A new football-specific stadium has been earmarked for Nashville, Tennessee as a result of the city launching a bid to establish a Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise.

A 22-member organising committee – headed up by businessman and investor Bill Hagerty – is leading the bid to bring top-flight football to the city.

The group has been in contact with a number of potential investors and located several stadium sites with the help of the city council and private developers.

In May, Nashville was awarded an expansion team for the United Soccer League – two leagues below the MLS – with Nashville FC set to begin playing in 2018. However, Hagerty said the city must compete for an MLS position now rather than work its way up the football pyramid.

“We feel like the time is now, and if we’re going to do it, we need to go for it directly,” he said.

MLS – which currently has 20 clubs – wants to expand to 28 teams, although four extra spot will go to Atlanta United in 2017, Minnesota United in 2017 or 2018, Los Angeles FC in 2018 and a Miami franchise.

That leaves Nashville competing with Sacramento, St Louis, Detroit, Cincinnati, San Antonio and San Diego for the final four positions.