Snapdragon Stadium was built for the purpose of hosting San Diego State Football team matches but somehow has become the favorite of many fans enjoying the San Diego Wave NWSL soccer team.
Per several reports from various sources leading the San Diego Union-Tribune, and other media outlets such as Goal.com, National Post, UK’S Daily Mail and Front office Sports; with the League Commissioner among its investors, they will the make the announcements on Thursday, May 18, 2023 in a site to be named later.
Leading the investors are Billionaire Egyptian Mohamed Mansour from Mansour Group and Sycuan Tribe and Chairman Cody Martinez. They alongside the league commissioner are to announce San Diego as the 30th franchise with plans of starting league play in 2025.
San Diego Wave has seen a number of record setting attendances, especially on September 17, 2022 when the Women’s Wave played Angel City before 32,000 fans.
The expansion fee could reach a record $500 million, per reports. St. Louis City became the newest addition having paid the league a fee of $200 million in addition to Charlotte FC ownership group paying a record $350 million according to ESPN.
They may leapfrog Las Vegas, Nevada, who had been considered the next in line and overall favorite Phoenix FC, but these two teams may still have a future in Major League Soccer.
So far, Snapdragon Stadium is set to host a couple of international friendlies between Mexico and Cameroon in June, followed by a Wrexham FC and Manchester United match in July as well as being the host of the World Lacrosse Championship this summer.
Mansour is the chairman of the Mansour Group, an Egyptian conglomerate valued at six billion that serves as an international distributor for brands such as McDonalds, Chevrolet, Red Bull and UPS.
While still in the due diligence process, they remain excited about the prospect of bringing Major League Soccer to San Diego, a city and community with such a rich cultural and sporting heritage.’
Negotiations are underway between the group and San Diego State University on a lease agreement for Snapdragon Stadium, which seats 35,000.
The Union-Tribune said representatives of the league, the university and the prospective ownership group are expected to meet in San Diego this week.
