Manchester City FC and the New York Yankees have teamed up to bring us the club that will be known as New York City Football Club (or, presumably, NYC FC).

“We proudly welcome two of the most prestigious professional global sports organizations to Major League Soccer,” MLS Commissioner Don Garber said Tuesday in a league statement:

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.

There are still plenty of questions to be decided before the club begins to take form. Where will they play? How do their neighbors, the Red Bulls, feel about the expansion? Which big-name players and coaches—either domestic or foreign—will they lure to the team? 

But perhaps the most fascinating issue to be worked out is that of the uniforms. 

Most major clubs have new versions of their kits released each season, often with minor style tweaks, slight color or design changes or even new sponsors. 

But with an expansion team on the way, we're starting with a fresh slate.

So, without further ado (and using the amazing design blog "Soccer Without Context" as inspiration), here's one adaptation of what the new NYC FC kits might look like:

Both home and away jerseys feature the Umbro brand that currently manufactures the Man City uniforms. They both also feature the pinstripes of their parent club, the Yankees, though in rather different styles. 

In terms of color, much like the two super-clubs that came together to produce NYC FC, it makes sense to combine the sky blue of Citizens with the darker navy blue of the Bronx Bombers.

There are obviously plenty of sponsorship options—another issue for MLS to work out over the next two years—but the New York Stock Exchange (home) and Saks Fifth Avenue (away) seem appropriate.

The badge or logo will likely be designed over the next several months. But for the purposes of this exercise, I incorporated the logo of F.C. New York, a franchise that played in the USL Professional Division and National Premier Soccer Leagues in 2011 and 2012, respectively. 

So what do you think? Do you like these options? How should they be changed? What will NYC FC look like when they take to the pitch in the spring of 2015? 

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Garber, the long-tenured commissioner of Major League Soccer, announced the creation of New York City Football Club on Tuesday, a joint venture between Manchester City FC of the English Premier League and the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball, to be the league's 20th official club, starting in 2015.

Garber has been working on a deal to bring the 20th team to MLS for nearly three years, essentially demanding the 20th franchise be placed in New York City despite other viable markets being ready to take on a club. And how can one forget those plucky Cosmos—whatever they are—constantly remaining a thorn in the whole NY2 concept since its inception. 

Today, the story isn't about the Cosmos. Garber has taken back New York, placed his 20th franchise in the city he always wanted and took care of the coveted franchise fees of $100 million dollars the league certainly needs moving forward.

From the press box of Major League Soccer, commissioner Garber is quoted as saying:

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.

A new team in New York backed by the Yankees and a top EPL club, and Garber gets to cash a check for $1 million. Yeah, I'd say Garber had a pretty good day. 

Truth be told, Garber has been on a run of good news over the last few days.

After announcing his retirement from playing, David Beckham was linked with returning to MLS in an ownership capacity. The rumor got so hot that MLS vice president of communications Dan Courtemanche had to publicly put out the flames, telling reporters (via The Miami Herald):

Our focus is on the second team in New York, and Orlando City SC’s owners are very aggressive about bringing an expansion team to Central Florida. We’d love to be in South Florida at some point, but we currently do not have any specific plans for an expansion team in Miami.

So in a week's time, MLS has been the center of a nine-figure deal with backing from the Yankees and Manchester City to bring a second team to New York—an actual team in New York City to create an instant rivalry with the New York Red Bulls of New Jersey—and rumors that Beckham might want to be the owner of team 21. (It should be noted that Garber has since told reporters the league plans to take a break before further expansion.)

This is a time for MLS to celebrate.

The only thing that didn't go Garber's way this week was Frank Lampard's one-year deal to remain with Chelsea, keeping him away from MLS for at least one more season…and clearing the path for him to be the face of NYC FC in 2015. All in all, it seems Garber made out OK for now, and maybe down the line as well.

The Yankees and Manchester City haven't done too badly with this deal either.

