Nashville city government officials are walking a tight rope to protect political careers when it comes to the city’s MLS expansion bid.
“The Music City” is a strong candidate to land one of the two upcoming MLS expansion slots, but that’s largely contingent on negotiations of a private-public partnership on a Nashville MLS stadium for the potential franchise. That process is currently perfectly analogized by a high-stakes poker game.
According to Joey Garrison of the Tennessean, a city council member has submitted an ordinance to approve the demolition of the fair grounds site, which is where the new facility would exist. According to the city code, 2/3 of the city council members must vote for the ordinance in order for it to pass.
The ordinance, proposed by Councilman John Cooper, could delay the beginning of the stadium’s construction if it doesn’t pass. Mayor Megan Barry’s office insists that if the ordinance does fail, approval of the necessary permission for demolition could be sought at a later date. Because of that, the vote on funding the bonds to pay for the stadium project will proceed on Tuesday, Nov. 7, regardless of how the Cooper ordinance fares.
Other council members have their own reservations about that measure. Councilman Jeremy Elrod has expressed concern about handing over 10 acres of public land to the potential ownership group of the MLS franchise. Other council members have sought more clarity in exactly who is part of the ownership group, and what the group is prepared to guarantee the city in return for everything provided.
The votes on these measures on Tuesday is more than an important decision on the future of MLS in the city. It’s also crucial to these city officials’ political careers. For that reason, all 40 council members and Mayor Barry are trying to show poker faces and hide their hands until the time is perfect.
Recent struggles to secure a similar private-public partnership has made MLS expansion in Charlotte a non-starter for the time being. Additionally, an investigation into MLS by Brexar County, Texas officials might quell the possibility of MLS expanding to San Antonio. Those situations make it more likely that Nashville will be awarded a franchise.
That’s still largely dependent on the city getting a stadium deal done, however. MLS is unlikely to select Nashville if that isn’t in place ahead of the December expansion committee vote.
Getting such a deal in place requires city officials to take some risks. None of them understandably want to be the party blamed for costing Nashville an MLS franchise by delaying the ordinances necessary to secure the expansion committee’s confidence. On the other hand, none of them want to be responsible for committing to a hastily-negotiated deal that would compromise the city’s interests either.
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Right now, city officials are trying to get a better read of opponents’ hands before they go all in on anything. That waffling may end up costing Nashville an MLS franchise in the next round of expansion, but the officials have more to consider.