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Las Vegas MLS bid now has Aston Villa's billionaire owners and private stadium financing, filling gaps that sank three prior attempts.
£190 million
and have since steered the club back into European…
$150 million
for Atlanta United to
$500 million
for Charlotte FC in 2022
30 clubs
when it joins in 2025
Las Vegas is preparing its fourth MLS expansion application in twelve years, this time with V Sports co-owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens attached to the ownership group. The two billionaires acquired Aston Villa in 2018 for £190 million and have since steered the club back into European competition. Their involvement marks the first time Las Vegas has secured ownership with active top-flight European football operations.
MLS has awarded eight expansion franchises since 2017, collecting entry fees that climbed from $150 million for Atlanta United to $500 million for Charlotte FC in 2022. San Diego was granted a provisional franchise in May 2023 at a reported $500 million valuation, bringing the league to 30 clubs when it joins in 2025. Commissioner Don Garber has stated the league will expand to 32 teams, leaving two slots open. Las Vegas now competes with Phoenix, Detroit, and a second bid from Indianapolis, though no formal timeline has been announced for the next awards.
Previous Las Vegas bids collapsed over stadium financing and ownership instability. A 2012 effort led by entrepreneur Bill Foley failed to secure land near downtown. A 2015 group featuring former San Jose Earthquakes owner Lew Wolff withdrew after MLS prioritized Sacramento, which later lost its bid when lead investor Ron Burkle exited in 2020. A 2019 attempt by the Findlay Sports and Entertainment group stalled during pandemic-era uncertainty. The current bid benefits from clarity on both fronts: the ownership group has confirmed it will privately finance a stadium, and the Las Vegas market has added two professional franchises since 2017—the NHL's Golden Knights and the NFL's Raiders—demonstrating sustained ticket demand in a transient population.
Sawiris, worth an estimated $9.3 billion through his construction and fertilizer conglomerate, and Edens, co-founder of Fortress Investment Group and owner of the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks, bring cross-sport infrastructure experience. Edens oversaw the Bucks' $524 million arena project in 2018, which paired public land allocation with private equity. The Las Vegas stadium plan has not been detailed publicly, but local reporting suggests a site near the Las Vegas Ballpark in Summerlin, a master-planned community 15 miles west of the Strip. That location would place the club outside the tourist corridor, targeting suburban season-ticket holders rather than walk-up visitors—a reversal of the Raiders' Allegiant Stadium model.
MLS ownership rules require a 51% controlling stake held by a principal owner, with no institutional investors permitted. The Las Vegas group structure has not been disclosed, but Sawiris and Edens typically operate through family offices rather than direct public vehicles, satisfying league requirements. The league's expansion committee, chaired by New England Revolution owner Robert Kraft, is expected to evaluate bids through the remainder of 2025. Precedent suggests MLS will announce one franchise at a time rather than awarding the final two slots simultaneously, preserving leverage over entry-fee negotiations.
The timing aligns with MLS's broadcast negotiations. The league's current 10-year, $2.5 billion deal with Apple runs through 2032, but the next cycle of naming rights, jersey sponsors, and international broadcast agreements will be shaped by market footprint. Las Vegas delivers the 40th-largest U.S. media market but offers adjacency to Southern California's diaspora fan bases and proximity to Liga MX's Mexican audience. Phoenix, by contrast, is the 11th-largest market but has no professional soccer infrastructure.
Watch for stadium site announcements before June, when MLS typically opens expansion windows. If Las Vegas secures approval, expect coordinator hires from MLS's eastern clubs—San Diego has already poached front-office talent from LAFC and the LA Galaxy. The league is unlikely to award a 2026 launch; 2027 or 2028 are more realistic to allow for construction and academy setup. Sawiris and Edens will also need to navigate Clark County's land-use approvals, which delayed both the Raiders and the A's baseball stadium projects by months.
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