Major League Soccer could be coming to Columbia

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - The Columbia city council is taking steps to bring Major League Soccer to the state’s capital.

An agreement exists between the City of Columbia and Hometown Soccer Holdings, LLC, which focuses on expanding MLS’s Minor League--MLS Next pro. However, this agreement is only a memorandum of understanding as voted on in the council meeting on Tuesday.

The agreement opens up the early stages of planning and developing, including doors of opportunity. Columbia Mayor Daniel Rickenmann said he sees the potential for the city to benefit.

“A facility like this could help other sports, most rectangular sports. You think about the growth of lacrosse, the club sports being played now are at a whole other level. The opportunity for these teams to be in our community, playing championships and high-stakes games. It creates some opportunity we don’t have here already,” Rickenmann said.

The opportunities go beyond the enjoyment of the game and into Columbia’s economic potential.

“Our visitor count from over the last five years went from 16 million to 17.4 million, so people are coming here. The more things that we have people involved in to do, they get to discover the other parts of the community. The trickle down from that goes to every restaurant, to retail, to convenience store to you name it--that helps our community grow,” Rickenmann said.

MLS Next Pro, established in 2022, has teams in Georgia and North Carolina. South Carolina could possibly join a higher soccer stage. Columbia resident Christopher Kelly supports adding soccer to the city.

“I think it’s very exciting because it shows they want to get with the times. Soccer is a very exciting sport; it’s the first sport that I ever played so I’m excited,” Kelly said.

Not every citizen is enthused by the idea of major league soccer coming to Columbia, including Wade Fulmer.

“It cost money to do something like that and it’s definitely going to be to be a big deal for people who want to bring in the team. Let’s get some of the things that need to be done here in Columbia done and not go for sports again,” Fulmer said.

The decision remains in the memorandum stage that could last 12 months. No one has decided a stadium location or financial details.

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