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Wmpann

15 Nov 2006, 11:52 AM

After listening to the recent talks from Graber, do people think that STL is going to get a team? It seems to me that we are starting to fade from interest. I dont want this to happen in the least bit. I am also wondering where the best source is for obtaining info about expansion talk (besides here), and if there is anyway to communicate with the expansion group?

Sport Billy

15 Nov 2006, 12:13 PM

hillside

15 Nov 2006, 01:18 PM

I know I'm new to this board, but I heard some news (from someone who works with the ownership group) that I think would be of interest. As you know, the expansion hinges on closing a stadium deal in Collinsville. The problem is that Collinsville is about to blow it (much like what happened with the baseball stadium in Sauget & the new Busch Stadium). They are only a few bucks shy of making it happen, but they're trying to drive a tough but unrealistic bargain with the ownership group.

If they can't close the stadium deal in Collinsville, MLS will not happen in St. Louis. It's as simple as that.

One idea: A show of public support for the soccer stadium in Collinsville could help convince the Mayor & his staff that they need to close the deal and bring MLS to St. Louis. They need to understand what a golden opportunity this is & that St. Louis fans WILL make the trip to Collinsville to support a team based there.

Here's what you can do: call Collinsville City Hall. Tell them that
you are a St. Louis soccer fan and that it means the world to us, as a
city and as a soccer community, to get an MLS team. Tell them what an opportunity this is for the area, in terms of celebrating our long soccer tradition and promoting economic development. Strongly encourage them to close the stadium deal with the St. Louis MLS ownership group.

Collinsville City Hall / Mayor Stan Schaeffer: (618) 346-5200 ext. 115.

McGinty

15 Nov 2006, 01:57 PM

I won't question you even though I've been speaking with someone in the ownership group lately and haven't heard this. Regardless, is a public display something that the ownership group wants? I just want to make sure that this wouldn't be a hinderance to the process before I fire off a polite letter to the city of Collinsville (but as an Edwardsville native, being polite to Collinsville can be somewhat difficult ;))

billikenfan

15 Nov 2006, 02:05 PM

Good point, McGinty. I think the Cooper group has been respectful of the process, and I think it's been refreshing that an interested MLS group has been tactful about public displays. But just to confirm what hillside here has said, I actually heard the same thing yesterday. Apparently, this tid bit of info is brand spanking new.

I guess Collinsville really wants this and feels like they've missed out on eastward expansion (no puns intended on Lewis & Clarke). Problem is that they just don't seem to fully get it yet. If you're from Edwardsville, then you probably understand why.

I think the time is ripe for folks to show their support.

I'm calling Collinsville City Hall right now to register my support. Will let you know if there is any news to share.

hillside

15 Nov 2006, 02:13 PM

McGinty,
I had the exact same question. And the answer, I was assured, is that a show of public support might help make the difference. Collinsville needs to understand the extent of the opportunity before them and the depth of support for a St. Louis team; it's not clear that they understand either right now. If we approach this like savvy citizens advocating around a municipal issue, we may be talking a language the city can understand. Here's hoping anyway . . .

billikenfan

15 Nov 2006, 02:17 PM

Hillside was for real. Just called City Hall. I spoke with an assistant of some sort then left a message on the mayor's voicemail.

McGinty

15 Nov 2006, 02:37 PM

Okay, you've convinced me. :) I simply wanted to confirm everything since this is pretty heavy stuff.

Anyway, if you would like to fire some heavy ordinance, this column in the Kansas City Star may be helpful.

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/16013989.htm#recent_comm

TomEaton

15 Nov 2006, 02:54 PM

The phone number for Collinsville City Hall: (618) 346-5200 [Edit: I now see the number was already posted earlier. Sorry.]

I called and left a voice mail, I believe for someone named Mann who's the director of economic development or something along those lines. When calling I'd suggest telling them where you live, especially if you intend to cross from the Missouri side.

McGinty

15 Nov 2006, 06:36 PM

ironhead

15 Nov 2006, 08:53 PM

I'd once again stress that we should all be very careful about this. Public opinion can be very powerful, but I'm slightly worried about actually pi$$ing off the Schaeffer. Just be as respectful as possible if you contact them. :)

I also called and left a message.

I mentioned that I live in University City and that I have several friends who are avid soccer fans and that I believe many, many others would have no problem traveling a few extra miles and cross the river to Collinsville to support an MLS team. I also mentioned that it would bring national notoriety to Collinsville and provide for a significant increase in their tax base. I indicated that many people in St. Louis would simply be happy to have an MLS team and would not have a second thought about driving to the metro-east for soccer. I hope it helps.

SoccerPrime

16 Nov 2006, 12:54 AM

Here is another ally for the cause:
Tom Timmermann of the St Louis Dispatch seems to be the most avid pro-soccer reporter out there.
His email address is TTimmermann@post-dispatch.com and he is very good at replying to emails.

Hope that helps.

Sport Billy

16 Nov 2006, 01:00 PM

As you know, the expansion hinges on closing a stadium deal in Collinsville. The problem is that Collinsville is about to blow it. They are only a few bucks shy of making it happen, but they're trying to drive a tough but unrealistic bargain with the ownership group.

