NASHVILLE SC AND INTER MIAMI CF TOOK PART IN COIN FLIP IN NEW YORK

NEW YORK – Nashville SC selected the number one position in the Allocation Ranking Order and penultimate position in MLS Re-Entry and End-of-Year Waiver Order during the 2019 MLS Expansion Priority Draft on Sunday.

From MLS Studios in midtown Manhattan, Nashville SC CEO Ian Ayre and General Manager Mike Jacobs joined Inter Miami CF Managing Owner & CEO Jorge Mas and Sporting Director Paul McDonough to select priorities in the five available player acquisition mechanisms.

An opening coin toss awarded Nashville with the second pick, which was used to select the No. 1 position in Allocation Ranking Order and the penultimate position in the MLS Re-Entry and End-of-Year Waiver Order. Miami selected the top picks in the 2019 MLS Expansion Draft and the 2020 MLS SuperDraft presented by adidas. The two clubs alternated subsequent picks until all five roster-building mechanisms were selected.

“For us, we just felt that the Allocation Order gives us the best value to add to our roster and our roster build as quick as possible,” said Jacobs.

The Allocation Ranking Order is a mechanism used to determine which MLS club has priority in acquiring specific kinds of players, all found on the Allocation Ranking List. The list will consist of (i) select U.S. Men’s National Team players, (ii) elite youth U.S. National Team players, or (iii) former MLS players returning to MLS after joining a non-MLS club for a transfer fee greater than $500,000.

Once the club uses its allocation ranking to acquire a player, it drops to the bottom of the list. A ranking can be traded, provided that part of the compensation received in return is the other club’s ranking. At all times, each club is assigned one ranking. The rankings reset at the end of each MLS League season.

MLS Expansion Priority Draft Results

2019 MLS Expansion Draft: Inter Miami CF No. 1, Nashville SC No. 2 Allocation Ranking Order: Nashville SC No. 1, Inter Miami CF No. 2 2020 MLS SuperDraft presented by adidas: Inter Miami CF No. 1, Nashville SC No. 2 MLS Re-Entry and End-of-Year Waiver Order: Nashville SC No. 25, Inter Miami CF No. 26 Discovery Player Ranking: Inter Miami CF No. 25, Nashville SC No. 26

The momentum for Nashville SC to strengthen its inaugural MLS roster will continue on Nov. 19 with the 2019 MLS Expansion Draft, where the club will have the opportunity to select up to five current players from other MLS teams. Each current MLS team may protect up to 12 rostered players from inclusion on the eligible players list.

The complete list of players eligible for selection in the 2019 MLS Expansion Draft will be released on Saturday, Nov. 16.

Exempt clubs with players selected by FC Cincinnati in the 2018 Expansion Draft are D.C. United, Vancouver Whitecaps FC, FC Dallas, the Houston Dynamo, and the New York Red Bulls.

Click here for the full MLS Expansion Draft Rules.