The New York Cosmos had long been considered the favorites to ultimately become the ownership group to by a second New York team in Major League Soccer.
That may have changed.
According to a report from Bloomberg News, the owners of Manchester City have been identified as the new front-runners to be awarded the rights to buy the MLS expansion team in New York. The report put the cost of the franchise at $100 million, a new record for an MLS expansion team.
The team’s name would reportedly be New York City Football Club, with David Beckham having been contacted about a potential role with the new ownership group.
Manchester City is denying the report, and the club has released a short statement saying clearly “Manchester City are not buying an MLS club.”
If true, the development only adds more momentum to what seems like an inevitable move to New York City for MLS, with an expansion team expected to begin play in 2016 if MLS can succeed in completing the stadium project the league is working on in Queens.
Manchester City’s denial seems to pour cold water over this rumor, but it should be noted that City’s denial doesn’t necessarily mean that people who are part of City’s ownership group might not be involved in plans to buy the MLS New York expansion team.
What do you think of this development? Like the idea of big-money owners buying the second New York franchise in MLS? Still think the Cosmos have a chance to be MLS owners?
Share your thoughts below.