SAN ANTONIO – The San Antonio City Council unanimously approved the joint purchase of Toyota Field on Thursday in hopes of bringing a Major League Soccer franchise to the city.

KSAT's Myra Arthur reported the approval Thursday morning on Twitter.

In November, officials with the city and Bexar County announced plans to purchase the stadium from Gordon Hartman for $18 million.

The plan calls for the city and county to split the $18 million, with with Spurs Sports and Entertainment contributing another $3 million, bringing the total purchase price to $21 million.

The deal announced last month calls for Spurs Sports and Entertainment to lease the stadium for 20 years while operating a minor league soccer team and pursuing an MLS franchise.

If the minor league franchise does not make it to the MLS in the first six years of the lease, Spurs Sports and Entertainment will pay the city and the county $2.5 million each.

The city said in November that it and the county will own the stadium throughout the lease term and will continue ownership even if an MLS franchise does not come to San Antonio.

Thursday's City Council vote is another hurdle cleared in the trek to bring an MLS franchise to the Alamo City.

District 10 Councilman Mike Gallagher issued the following statement after Thursday's vote.

“This is a special day for San Antonio. I deeply appreciate the help of Gordon Hartman, Bexar County, Spurs Sports and Entertainment and my fellow Council members for their efforts in securing the purchase of Toyota Field. Taking an existing facility and expanding its capabilities is a great course of action to take, rather than building a new facility from the ground up. MLS is already a part of our lives here in San Antonio. Our residents are enthusiastic fans, and we would do well to bring MLS to our entire community.”