Phil Friend

phillip.friend@indystar.com

Whenever the discussion of Major League Soccer expansion comes up, Indianapolis soccer fans' ears perk up.

But rarely is Indianapolis at the top of the list – or even on the list at all.

On Thursday, MLS Commissioner Don Garber rattled off a group of cities in consideration for expansion. Speaking at a meeting with the Associated Press Sports Editors, Garber said of Sacramento and St. Louis, "It's fair to say they're front-runners."

Other candidates, in order of priority he said, were Detroit, San Diego, San Antonio, Austin and Cincinnati.

No Indianapolis.

Indianapolis already has a professional soccer team, the Indy Eleven, which plays in the North American Soccer League, the U.S's official second division. The Eleven recently began their third season and have led the league in attendance each of their first two campaigns in the NASL. Both home games this season have brought in more than 9.000 fans each.

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MLS is currently at 20 teams and will increase to 24 when Atlanta, a second Los Angeles team, Minnesota and Miami are expected to join by 2018. Garber has stated his goal is to eventually reach 28 teams.

Contacted by IndyStar on Thursday, an Indy Eleven spokesperson said the club is happy with its situation in the NASL.

"Indy Eleven continues to work toward first division standards in every facet of the organization, both on and off the field, and we look forward to continue doing that as a member of the NASL. We believe in the NASL's business model and are pleased with the direction and growth of the league and look forward to help continuing that growth in the years to come."

Just how large the team can grow could coincide with attempts to secure a new soccer-specific stadium. The Eleven struck out the past two years with stadium proposals, including an $82-million stadium deal, though they still hold out hopes for securing a new home.

"We look forward to continuing to work with local and state officials to establish details for a stadium proposal that will be responsible to the taxpayers of Indiana and result in a positive outcome during this legislative session," the team said in a January statement.

When the Eleven franchise came into existence, former team President Peter Wilt said the goal was to eventually reach MLS. He re-emphasized that in an article on ESPN.com last May when mentioning the efforts for a new stadium, stating:

"I think it sets the table for Indy Eleven being a first-division team," Wilt said. "Whether that's with the NASL or another league is to be determined."

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Joshua Mason, president of Indy Eleven's support group, The Brickyard Battalion, stressed they won't push the club to move to MLS.

"We are here for this club in our city. Our goal is not to be MLS," Mason wrote in an email to IndyStar. "Our goal is to make professional soccer sustainable in Indiana, and that we have a team to support every week. This culture will only grow, and the Eleven will be as recognizable as the Colts and Pacers are to Indiana throughout the world."

It's no coincidence the new proposed stadium seats 18,000 – the minimum required for entrance into MLS. Having deep-pocketed owners and an established youth academy would also be necessary. But at this point, it looks like an MLS-Indy marriage is a long shot.