Detroit's MLS expansion bid, backed by the owners of two NBA teams, appears headed for submission to the league by the Jan. 31 deadline.
Crain's Detroit Business reported Bill Shea tweeted on Wednesday that the bid was on schedule. Shea cited Palace Sports & Entertainment vice president Arn Tellem.
Palace Sports & Entertainment, owned by Gores (pictured above, left), is the parent company of the NBA's Detroit Pistons. Dan Gilbert's sports holdings (pictured above, right) include the NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers and their home court, Quicken Loans Arena. The two prospective MLS owners announced their partnership and plans to put together an MLS investment group last April and have previously met with MLS officials.
MLS Commissioner Don Garber has set Jan. 31 as the deadline for all interested ownership groups to file formal expansion bids. The league has plans to announce the 25th and 26th clubs before the end of 2017. The teams would then begin play in 2020.
