Two years ago, Detroit had been a front-runner in the fight for the 24th spot, but, after the Motor City’s storied owners abandoned plans to build a soccer-specific open-air stadium, the league picked Cincinnati last spring instead. It has since announced three other teams, in Miami, Nashville, Tenn., and Austin, Texas, opening in 2020 and 2021.

Detroit is an important market for the league, Garber said, but the stadium has to be right.

“Sports teams ought to be forever. They’re not always that way, but you make the decision with that in mind,” Garber said on Monday. “We think that in order for us to be successful in that city, we need a soccer-specific stadium. And the options that we’re presented with today are only at Ford Field.”

At the same time, Garber gushed about St. Louis’ proposed site, next to Union Station on Market Street just west of downtown.

“It really checks off a lot of boxes,” he said. “It’s got the right support from the public sector. Everybody’s feeling good about that.”