Southern Exposure
George Dohrmann
December 01, 2003
Jorge Vergara, owner of Chivas of the Mexican League, will purchase one of two MLS expansion franchises to begin play in 2005 and plans to fill the roster largely with Latinos, though the club will adhere to the league rule limiting teams to three foreign players. Vergara would prefer to locate his franchise in Southern California, so MLS has its sights set on San Diego. (Houston and Phoenix have been mentioned as fallback options.) A Cleveland-based team owned by businessman Bert Wolstein is likely to be the other new entry, though Oklahoma City is further along with a stadium project and could end up with the expansion slot if the plans for Cleveland's stadium are put on hold.
Jorge Vergara, owner of Chivas of the Mexican League, will purchase one of two MLS expansion franchises to begin play in 2005 and plans to fill the roster largely with Latinos, though the club will adhere to the league rule limiting teams to three foreign players. Vergara would prefer to locate his franchise in Southern California, so MLS has its sights set on San Diego. ( Houston and Phoenix have been mentioned as fallback options.) A Cleveland-based team owned by businessman Bert Wolstein is likely to be the other new entry, though Oklahoma City is further along with a stadium project and could end up with the expansion slot if the plans for Cleveland's stadium are put on hold.
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