Timeline of Major League Soccer's 25 years

(Reuters) – A time line of the 25-year history of Major League Soccer:

1993

Dec. 17 – Alan Bothenberg, chairman of World Cup 1994, announces Major League Soccer, with official formation in February 1995.

1994

June – Columbus, Los Angeles, New Jersey, New York, San Jose and Washington announced as first MLS teams.

1995

June 6 – Dallas, Denver and Kansas City join MLS, to begin play in 1996.

Nov. 22 – Doug Logan named MLS’s first commissioner, president and chief executive.

1996

April 6 – The San Jose Clash defeat D.C. United in the first MLS regular season game before 31,000 fans at Spartan Stadium in San Jose.

Oct. 20 – D.C. United wins the first MLS Cup by defeating the Los Angeles Galaxy 3-2 as 34,643 fans watch at Foxboro Stadium.

1997

April 9 – Chicago and South Florida announced as MLS expansion teams for the 1998 season, giving the league 12 teams.

October – ABC, ESPN and MLS agree to six-year TV deal through the 2003 season.

1999

May 15 – Columbus Crew opens the first major league, soccer-specific stadium in the United States before a sell-out crowd of 24,741. The new facility costs $28.5 million.

Aug. 4 – Don Garber becomes MLS commissioner, replacing Logan.

2002

Jan. 9 – The struggling Tampa Bay Mutiny and Miami Fusion franchises fold.

2004

Dec. 1 – MLS and the MLS Players Union sign the league’s first collective bargaining agreement

2007

Jan. 11 – David Beckham brings a new buzz to the league when he announces he will join the LA Galaxy and sign a five-year, $250 million deal.

April 28 – Toronto FC play their first home match, becoming the league’s first Canadian franchise.

2010

July 14 – Arsenal’s all-time leading goal scorer Thierry Henry agrees to multi-year contract with the New York Red Bulls. He would play with the MLS team for five seasons.

2013

May 21 – New York City FC, a partnership between Barclays Premier League club Manchester City and the New York Yankees, becomes the league’s 20th team, paying an expansion fee of $100 million, and will begin play in 2015.

2014

Feb. 5 – Garber announces David Beckham will acquire an expansion franchise in Miami if Beckham can secure a new stadium.

Oct. 27 – Chivas USA franchise folds after 10 seasons.

Oct. 30 – Los Angeles FC becomes the new LA franchise with plans to begin play in 2017.

2017

The league averages 22,113 fans, a record, with Atlanta United attracting an average of 48,200 to supplant Seattle Sounders as attendance leaders for the first time in eight seasons.

2018

Jan. 29 – After years of seeking a stadium site, Beckham is approved by the MLS for an expansion franchise in Miami with play beginning to 2020.

March 23 – Sweden’s all-time goal scorer, striker Zlatan Ibrahimović signs with LA Galaxy. He would depart in December 2019, telling fans to “go back to watching baseball.”

June 28 – English star Wayne Rooney agrees a $13 million, 2 1/2 year deal with D.C. United. He would leave in August 2019 to become a player coach with Derby County in England.

2019

Jan. 15 – MLS awards latest franchise to Austin with plans for first season in 2021.

Aug. 20 – Owners pay a reported $200 million expansion fee as St. Louis is granted an MLS franchise to begin play in 2022.

Oct 21 – MLS awards a franchise to Sacramento to become the league’s 29th team after paying $200 million expansion fee with first matches in 2022.

Dec. 17 – NFL Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper and partners, pay reported $325 million franchise fee, land MLS’s 30th franchise that will start play in 2021.

Compiled by Gene Cherry in Salvo, North Carolina; Editing by Daniel Wallis

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source: reuters.com