negotiating agreement with Edens and Sawiris in an attempt to get a deal done.

The two billionaires moved to trademark the name Las Vegas Villains, which was to be for a professional sports franchise.

Las Vegas was considered the favorite to net the team, until billionaire Mohamed Monsour began talks with MLS last year, bringing San Diego into the fray.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Contact Mick Akers at makers@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2920. Follow @mickakers on Twitter.