Newly filed state legislation seeks to help Nashville’s bid for a Major League Soccer franchise by opening up one way that Metro government could help pay off debt of a future professional soccer stadium.

Tennessee Sen. Steve Dickerson, R-Nashville, last week introduced a bill that would allocate state sales tax revenue generated from a future professional soccer stadium in Nashville to Metro government. This would include sales tax revenue from admissions to games as well as concessions, parking and other charges on the premises of the stadium.

The bill would extend the same sale tax treatment that exists for the Tennessee Titans, Nashville Predators and Memphis Grizzlies and their stadiums.

“This just puts an MLS franchise, should we get one, on par with [the state’s other professional sports franchises],” Dickerson said. “The intention is to help fund or fray the cost of a stadium and encourage an MLS stadium to locate here.

“I think now is the time for Nashville to move into the professional soccer realm,” he added. “Whatever I can do to help within the scope of my General Assembly role, I’m all for it.”

The Tennessee General Assembly’s next legislative session kicks off in January.

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Dickerson, elected to a second term in November, said he was approached about the legislation by Nashville businessman Bill Hagerty, who is leading a coalition called Nashville MLS Steering Committee that plans to submit an application by Jan. 31 to bring MLS to Nashville.

Ironically, Dickerson said the two discussed plans to push for the legislation as they watched their sons compete in the same youth soccer match.

“I’ve drunk the Kool-Aid as far as soccer goes,” Dickerson said, pointing to popularity of the sport among his own children and many others in the Middle Tennessee areas as well as Nashville’s budding immigrant community.

Hagerty has strong ties in Republican politics in Tennessee and state government, having previously served as commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development under Haslam. Hagerty recently held a leadership position on President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team.

“We are actively pursuing our bid for a Major League Soccer franchise, and that includes a world class stadium plan,” Will Alexander, co-organizer of the Nashville MLS Steering Committee said in a statement. “In the tradition of Nashville’s professional sports facilities, we will provide an exceptional experience for soccer fans. This legislation is part of that effort, and we appreciate the support from our legislators.”

It’s unclear how much a soccer-specific MLS stadium might cost, but Hagerty has previously suggested around $200 million. Ownership groups competing for the four MLS expansion slots also face a $150 million expansion fee.

Hagerty has said his group, which includes support from some of Nashville's top corporations as well as political leaders has brought in architects to review potential stadium ideas, but he has declined to say which potential locations they have explored.

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Nashville Mayor Megan Barry has called MLS “an exciting opportunity” for Nashville but has not said whether she would support the city paying for a part of stadium costs. The Barry administration has made clear it wants at least some private investment. Metro has paid for city-three financed stadium over the past two decades: Nissan Stadium Bridgestone Arena and most recently First Tennessee Park.

As Hagerty and his group explores ways to secure an MLS stadium, Nashville’s recently awarded United Soccer League franchise Nashville SC is trying to land a stadium as well. The latter could be built with a considerably smaller capacity than an MLS stadium, but a USL stadium is still required by their league to be specific to soccer.

Like Nashville, Charlotte, N.C. is also home to multiple soccer stadium pushes.

According to the Charlotte Observer, the Mecklenburg County government this week decided to pause negotiations about renovating a 1930s-era stadium for the USL’s Charlotte Independence as the city awaits whether it is awarded an MLS franchise.

Other cities in addition to Nashville and Charlotte that are in the hunt for an MLS team are: San Antonio, San Diego, Detroit, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Ohio; Raleigh/Durham, N.C.; Sacramento, Calif. and Tampa/St. Petersburg, Fla.

Reach Joey Garrison at 615-259-8236 and on Twitter @joeygarrison.