Berding: Delay in MLS expansion decision has nothing to do with FC Cincinnati's bid

Nobody is saying exactly why Major League Soccer has repeatedly delayed its second 2017 expansion announcement for the past two-plus months, but late Tuesday Futbol Club Cincinnati's Jeff Berding told The Enquirer what the problem isn't.

"The extended time period is not a result of any problems with our bid or MLS," Berding, the team's president and general manager, said in a statement exclusively to The Enquirer. "This is a big deal and the parties continue to work cooperatively towards getting the ball over the goal line to score for Greater Cincinnati."

Berding's confidence and persistence in pursuing a site for a possible MLS stadium in Cincinnati's West End comes on the heels of a Sports Illustrated interview with MLS Deputy Commissioner Mark Abbott that fed Cincinnati soccer fans' hopes. "Although we haven’t finalized any deals and all of the finalist markets remain under consideration, we’ve made the most progress in Cincinnati," Abbott told reporter Brian Straus.

That story also suggested, though, that the decision might well come after the March 3 start of MLS season.

Berding, FC Cincinnati owners and Mayor John Cranley pitched Cincinnati for one of two anticipated expansion teams to the league back in early December in New York City.

The soccer league had formally launched the expansion process Jan. 31, 2017, but it has really been a years-long journey. As FC Cincinnati was getting off the ground in late 2015 and early 2016, club officials made vague references to bringing soccer at its highest level to the city. Most suspected that meant a push for MLS, and that was correct.

A league decision on two expansion teams was expected by the end of 2017, and sure enough, top officials traveled to Nashville on Dec. 20 to deliver an early present to that city.

In Nashville, MLS Commissioner Don Garber told The Enquirer: “FC Cincinnati had an unbelievable pitch. They did a wonderful job. We’ve got great respect for (owners) Carl Lindner and his family and Scott Farmer, his partner. We’re totally intrigued and impressed with what’s been going on with FC Cincinnati. ... I’m confident they’re in a really good spot.”

A second announcement was expected before the new year, but it never came.

More: On matter of West End stadium, council, school board tell FC Cincinnati: "We will not be rushed"

More: West End may not want FC Cincinnati stadium. That may not matter.

Then it was expected before the start of MLS's 23rd regular season on Saturday. Now that looks like that date, too, may pass without learning who will get the next expansion team.

A spokesman for Major League Soccer didn't immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday evening. But from the league's perspective, FC Cincinnati is not the only club in the expansion conversation. Detroit remains in the running, even though it's widely viewed as not being ready for this round of expansion. Sacramento, too, remains a candidate, but they have financial problems that put their bid at risk.

And then, of course, there's the Columbus shuffle. The Crew is likely leaving Ohio's capital, possibly for Austin, but nobody knows for sure.

In the Sports Illustrated story, Straus suggested FC Cincinnati was in line to receive the league's bid to become the next expansion franchise, but he also noted Cincinnati's stadium woes.

Berding discounts the stadium site as being an issue.

"We are pleased with the progress we have made during the ongoing expansion process," he said. "MLS expansion is an extremely important and complex decision and the most important part of the process is that MLS and FC Cincinnati make the right decisions that maximize the long-term benefits for MLS, FCC, our city and our fans."