MLS, Yankees and Manchester City Announce Partnership to Create New York City FC

Major League Soccer has announced a partnership between English Premier League club Manchester City and Major League Baseball's New York Yankees to create the soccer league's 20th expansion franchise, according to MLSSoccer.com.

The club will be named New York City Football Club, according to the league announcement. 

Manchester City is expected to be the majority owner of the club, but the Yankees will also play a pivotal part in the process, as the team's president, Randy Levine, will have a leadership role with the new club. 

Both powerhouse sports franchises have worked together in the past, developing international entertainment and marketing organization Legends Hospitality.   

New York City FC, which will become an instant crosstown rival to the Eastern Conference-leading New York Red Bulls, is expected to begin play in 2015.  

MLS commissioner Don Garber had the following to say in a statement released by the league (via MLSSoccer.com):

"

We proudly welcome two of the most prestigious professional global sports organizations to Major League Soccer. This is a transformational development that will elevate the league to new heights in this country. The New York area is home to more than 19 million people, and we look forward to an intense crosstown rivalry between New York City Football Club and the New York Red Bulls that will captivate this great city.

"

The club has now begun the search for a venue. According to the announcement, the New York City Football Club will seek an interim stadium for the time being before ultimately finding a permanent venue to call home.

One potential destination for the new club is Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens. Most sports fans will recognize Flushing Meadows as the annual site of tennis' final Grand Slam tournament, the U.S. Open.

There are currently 19 clubs in MLS, with the Eastern Conference comprising 10 teams and the Western Conference featuring nine teams. It's not yet known if or how the league will realign to accommodate the new club.

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