In 2016, MLS began its second growth phase where it scheduled the addition of 10 teams over seven seasons between 2017 and 2023. So far we’ve seen eight franchises join from eight different states with the expansion fee having now reportedly doubled between Atlanta joining in 2017 and Charlotte’s addition this year. Here’s a retrospective on how each of the previous eight franchises have fared since their debut in MLS.
Atlanta United (2017)
When Atlanta United joined the league in 2017, they set the gold standard for how a franchise should structure itself in its infancy. The Georgia outfit burst onto the scene and won 15 of their scheduled 34 matches in 2017 and went on to finish fourth overall.
What separated Atlanta’s arrival in MLS from others, however, was the recruitment process the club had and the local support. They boasted an average attendance of 48,200 in its inaugural season and with the addition of South American stars like Miguel Almirón and Jose Martinez as opposed to European or American talent, the Five Stripes had about as healthy of a debut as one could hope for.
Now, the franchise is the second most valuable in the league. With an MLS Cup coming the year after their debut, it’s clear to see that everything they did in 2017 worked.
Minnesota (2017)
The TCF Bank Stadium saw an average attendance of 20,583 during the 2017 inaugural campaign for Minnesota United. But their first four games were about as bad as a side has ever had in an MLS debut season with a 5-1 loss to Portland in Oregon, and then a 6-1 hammering from Atlanta on home soil.
It was an up and down season from Adrian Heath’s men, but Christian Ramirez’s 14 goals capped off an excellent campaign for him as the Loons finished ninth in the Western Conference and 19th in the overall table.
Los Angeles FC (2018)
As Atlanta paved the way with their new approach to operating a franchise, Los Angeles FC followed a similar model. To date, there have not been many greater periods in west coast soccer than the first few months at the Banc of California Stadium which was custom built for the Black and Gold.
Carlos Vela was scoring stunners most weeks, Diego Rossi was proving to be one of the signings of the season, and Bob Bradley was marching his side to a comfortable finish in the Playoffs.
LAFC would finish the season third in the Western table and fifth in the overall standings while only being five points adrift of a CONCACAF Champions League spot. In the end, however, Real Salt Lake would redeem themselves from the 5-1 hammering from Bradley’s men earlier in the season as RSL won 3-2 in the Knockout Round in the 2018 Playoffs.
Cincinnati (2019)
In what was one of the most anticipated arrivals in MLS over the past decade, FC Cincinnati entered the Eastern Conference in 2019 to massive crowds at the Nippert Stadium just like in their USL days. A lot was expected from another Ohio team set to rival the Columbus Crew and the city was buzzing like no other in the country. The stadium was electric when they won their first ever MLS game in front of their home fans as they smashed the Timbers 3-0.
Fast forward to the end of the season and Cincinnati would lose their first MLS Hell Is Real Derby 3-1 on home soil and find themselves racking up just two wins in their last 15 games of the season to finish their inaugural campaign a very underwhelming 12th place with just six wins in 34 games.
Inter Miami (2020)
David Beckham finally realized his dream of owning an MLS side with Inter Miami CF’s inaugural season in 2020. It was arguably the most anticipated MLS arrival ever and they started the roster building process with some eye-catching names in Blaise Matuidi and Gonzalo Higuain.
They couldn’t play in the U.S Open Cup because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and they finished 10th in the table, losing all three games in the MLS is Back tournament.
Sadly for Beckham, it was another poor season for a new franchise where high expectations likely got the better of everyone.
Nashville (2020)
Nashville SC were also thrown a curveball having to operate their inaugural season during the COVID-19 pandemic, but with an average attendance of 59,069 prior to the lockdowns at the Nissan Stadium, there was a massive buzz for the Coyotes in 2020.
The season saw them finish a commendable seventh, with their goal difference pushing them into the Playoffs play-in round, it ranks as one of the better debut seasons. Better yet, after beating Inter Miami and Toronto FC, Nashville made it to the Semifinals of the MLS Cup Playoffs, eventually losing to the Columbus Crew.
Austin (2021)
Austin’s inaugural campaign in the MLS was perhaps the worst. The pandemic meant capacities were halved just as the U.S Open Cup had to be canceled. Combined with a 12th-placed position in the Western Conference, it was one of the more forgettable debut MLS seasons.
Charlotte (2022)
Charlotte FC are the latest addition to MLS and started their inaugural campaign this year with a 3-0 loss to D.C United. They share the Bank of America Stadium with the Carolina Panthers.
They have plenty of European and South American experience on their side with the likes of Christian Fuchs, and the anticipation has been long in the making for Charlotte with them being one of the first cities interested in the new MLS back in the 1990s, but were never awarded a franchise.
-Grant McQuillan
Twitter: @Grant_McQuillan