One of the factors that come with Flames Sports ownership group wanting an MLS franchise is the value increase.
When people look at sports teams "losing money" every year they don't take into consideration the increase in value that happens to occur over time with those assets.
Major sports teams like NHL, MLB,, NFL and NBA don't come up for sale/entrance often and when they do there is decent demand for them 'usually"
In the NHL the most recent expansion teams paid $80 mil to the NHL owners. The NHL is now asking $500 mil per team, wither they get that much is up for debate. Even expansion fee's of $350-400 mil would generate a 500% increase in a 15 year time frame, still pretty impressive. Other perks include arena management deals, other sports teams, concert revenue etc.
Do I think there is room in Calgary for a MLS team? Maybe not yet but there is no denying the sport is getting solid growth in Canada. MLS is also growing quickly too and attracting quality talent. Regardless it would be foolish for the Flames owners to not build a stadium capable of at least having the MLS field option.
My $.02
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