Why Cincinnati, Nashville are the wisest choices for MLS expansion

Major League Soccer has whittled its original list of 12 expansion cities down to four, with Nashville, Detroit, Sacramento, and Cincinnati battling it out for two franchises set to be awarded next year. Each city presents a strong case for an MLS team, but here's why the league would be wise to select Nashville and Cincinnati ahead of Sacramento and Detroit.

The case for Nashville

A rich history of country music and a small-town feel defines the old Nashville, but Tennessee's pride and joy is growing younger and cooler each year. At 1.8 million, the city may be smaller in population than the other three - if only by a hair - but what Nashville offers on the sporting front makes it the clear leader for an MLS expansion franchise.

The bid is spearheaded by John Ingram and the Wilf and Turner families, who collectively account for the deepest pockets among the four bids. A 27,500-seat park at the old Fairgrounds fits MLS head honchos' preference for a soccer-specific stadium. There isn't a regional history of the sport to draw on, but if the growing love for the Nashville Predators of the NHL is any indication, there's little resistance to embracing new forms of entertainment.

Unlike Sacramento - which would have to compete with the LA Galaxy, San Jose Earthquakes, and Los Angeles FC in California - Nashville has the whole state to itself. That factor, coupled with rich owners and a stadium already under construction, makes the MLS in Nashville an inevitability.

Ruling out Detroit

Michigan's most famous city might have had a legitimate shot at expansion this time around, boasting a large population of 4.2 million and owners Dan Gilbert and Tom Gores of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons, respectively. But a few factors are working against Detroit - the biggest being Ford Field.

MLS doesn't need to settle for sharing NFL stadiums, least of all in a city that has experienced economic hardship as of late. While Detroit would be a strong potential market in the right circumstances, this wave of growth offers better choices that don't require compromising on a stadium. It's smart to name Detroit as a strong, final-four contender, however, to keep the city in the picture; ruling the bid out earlier might make the owners walk away or cause interest to dissipate.

Sacramento or Cincinnati?

We're down to two, and Sacramento has the edge in the current expansion bid for a few key reasons: Owners Kevin Nagle, Jed York, and Mark Friedman have deeper pockets than Carl H. Lindner III and Scott Farmer; the stadium situation is much clearer than Cincinnati's, with a 22,000-seat, soccer-specific stadium already being built in The Railyards; USL outfit Sacramento Republic FC has proven the city's viability as a soccer market; and the club would play in the Western Conference, whereas the other three cities are based in the East.

MLS commissioner Don Garber said in 2015: "I believe that Sacramento belongs in MLS. And when we are able to bring them in, they will be very successful." That clear indication of the league's interest supports the idea that Sacramento ought to be a shoe-in, but with a USL-leading attendance of more than 20,000 fans at each match, Cincinnati has the potential to be a big player right out of the gate, too. That success, and the fate of the Columbus Crew, could sway the league's decision next year.

When it comes to choosing between Sacramento's comprehensive project or Cincinnati's endgame advantage, it might not be a question of "who" but rather "when." Both cities will likely eventually boast MLS teams. In this particular wave, though, there are signs that Cincinnati might pip Sacramento's bid - namely, the domino effect that would be set off by relocation.

Crew owner Anthony Precourt is pushing to move the team to Austin, Texas, which explains why once-heavy favorite San Antonio wasn't in the final four; with the Crew out, there'd be no team in Ohio, a role FC Cincinnati would then fill.

Of all the decisions MLS needs to make in the coming weeks and months, the most important - and thus the one that must be resolved first - is the situation in Columbus. It might be wise for MLS to quell any notion that the Crew will remain there by giving Cincinnati the green light and letting Sacramento develop into a sure thing come the next wave of expansion.