St. Louis Expansion Talks! Part II

[Sport Billy]

Hope no one minds me continuing this. :)

Quote from last thread
Obviously I am not an expert, but my impression is that Hadley doesn't even know about the current St Louis MLS bid nor the plans for a stadium on the east side of the river.

I think his info is leaky at best, rumor at least.

What "plans"????? Do you know something?
Cooper said they were looking at the east side for a place stadium.

Is this the "plans"??? Or do you know about real, actual stadium plans including site, costs, size tc.


BTW, I'll take any team - expansion or a location change.

[McGinty]

What "plans"????? Do you know something?
Cooper said they were looking at the east side for a place stadium.

Is this the "plans"??? Or do you know about real, actual stadium plans including site, costs, size tc.

The group is much farther along than most people realize. They have done a pretty good job of conducting things privately.

BTW, I'll take any team - expansion or a location change.
I agree, but expansion would be much better in my opinion.

[pemurill]

Let's settle this once and for all...Two teams, RSL on the Missouri Side and the expansion team on the East side. The St. Louis Derby will start 2008...Just kidding

My real question is why the Expansion Group is so secretive. I would imagine they would want to build support and hopefully include some if not all the major youth clubs and organizations in the grassroots support. Anyway just looking something out of that group.

Checketts looks like a pure political power play (sorry for the hockey reference) in getting more money out of Salt Lake. However like most, I do not really care as Saint Louis gets a team.

[Sport Billy]

The group is much farther along than most people realize. They have done a pretty good job of conducting things privately.


I agree, but expansion would be much better in my opinion.


How do you know this?
Yes, I agree I would rather have expansion.

[TomEaton]

If RSL was moved to St. Louis I'd feel really sorry for the Real fans, who have come out in good numbers to see a really bad team. I'd feel better if St. Louis got an expansion team.

But that wouldn't stop me from attending games in St. Louis if it happened. The proposed Metro-East location would be just about ideal for me.

[FC Dizzle]

it would make more sense to relocate the wizards than the fakers.

[EastSider]

I agree with McGinty. I think there is more going on behind the scenes than many realize. I don't know anything, just a hunch. But I hope we hear something soon.

And like many, I'd prefer an expansion team - build your own image and history from the ground up. But after the failed NFL expansion bid in the early 90s and ultimately the move of the Rams to STL, it wouldn't bother me in the least to welcome RSL, the Wizards, or any other MLS team looking for a new home. St. Louis has embraced the Rams as their own just fine. I think it would be easier with an MLS team.

[McGinty]

How do you know this?

I'd like to elaborate, but all I can/should say is that you'll have to trust me on this. Take that for whatever you believe it is worth. :)

My real question is why the Expansion Group is so secretive. I would imagine they would want to build support and hopefully include some if not all the major youth clubs and organizations in the grassroots support. Anyway just looking something out of that group.

I've seen this in KC as well. The KC group was unknown to the public for almost 1 year until they were outed by the KC Star. The group in KC has just announced that they are interested today (or maybe they are doing it tomorrow).

First, people want to have all their ducks in a row before they go public. Public involvement in every single decision/issue only retards the process, especially when it comes to stadium plans.

Second, going public on plans could short circuit stadium plans before they can even get off the ground. People living near a stadium could hear "stadium proposal" and equate it with "tax increase" before a funding plan, which doesn't usually involve a tax increase, is even finished. They would prefer to be able to present a plan to the public only when everything involved with a stadium is complete.

Once everything is in order for potential ownership groups, they will go public and rally the community to get behind it.

[ironhead]

Man, just reading about this makes me excited.

Can you imagine how f**king cool it will be to form the STL supporters club?!

Writing songs, chants, etc. I'm getting way ahead of myself, but I've got a feeling about this.