While I want a MLS team as much (if not more) than the next guy, why do you imply that the City is the one being unrealistic? I still do not understand why the public needs to finance a privite enterprise. If having a stadium and team is so great for a city, wouldn't Cooper et. al. have more offers than they could handle? But they don't because this type of project is very risky for a city.

Isn't just as likely that the City sees the ownership group as "trying to drive a tough but unrealistic bargain"?

While I want a team, I disagree that the public should finance it. Sports teams are a private enterprise making lots of $$$. If they are serious about wanting to own a team, they will find the money.

If I want to open a restaurant, it will bring in tax revenue, attract visitors, etc. But a city is not going to finance my construction. Why should a sports team be any different? A stadium only brings in money on game day, yet anything the city gives up is felt on a daily basis.

I hope Collinsville and the owners group come to an agreement, but I also hope that Collinsville doesn't give away too much. We all know this team is not going to be named Collinsville FC - It will be a St. Louis team.

You should read Sports, Jobs, and Taxes: The Economic Impact of Sports Teams and Stadiums for more information on how cities gain very little from having invested in stadium building.

billikenfan

16 Nov 2006, 02:30 PM

2 words: Frisco, Texas.

Sport Billy

16 Nov 2006, 03:00 PM

2 words: Frisco, Texas.

Frisco owns Pizza Hut Park and rents it back to FC Dallas.

This is entirely different from publicly financing a stadium that is owned by the team. (i.e. Busch)

If Collinsville is willing to build, own & maintain the stadium and rent it back to Cooper et al then go for it.

I'm just against the public giving public money to corporations for corporate investment for corporate profit.

timpcrk

17 Nov 2006, 08:55 AM

Frisco owns Pizza Hut Park and rents it back to FC Dallas.

This is entirely different from publicly financing a stadium that is owned by the team. (i.e. Busch)

If Collinsville is willing to build, own & maintain the stadium and rent it back to Cooper et al then go for it.

I'm just against the public giving public money to corporations for corporate investment for corporate profit.

I usually agree with you on this matter Sport Billy. I don't like the public subsidizing pro sports. But I don't like people inventing facts either. The Cardinals paid for new Bucsh, that is why they own it. I think the city gave them a loan with generous terms, but it is still only a loan. Also, most economists say that building a "new" stadium for a team the city already has does little good for the city. But building a stadium for a team the city does not have is usually beneficial.
Having said that, I still don't know why sports owners think they are above financing there own businesses.

Sport Billy

17 Nov 2006, 09:34 AM

I usually agree with you on this matter Sport Billy. I don't like the public subsidizing pro sports. But I don't like people inventing facts either. The Cardinals paid for new Bucsh, that is why they own it. I think the city gave them a loan with generous terms, but it is still only a loan. Also, most economists say that building a "new" stadium for a team the city already has does little good for the city. But building a stadium for a team the city does not have is usually beneficial.
Having said that, I still don't know why sports owners think they are above financing there own businesses.

I agree timpcrk - now that I reread my post, I see I could have been clearer. Sorry, my bad. Ishould have typed "what they tried to do with Busch." I referrenced Busch because the owners were trying to get public financing. And the public had the wherewithal to not be bullied by threats.

As far as new teams, yes, they are better off than existing teams. But even with a new team, a benefit from a stadium is less than if that city took that same money and invested in a overall job development plan and marketing scheme.

Long and short of it is that cities are better off spending their money elsewhere.

Wmpann

17 Nov 2006, 11:39 AM

Thnaks for all the info everybody!!

Wmpann

17 Nov 2006, 11:52 AM

Although i really want a soccer team in STL, I would really dislike it being in collinsville. I just dont understand the point of that, escepcially for STL, becuase right now they are trying to make the downtown area more attractive and livable. Putting a team in the city would give investors one more reason to improve/invest in the city. Going along the line of public support, shouldnt the city give major insentives to build downtown. Not direct public funding but at least something. Sometimes you got to spend a little to make a little.

billikenfan

17 Nov 2006, 01:15 PM

You raise some good points. The issue seems to be though that the group has tried to find a stadium in St. Louis but has not had the support of incentives through the City or County. To the other point of publicly funding corporate projects, my understanding is that the group is seeking a public/private partnership. What the Cardinals were trying to do has zero bearing on what St. Louis MLS is doing. They can't pay a $30 mm expansion fee, a $100 stadium, and operating expenses alone, and as what's been seen in Frisco, it's a strong investment for the city to create jobs, increase the tax base, etc.

Guess it all goes back to the same issue: if St. Louis is going to get a team, the stadium has to be in Collinsville. So far, they're the only municipality ready to create a public/private partnership (no coincidence that they also happen to be needing an engine for development since it's passed them over). While we'd love to live in a perfect world, I'd just be happy to see us get a team.

It's all just a bunch of conjecture until a deal is made or, at least, presented to the community. If fans want to see a team in St. Louis, by the sounds of this board, we should hope for a stadium in Collinsville.