USL to Las Vegas almost finished

The Las Vegas Mobsters may soon have a partner in crime in the Las Vegas soccer scene. Las Vegas Soccer, LLC, is poised to become the first professional soccer franchise to play in Vegas since the mid seventies when the Las Vegas Quicksilvers of the original NASL called the city home.

The story began unfolding in April with some nice detective work of a trademark search by Scratching the Pitch. It is a secret no longer.

The City of Las Vegas has agreed in principle to Las Vegas Soccer bringing USL to Cashman Field for a fifteen-year lease beginning in 2018, and has recommended that the City Council will vote to approve the agreement next Wednesday. The stadium seats over 9,000 with a standing room capacity of 12,500.

For those interested in the details, the entire City Council official agenda for the City of Las Vegas (Line item 88) regarding the Cashman Field lease has been posted.

“A professional club in Las Vegas further strengthens the league’s presence on the West Coast, creating regional rivalries that drive fan passion for the game,” commented USL President Jake Edwards on the league’s website.

“The USL is thrilled with the tremendous progress and grateful for the hard work by the City of Las Vegas to bring professional soccer to downtown. We received a very strong application from the ownership group led by Brett Lashbrook and his family, and are optimistic the City Council will approve the lease agreement for Cashman Field next week. A professional club in Las Vegas further strengthens the league’s presence on the West Coast, creating regional rivalries that drive fan passion for the game.”

Lashbrook has many ties to the soccer industry having previously served as Chief Operating Officer for former United Soccer League & current Major League Soccer club Orlando City SC, as well as Special Assistant to the Commissioner’s Office & Legal Counsel at Major League Soccer.

“Las Vegas is the second largest U.S. market without a professional soccer team and it’s long overdue," said Lashbrook. "Our goal is to have this club truly reflect the multiculturalism of our community.”

While the majority of the news has been positive there are a couple of caveats reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

1. The team will share the stadium with the 51s baseball team, a Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets, for the foreseeable future.
2. The proposed lease agreement allows the city to terminate if the city enters into “definitive agreement” with an NFL, MLB, NBA or MLS team for the Cashman site, or a developer for another use.

Although it may seem all business for Las Vegas Soccer they still have time for some fun by encouraging fans “to submit their best idea for the USL Las Vegas Club’s official name.”

The new team in Las Vegas will be competing in the Western Conference and will become an instant rival for Sacramento Republic FC. Away games, anyone?