Chicago Sting targeting 2017 NASL debut

The North American Soccer League is expanding, and according to Dave Martinez, the league could be targeting another big market with an established Major League Soccer franchise for the start of the 2017 season. We've heard that a group in Chicago wanted to bring back the Sting, and Empire of Soccer is reporting that there's a familiar name helping to make that dream a reality.

The Sting are reportedly working with Peter Wilt, who has been a key figure in Midwestern soccer for many years. Cosmos fans are likely familiar with Wilt due to his role with Indy Eleven FC, but he also played a large part in bringing MLS to the windy city back in 1997.

The Sting group are hoping to begin play in 2017, and according to Martinez, as well as Guillermo Rivera, are hoping to find a home within the Chicago city limits, possibly Soldier Field:

Btw, as I've been saying for months.Expect NASL to announce Chicago expansion in Dec/Jan. They're looking to play within city limits. #sting

— Guillermo Rivera (@FireConf) October 26, 2015

Should this announcement happen, it would be the fourth NASL market with (or expecting) a MLS franchise. New York already has a pair of MLS rivals, while both Miami and Atlanta have been announced as future MLS expansion franchises. The league is also rumored to have interest in both Boston and Los Angeles, and are reportedly looking at San Francisco, which is in close proximity to San Jose.