For the Yankees, it's another way for the franchise to own a piece of New York's sports scene. With 10 professional sports franchises already in the market, the Yankees are smart to expand their brand in whatever ways possible.

The Yankees, per Forbes, are the most valuable sports franchise in America at $2.3 billion. Of the 27 American sports franchises valued over one billion dollars last year, four are in the New York area. The Yankees are on top, but it's savvy business as much as good baseball that keeps them there.

Manchester City is also smart to partner with MLS and the Yankees, helping to expand their brand beyond the moniker of the second best team in the third largest city of the 22nd most populated country in the world. Manchester United is one of the richest sports franchises on the planet, and despite the deep pockets of the current City owners, the "other" team in Manchester will always play second citizen in its own town.

In New York, however, they can be kings. By teaming up with the New York Yankees, Manchester City can take a small glimmer of the spotlight away from their cross-town rivals (Note: The owners of Manchester United also own an American sports franchise with a bit more value in Tampa Bay) and be the first Premier League side to truly make MLS a bridge to European soccer for young players who get their start in America.

Sure, there are detractors of the deal. For one, Red Bulls fans cannot be happy about this, no matter how MLS tries to spin it.

For years it has felt like RBNY was a second citizen in New York to the theoretical NY2 team, so now that the team actually exists and has enormous backers, RBNY fans have to be nervous about getting lost in the swamps of Jersey. 

Some critics have suggested that such a visible partnership with Manchester City and the Yankees could hurt the MLS team from growing an organic fanbase in New York, especially if there are Manchester United fans and New York Mets fans looking to get into MLS.

The easy answer there? United fans and Mets fans should root for the Red Bulls! MLS wins either way.

Still, Garber's next challenge has to be to convince casual American soccer fans to care about a rivalry between New York teams. He informed reporters on Tuesday's teleconference that the plan for two New York teams was part of the original MLS model back in 1996.

Garber is doing his best to stoke the rivalry, beginning on the day of the announcement.

Of course, the league has to also remember there are 18 other teams. We know the league is aware of at least one of the two teams in Los Angeles, but there are 17 other franchises around the country that Garber needs to make sure stay happy and competitive. Relying too much on a few teams can be dangerous for any league, especially one as top heavy as MLS might easily become. 

That becomes a problem for the near future. Today's MLS news is all about New York and Garber. He shouldn't need to sell this to anybody.

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Read Tuesday's press release here. 

The news has excited football fans all over the world and upset a few, too—especially those who believe the southeast U.S. was more deserving of an expansion MLS franchise than the New York area (consolation may be on the way if David Beckham buys a franchise down that way, of course).

What we know so far is the team will compete for the first time in 2015 and be located inside the five boroughs of New York City. The grand plan is to build a new stadium in New York, but that won't be ready in time for their launch.

"New York City FC is committed to seeking a new permanent stadium in New York," read the statement on that matter. "Until that time, the new team is arranging to play in an interim home beginning in its inaugural MLS season in 2015." 

In the meantime, the speculation begins as to who might be play for the inaugural NYC FC team. You can be sure they'll try and launch with some big names. Here are six who might be considered candidates to do for New York what Beckham did for soccer in L.A.

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For that latter part of the equation, NYCFC is good for American soccer, where investment lags far behind both the European game and the traditional American triumvirate of baseball, basketball and football.

MLS announced the news in a press release Tuesday.

Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber announced today that a partnership of global sports powers, Manchester City Football Club and the New York Yankees, has acquired the League’s 20th expansion club. The new team will be named New York City Football Club (NYCFC) and expects to begin play in 2015.

…

Manchester City will be the majority owner of the new Club. As an investor, the Yankees will be an active member of the ownership group.

The Yankees and Manchester City, two of the biggest-spending teams in all of sports, already have a commercial relationship. Both have large fanbases but also often provoke negative reactions from fans.

With 27 World Series titles, the Yankees are the most historically successful team in American professional baseball. Under their late former owner George Steinbrenner, the Yankees outspent opponents and sometimes drew outright hatred from many neutral fans.

