MLS has targeted Columbia, South Carolina and Des Moines, Iowa for franchises.
Hometown Soccer Holdings has been rather busy lately. The business, a collaboration between Major League Soccer and the KKR investment firm, was created to identify markets that are big enough to house an MLS NEXT Pro franchise. MLS NEXT Pro is a minor league circuit run by Major League Soccer. Hometown Soccer Holdings wants to do business in Columbia, South Carolina and in Des Moines, Iowa and has made pitches to local politicians in both markets. It is very preliminary. Hometown Soccer Holdings has only been in business since April. The group struck a deal to place the MLS’ NYCFC franchise’s MLS NEXT Pro minor league franchise in Edison, New Jersey which is about 40 miles southwest of New York City.
Putting an MLS Next Pro franchise into Edison didn’t require too much heavy lifting by Hometown Soccer Holdings as the stadium was being built by Middlesex County with New Jersey taxpayers funding helping to pay the cost of construction. The stadium which can seat as many as 6,500 people will house the Rutgers University baseball team starting in 2027 along with the MLS Next Pro franchise. There is a lot of work ahead in both Columbia, South Carolina and in Des Moines, Iowa. There is no stadium plan, there is no funding mechanism for a stadium in place if a plan is developed. On October 6th, the Columbia City Council approved a memorandum of understanding with Hometown Soccer Holdings to begin planning for a stadium and team in the city. That doesn’t mean Columbia is getting an MLS Next Pro franchise, it does mean that both sides are looking into the feasibility of placing a team in Columbia. In Des Moines, there is interest in putting an MLS Next Pro team in the market but no plan.
