If Major League Soccer comes to the Motor City, fans will have a home of which they can be proud.
The Detroit MLS expansion group unveiled renderings of its proposed downtown stadium Wednesday. Detroit architectural firm Rossetti would design the stadium, which would sit within a 10-minute walk of Ford Field, the Detroit Lions’ home; Comerica Park, where the Detroit Tigers play; and the new Detroit Red Wings arena.
Cleveland Cavilers owner Dan Gilbert and Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores have teamed up in an effort to convince MLS to place an expansion franchise in Michigan’s largest city. The Michigan natives hope to operate a top-flight soccer team in Detroit in the next round of expansion, which could happen as early as 2020.
MLS commissioner Don Garber last week announced the 20-team league intends to expand to 28 teams in the coming years. He said at a press conference Wednesday that Detroit is among the priority cities in which MLS would like to base a new team. Other cities in the running include Sacramento, Calif., San Diego, St. Louis, San Antonio and Austin, Texas.
Intimate, urban stadiums are the waves of both the present and future in MLS. If Detroit follows this concept and builds the proposed stadium, it instantly would become one of the league’s most picturesque parks. Just look at the images and video for proof.