[pemurill]

I just hope either Expansion or Checketts group galvanizes the local youth soccer community because I believe that would make the Saint Louis team an extreme success. I heard they were working with Metro United in Illinois which is fantastic however that would severly limit the scope of the team. I mean the MLS Saint Louis team should have their logo and influence on every youth game in the area. Again my opinion but with the strong youth club culture here it should be utilized not trivalized especially once as McGinty said they get their "ducks in a row"

Also when Saint Louis gets a team (I hope, I hope) the business leaders and MLS franchise leaders should start at Sister Cities Cup. Looking at the "Sister Cities" with Saint Louis and it would provide a nice international outreaching opportunity. Lyon(Olympique Lyon), Stuttgart (Stuttgart) and Samara, Russia (FC Samara) are all Saint Louis international sister cities and all have clubs in the top domestic league. This could take place in the summer when the European Clubs start their training and such. Would be a nice way to get the business community involved and move Saint Louis out into the international community. Just a thought!

[jasontoon]

Maybe Checketts is just looking to move the team somewhere where they won't have to change the RSL acronym. There's letterhead to think about here, people!

[Sport Billy]

I'd like to elaborate, but all I can/should say is that you'll have to trust me on this. Take that for whatever you believe it is worth. :)



That is great. I was not nor would I ever ask you to "out" yourself or anyone else. It's just that when someone is speaking as if they are "in the know," I would like to know if they really are or are they just running at the mouth.


As far as the stadium. I live on the West Side and work on the East Side - I'm set. (As long as you stay away from Charlie town) ;) Sign me up for tickets.

[Sport Billy]

FROM ESPN: re: Real Salt Lake

Checketts said he has had no contact with Rochester, N.Y., officials about moving the team to the western New York city. St. Louis, where Checketts owns the NHL team, has also come up as a possible new location, but Checketts said he would sell the team before moving it.

"I have said very clearly I only want to own the team in Utah," Checketts said.

[KeeperDad30]

FROM ESPN: re: Real Salt Lake

Checketts said he has had no contact with Rochester, N.Y., officials about moving the team to the western New York city. St. Louis, where Checketts owns the NHL team, has also come up as a possible new location, but Checketts said he would sell the team before moving it.

"I have said very clearly I only want to own the team in Utah," Checketts said.

I saw a story on the Channel 5 news on Wed. night that Checketts might move RSL here because the Salt Lake City council voted against using taxpayer funding for a Stadium.

Here is a link to the story:
http://www.ksdk.com/sports/sports_article.aspx?storyid=100106

[timpcrk]

I know I've heard someone else mention this location, but just south of Busch Stadium on the other side of I-64 seems like an ideal spot for a SSS. Everyone agrees that the perfect situation would put a stadium downtown and right now this area is mostly parking lots. This location could make use of the Busch Stadium parking garages and would be a short walk from the completed Ballpark District. Just imagine a Saturday doubleheader of soccer and baseball only a block apart!

Hopefully the owners of a St. Louis team realize that a investing more now in order to secure a downtown SSS will pay off huge dividends in the long run.

[Angus Podgorney]

According to an article in the Post-Dispatch, Garber will be in St. Louis today to meet with the potential owners of a St. Louis expansion team. According to the article, they're still considering stadium locations on both sides of the Mississippi.

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/othersports/story/07BE5C1C91E3D84F862571AE0012E873?OpenDocument

[pemurill]

There is a poll on the Saint louis Post Dispatch website about MLS support.

Anytime we can make soccer look well supported the better.

It is down on the right hand side midway down
http://www.stltoday.com/sports

[McGinty]

There is a poll on the Saint louis Post Dispatch website about MLS support.

Anytime we can make soccer look well supported the better.

It is down on the right hand side midway down
http://www.stltoday.com/sports

It's a good old-fashioned Big Soccer ballot stuffing! :)

[Angus Podgorney]

I voted just now; the current totals to the question "Would you support MLS in St. Louis?" are:

Yes - 45%
No - 45%
Not sure, need more information - 10%.

Total number of votes: 522

[ironhead]

Damn it. I'm really getting excited about this. I honestly think we might have as good a chance as any of the other cities in getting an MLS club, maybe better than most. The article mentioned several civic leaders among those attending the meeting - they wouldn't be there if they weren't serious!