The cost of an MLS expansion franchise has skyrocketed over the league's history. Recent expansion fees have been in the range of $325-$400 million, reflecting the league's growth in value and prestige. San Diego FC, which joined in 2025, paid a reported $400 million expansion fee.
To put this in perspective, the original MLS franchises in 1996 paid $10 million, and expansion fees remained relatively modest through the early 2000s. The fee jumped to $150 million for LAFC in 2018, $200 million for Inter Miami and Nashville SC, and $325 million for St. Louis CITY SC. These fees represent the franchise's entry cost and do not include stadium construction, operating costs, or player payroll. The escalating fees reflect MLS's positioning as an increasingly valuable sports property.