Manchester City surged to elite status in the English Premier League with the help of heavy investment from the Abu Dhabi United Group, which bought the club in 2008 (BBC Sport). Since the takeover, City often have simply outspent their rivals in order to attract top talent. The heavy spending and financial losses have drawn criticism.

Such a partnership of obvious villains could alienate some American fans, particularly those who support the Boston Red Sox (the Yankees' main rivals) or Manchester United (City's main rivals). But in American soccer, where investment lags so far behind, the partnership will be positive overall.

Major League Soccer's salary cap currently stands just under $3 million per season—for an entire team (via Soccer America). Compared to the NFL ($123 million, per NFL.com) or the NBA (just over $58 million, per NBA.com), MLS deals in pocket change.

(Major League Baseball does not have a salary cap but charges a luxury tax to big-spending teams. The Yankees, who had a payroll of $222.5 million in 2012, paid a luxury tax of $18.9 million last season, according to CBS New York.)

MLS clubs can circumvent the salary cap partially by using the designated player rule. Introduced ahead of David Beckham's arrival in Los Angeles in 2007, the designated player rule allows MLS clubs to commit only a fraction of a star player's salary toward the salary cap. Clubs currently can sign up to three designated players. For this season's full designated player rules, visit MLSsoccer.com.

Considering the spending habits of its partners, NYCFC will almost certainly take full advantage of the designated player rule. In fact, with all the money potentially available, NYCFC could contend in their debut 2015 season.

Another factor to consider is the draw of New York for overseas players compared to, say, Columbus or Kansas City. With competitive salaries and the backdrop of the Big Apple on offer, world-famous stars based in Europe could feasibly see NYCFC as a realistic option.

That could—maybe will—make NYCFC the team most MLS fans love to hate. But that is not necessarily a bad thing. MLS needs money coming in, and as the press release said, NYCFC is "committed to seeking a new permanent stadium in New York," possibly in Queens.

Whether you love or hate NYCFC, the club figures to provoke strong reactions from most or all American soccer fans. And with heavy investment possible—perhaps even likely—the potential for big-name arrivals could attract an unprecedented number of new casual fans.

Much remains to be decided, and the team has not even played a single match. But once NYCFC begins play in 2015, it's entirely possible to see the landscape of American soccer changing forever.

Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.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.

Follow Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Patrick Clarke on Twitter. 

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As a result of all the chaos that took place on the pitches of North America this weekend, this week's power rankings have a new team at the top.

Read on to see what club took away the No. 1 spot from FC Dallas, who had been the top team for five consecutive weeks. 

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There was no shortage of red cards, goals and dramatic finishes in Week 12. Unless, of course, you were in attendance at BMO Field Saturday afternoon. 

Toronto FC fell 1-0 to the Columbus Crew, extending their losing streak to four games. Not to be outdone, Chivas USA extended their winless streak to six games and forced goalkeeper Dan Kennedy to start taking free-kicks in the process.

But a temporary moratorium has been placed on the fault-finding for both clubs by this featured columnist. At least for this week.

So, whose performance was worthy of being mentioned in the best and worst from Week 12? Read on to find out.

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The most exciting, action-packed match of the weekend came from the Pacific Northwest as Seattle defeated FC Dallas in a six-goal shootout that had everything you could ask for in a soccer match.

In the Eastern Conference, two clubs at the bottom of the standings pulled off shocking results with New England defeating Houston on the road and D.C. drawing with Sporting at home.

Read on for comprehensive recaps of each and every match that was played in MLS this weekend. 

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Without question, MLS has improved over the years, but it was predicated on getting past-their-prime Europeans and young stars before they were discovered by larger clubs.

Keeping top-level American talent at home will not necessarily help U.S. soccer immediately. After all, iron sharpens iron. Having the stars of tomorrow stay at home will help MLS continue to grow and that could pay dividends for U.S. soccer down the road.

So, how do we keep them at home?

