Boivin: Is Phoenix on track toward MLS franchise?

Could a Major League Soccer franchise be in the Valley's future?

The sport's growing presence in the community suggests the possibility.

"We have witnessed the tremendous crowds for international soccer events in Phoenix — including the capacity crowds for the U.S. vs. Mexico matches — and are aware of the support for the sport in greater Phoenix," MLS executive vice president Dan Courtemanche said Friday.

No plans for expansion in Phoenix are in place, he said, but the league is keeping a close eye on the market.

What it will see is a rapidly changing landscape that could lay the groundwork for another professional sports team.

Plans to build a soccer-only stadium already are in the works. Kyle Eng, owner of Arizona United Soccer Club, has met with civic leaders and potential financial partners. He envisions complementing the facility with a soccer academy where young players from inside and outside the state can train.

With the exception of Real Salt Lake-Arizona Academy in Casa Grande, there are few options in the state.

"We're Arizona's only professional soccer team," he said. "How do we truly embrace all the soccer players here? I think it's our duty to find them a common place to play and learn and where we can coach and develop."

Eng, owner of Arrowhead Advertising Agency, purchased Arizona United in February after another team, Phoenix FC, lost its United Soccer League Pro rights. The team played its games at the Peoria Sports Complex but moves this season to Scottsdale Stadium, which Eng believes is more accessible to fans.

USL Pro is one of three leagues sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation and is the third tier team of the three, behind MLS and the North American Soccer League. Its season runs from April to September.

Several USL Pro teams have affiliations with MLS and Arizona United is expected to join them. The team is close to finalizing a deal with FC Dallas, which means some players from that club will play and train with Arizona United.

That's good news for Valley soccer fans, and there are many. Youth soccer continues to grow in the state, and Hispanics and Latinos, which share a rich history with soccer, make up 40.8 percent of Phoenix's population, according to U.S. Census figures.

More than 59,000 fans attended a U.S. vs. Mexico "friendly" match at University of Phoenix Stadium in March.

Several prominent sports figures have connections to soccer. Former Suns guard Steve Nash is part of an ownership group for the Vancouver Whitecaps FC, and news recently broke that Suns owner Robert Sarver has made a takeover offer for the financially troubled famed Scottish soccer team known as the Rangers Football Club.

The time will soon be right for Phoenix. Of the 11 major media markets, it is the only one without an MLS franchise.

The league's goal is to have 24 teams by the end of the decade. It adds two new teams — Orlando City SC and New York City FC — in 2015, and a new team in Atlanta will join the league in 2017, bringing the total to 22 clubs.

Superstar David Beckham and his partners are finalizing plans for a stadium in Miami and once that is done, will move forward with completing an expansion agreement for that city, making it 23.

Courtemanche said expansion is conducted "very strategically" and the league's goal is to secure the following:

--A committed local ownership group with the appropriate financial resources.

--A comprehensive stadium plan where the ownership controls the venue.

--An appropriate market that is attractive to sponsors, television partners and located in an appropriate geographic location.

--History of strong fan support for soccer matches and other sporting events. It also monitors TV market ratings for MLS games and other soccer matches.

Leadership has been one of the biggest obstacles for the Valley. The accomplished and approachable Eng, whose successful career includes numerous stops with sports teams and television networks, seems like the ideal point man to help this move forward.

He calls ownership "a privilege" and feels "it's our responsibility to open up the game to as many people as possible."

He has surrounded himself with the right people. His head coach is Michael Dellorusso, a former FC Dallas defender whose highly regarded reputation surely didn't hurt in talks about affiliation with the MLS team.

Arizona United recently signed Rob Valentino, a Pinnacle High graduate who captained MLS' Orlando City the past three years.

"There are many cities interested in bringing a future Major League Soccer expansion team to their market," Courtemanche said.

True, and some don't deal with the heat Arizona faces in the summer. Eng said he has found it is not a big deal to fans. Arizona United matches started at 7 p.m. and often are done in two hours. With two teams in Texas and at least one in Florida, humidity can be a challenge. Fans don't seem to mind.

Additionally, the league seems open to the possibility of expanding in Las Vegas, which has a similar climate to Phoenix. Las Vegas, Minneapolis and Sacramento met with league officials in November about the possibility of expansion.

Plenty of teams are in line to be part of the expansion discussion. The Valley hopes to be joining that line soon.

Follow Paola Boivin at paola.boivin@arizonarepublic.com and follow her on Twitter at Twitter.com/Paola Boivin. Listen to her streaming live on "The Brad Cesmat Show" on sports360az.com very Monday at 10:30 a.m.