Detroit's bid does include several helpful factors: MLS has acknowledged that it isn't profitable, and Detroit's chances could get a nod because not one but three billionaires are behind it — Gilbert, Gores, and now Martha Firestone Ford, who is involved because of the switch in stadium sites from a proposed pitch at the unfinished Wayne County jail downtown to Ford Field.

No other bid has three veteran major league sports owners behind it.

When that group unveiled the decision to switch to the NFL stadium on Nov. 2, MLS issued a statement saying it hadn't had a chance to review the revised bid, but it doubled down on its preference for soccer-specific stadiums.

"MLS continues to prioritize soccer-specific stadiums as a criteria for the selection of MLS expansion markets," the league's statement read.

When asked if the league has expressed any opinion on the stadium plan changes, a spokesman for the Detroit bid emailed a generic statement.

"We have been in regular communication with MLS officials and they have not made any decisions regarding expansion yet. We expect talks to continue throughout the upcoming weeks," it read.

The Gores-Gilbert bid pointed to the attendance success of Atlanta United FC in an NFL stadium, but that venue, home to the Atlanta Falcons owned by Atlanta United FC owner Arthur Blank, has a retractable roof. Ford Field does not.

Gilbert and Gores unveiled a $1 billion plan in April 2016 to build a 22,000- to 25,000-seat soccer-specific stadium on the stalled county jail site, and the project would include towers for residential, retail and office use. Gilbert still wants the site for commercial development, but the soccer effort is now focused on Ford Field.

The entire Detroit bid has been predicated on the expansion team being able to play in 2020. Using Ford Field, which would need some level of retrofitting to accommodate a soccer team, makes that timing goal feasible. The teams awarded in January are intended to play in 2020.

"Our hope is to be prepared so that when MLS makes its decision, we're one of the finalists," Arn Tellem, who's handling the MLS bid for Tom Gores, told Crain's in September.

Detroit appears to meet the league's criteria for soccer support. MLS has told Crain's that it has monitored the success of high-profile soccer events in the Detroit market, including the International Champions Cup match that drew 36,000 fans in July at Comerica Park, crowds of more than 100,000 at Michigan Stadium for past ICC matches and the crowds of 5,000-plus for semi-pro Detroit City FC in Hamtramck.

Detroit certainly has the corporate presence to support a fifth major league sports team, being home to the automakers and suppliers, Quicken Loans, and larger medical, manufacturing, energy and education systems.

The other cities with formal expansion bids, which had to be submitted by Jan. 31, are St. Louis; Tampa Bay/St. Petersburg, Fla.; San Antonio; Raleigh, N.C.; Charlotte, N.C.; Indianapolis; Phoenix, Ariz.; and San Diego.

Ultimately, MLS plans to have 28 teams. Los Angeles FC begins play next year as the 23rd club and the unnamed Miami team launches for the 2019 season.

The expansion teams awarded in December will pay $150 million each to join the league. A fee for the final two clubs hasn't been formally announced.

New MLS owners aren't buying franchises. Instead, MLS is a single-entity business, meaning all teams are owned by the league and all players are its employees rather than employed by the club. MLS pays the players. Team "owners" pay an investment fee to MLS for the right to operate a team in a geographic area. They become league shareholders rather than franchise owners in a league that has publicly acknowledged it remains unprofitable.

Teams keep their own books and budgets.