There are two big obstacles that leap off the page.

First, the paydays. Top-level talent has the best chance to make a big paycheck in the elite leagues. Those opportunities are not plentiful in MLS. Second, is the players desire to challenge themselves against the best in the world.

The second is harder to convince anyone of at this juncture. It's a hard sell.

How can MLS and U.S. soccer offer top-level American athletes more money to stay? MLS cannot simply skew contracts to the American players.

Are there opportunities to give them sponsorship kickbacks or more sponsorship opportunities? That is a realistic option but not ideal.

Call me a pessimist, but the odds of convincing the best homegrown players to stay is extremely low. The USA is fighting a losing battle in this one right now. The options at the fingertips of those who can attempt to talk the players into staying are slim.

That does not mean we should not try.

There can be creative solutions to the problem. If a solution is fixed, it will help MLS and American soccer in general.

If MLS is to continue its growth and become a top-tier league, it needs to keep its top players in its domestic league. It will make the league more marketable and help enthuse the youth about U.S. soccer.

The residual effect will help U.S. soccer in the future. All positives, but we must solve the riddle to keep players playing at home.

Take to the comments with your thoughts and ideas of how to keep homegrown American talent stateside, or argue that it is better they go across the pond for their careers.

Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com

On Tuesday, it was reported that the 31-year-old would not be a part of Jurgen Klinsmann's plans for the upcoming friendlies against Belgium and Germany as well as the three CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers in June (via Los Angeles Times). 

As is the usual with news about Donovan, the reaction surrounding Klinsmann's decision was polarizing to say the least. 

While it now seems like a foregone conclusion that the earliest American fans will see Donovan back with the national team is July's CONCACAF Gold Cup, he must now focus on the task at hand in Major League Soccer with the Galaxy.

Just a day after the announcement was made by Klinsmann, Donovan lit the Philadelphia Union on fire with a stunning performance that included a goal and two assists in the Galaxy's 4-1 win. 

Donovan's impeccable partnership with the forward elevated itself to another level on Wednesday as the two combined on two of the four Galaxy goals in the match. 

The duo also showed signs of their continued dominance without the now-retired David Beckham against Sporting Kansas City on April 20 at the Home Depot Center as they combined on both Galaxy goals in the victory.

If Donovan and Keane are to play at the same rate that they did against Philadelphia and Sporting, the rest of MLS is in for another season of dominance by the Galaxy. 

The two-time defending MLS Cup champions will have Donovan in the squad until at least early July, and even then no one is sure if he will accept the call-up to the tournament where the United States are expected to field their "B" team. 

If Donovan does end up snubbing the national team, and in the process continues the drama-filled run around of words with Klinsmann, the Galaxy could have quite the run of form in the summer. 

Keane, who has retired from international football with the Republic of Ireland, will be in the Galaxy camp all summer alongside Donovan and if the two can do something similar on the pitch to what they did against the Union and Sporting, the Galaxy could end up challenging the record number of points in a season set by the club themselves way back in 1998. 

It is worth pointing out that defender Omar Gonzalez will be playing for the United States in the five upcoming matches in May and June while Mike Magee may get called up for the Gold Cup squad if his current run of form continues. 

Both Magee and Gonzalez have been crucial members of the Galaxy squad for the last few seasons but the scary part about the Galaxy is that they have plenty of depth in case of the possible departures to the international scene. 

The trio of Sean Franklin, Tommy Meyer and A.J. DeLaGarza can easily come in to the vacated spot left open by Gonzalez and the stacked midfield that contains Hector Jimenez, Greg Cochrane and Marcelo Sarvas should be able to fill in for Donovan and Magee, if they were to leave for international duty. 

Regardless of whether Donovan and his teammates head off for the Gold Cup in July, one thing is for sure about their expected play before then—it will put MLS and even Klinsmann on notice that the old Donovan is back for good and a three-peat is in the cards for the Galaxy. 

Follow me on Twitter, @JTansey90. 

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