San Antonio Scorpions’ stadium expansion designed to woo MLS

In the continuously escalating race to became Major League Soccer’s 24th team, the San Antonio Scorpions have just launched the latest salvo. The NASL club has released plans for expanding their current home, Toyota Field, to about 19,000 seats as well as adding all sorts of amenities like luxury boxes and improved concessions.

The expansion is estimated to cost about $38-45 million that would likely come from a combination of new investors and some sort of public funding. In the announcement, city councilman Mike Gallagher trumpeted the city’s interest in helping make the expansion a reality.

“The success of the San Antonio Scorpions and Toyota Field is providing compelling evidence that a professional soccer market exists here in San Antonio,” Gallagher said. “Soccer has the same potential to transform San Antonio into a major league city as pro basketball did over 43 years ago. The opportunity to bring MLS to San Antonio not only benefits the citizens of this city but also impacts South and Central Texas and Mexico.”

The Scorpions were formed in 2010 and have been playing in the second-tier NASL. They opened Toyota Field in 2012, which immediately became one of the nicest North American soccer stadiums outside of MLS. But with capacity of about 9,000, it was always known further investment would be needed in order for them to join the country’s top tier.

While the Scorpions’ plans appear to be the farthest along, they will have plenty of competition for MLS expansion. Las Vegas recently approved preliminary plans for funding a stadium, while Sacramento and Minnesota have ownerships in place and were the most active groups in courting MLS at the most recent All-Star Game.