ΒΕΤΤΙΝG NEWSLETTERS: Kick Off: Stadium approvals in DC & Las Vegas | Re-Entry Stage 2 Draft

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Kick Off: Stadium approvals in DC & Las Vegas | Re-Entry Stage 2 Draft | New deals for Lenhart & Dwyer

Here are the top 15 stories everyone's talking about today:

1. D.C. STADIUM...YES!

D.C. United will finally get a home of their own after the D.C. Council voted unanimously in favor of the club's new soccer stadium at Buzzard Point. Head coach Ben Olsen says it is vital that United stay in the nation's capital, and it's a verdict that could help improve United both on and off the field. The longtime United supporters are certainly thrilled about it .

2. VEGAS VOTES YES, TOO

United were not the only ones to see a stadium vote go their way on Wednesday. The group behind Las Vegas' attempts to secure an MLS club saw their own stadium plan approved 4-3, on the condition that Vegas is awarded an MLS expansion team.

3. THE NEXT PHASE

Thursday afternoon will see the Stage 2 Draft of the Re-Entry Process, with almost 60 players available for clubs who, at this stage, are free to try and negotiate their own terms with any players they select.

4. SOUNDERS MOVES

There has been a lot of talk about the Seattle Sounders of late, including the reports that longtime Real Salt Lake GM Garth Lagerwey is headed there. But here's an interesting supposition from ESPN's Taylor Twellman, who says, "I think [co-owner] Adrian Hanauer wants Seattle to have their own stadium, and I wouldn't be shocked if that's where his focus and energy then turns."

5. TEACHING THE TIMBERS

Have the Timbers 2 USL PRO side hired their first head coach? Sources suggest that the Portland Timbers' new USL PRO club has lured Jay Vidovich, one of the nation's top college coaches, to help lead their new team.

6. BRAZ MAKING AN IMPACT

Having recently returned to the Montreal Impact as technical director, Adam Braz certainly has a big job on his hands trying to turn them into a playoff contender once again. His plan includes involves free agents and some quick defensive additions.

7. NEW DEAL FOR LENHART

Steven Lenhart will not be leaving the San Jose Earthquakes any time soon, as the 28-year-old striker signed a new deal to keep him at the club, with new head coach Dominic Kinnear stating, "When Steven is playing and being productive, we all know that benefits the team."

8. DOM DWYER SETS NEW TARGETS

Having just signed a new deal with Sporting Kansas City, English striker Dom Dwyer has already set his sights on more goals in 2015 and perhaps even representing the US national team one day. In other contract news, Real Salt Lake confirmed new deals for Nick Rimando and Kyle Beckerman.

9. MEARA'S CROSS-CITY HOPES

Sitting behind Luis Robles at the New York Red Bulls, Ryan Meara rarely had an opportunity to play competitive games in the past two years, and while the goalkeeper reflects on how difficult that was, he's also hoping to use his loan spell with New York City FC to remind people what he can do.

10. ORLANDO CITY & NYCFC TV DEALS

Orlando City SC announced their local TV deal on Wednesday. FOX 35 will carry the club's English-language broadcasts. Meanwhile, New York City FC appear set to announce their own TV rights deal on Thursday.

11. CANADA'S CHALLENGE

The Canadian national team has revealed their first two fixtures of the new year, with Benito Floro's side set to play two games against Iceland as part of January's training camp in Florida.

12. WONDO AND THE MISS

2014 is almost over and, after his terrible miss in the summer's World Cup, one player who might be glad to see the back of this year is Chris Wondolowski. Yet, to his credit, the San Jose Earthquakes striker has never hidden from his mistake.

13. THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT

The US U-18 national team's training camp in Marbella, Spain, seems to be going well. Javier Perez's side beat the German U-18s 2-1 in the first of two meetings between the teams.

14. THE WORLD AT THEIR FEET

The FIFA Club World Cup in Morocco is down to two teams after South American champions San Lorenzo of Argentina edged New Zealand semi-pro club Auckland City 2-1 in extra time to reach Saturday's final against Real Madrid. CONCACAF champion Cruz Azul will face Auckland City in the third-place match on the same day.

15. PRO SOCCER IN THE MOTOR CITY?

Will professional soccer ever make its way to Detroit? It will if Michigan Bucks owner Dan Duggan has anything to say about it. With his side crowned 2014 USL PDL champions and Duggan named PDL Executive of the year, he hasn't given up hope of bringing a USL PRO side to Motown.

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