What are the chances, percentagewise, right now?

[Rowdies 71]

I'm just not sure it really affects us.

True, but their seems like enough overlapping elements to make this somewhat newsworthy on this board. Given the hockey side of things and Checketts purchase of the Blues, St. Louis fans have some unique insight into the situation in regards to the Checketts cashflow, commitment, etc...

Not slamming anyone here. I was just very surprised. Being from St. Louis and a hockey/soccer fan and one interested in MLS exansion I find this to be a very interesting subject to keep an eye on.

[EastSider]

This situation reminds me too much of the NFL expansion fiasco in the early 90s (with apologies to Jerry Clinton who I think tried his best at the time). St. Louis was in the running for an expansion team, and during all of that, James Orthwein purchased the New England Patriots. Because of his St. Louis connections (with the Busch family), everyone thought he would move the team to St. Louis. I think the TV stations even convinced the NFL to allow the Patriots games to be shown locally for a time.

In the end, St. Louis lost out on the two expansion teams to Jacksonville and Carolina, partly due to confusion between competing expansion groups. And the Pats were bought by Robert Kraft and stayed put in New England. It wasn’t until we built a stadium that we finally convinced a team, the Rams, to move here when they had stadium issues in LA.

Is the RSL situation worth keeping an eye on? Perhaps, but at the moment I think it’s strictly an issue for the folks in Salt Lake City.

[BMGSouthCity]

The dome, I believe, was built more or less under the assumption that St. Louis would recieve an NFL expansion team. I remember (my memory is cloudy, I was only eleven) a period of time after the expansion fell through when St. Louisans said "We've got this half-built stadium, now what do we do with it?"

My point is, because we had a stadium and no team, the first NFL franchise to have problems with its city looked directly to us. A year later, voila.

MLS is still somewhat unstable, relative to the NFL. If the stadium gets built, we will get a team, some way or another, in the following 1-4 years.

Since MLS is not a winter sport, Checketts may look more favorably on soccer than the NBA. An NBA team has the potential to do major damage to Blues attendence OR to be hurt if the Blues put together some winning seasons. MLS is much less likely to hurt, or be hurt by, the Blues. Personally, though, I'd prefer local owners.

[jasontoon]

Like the old NFL efforts mentioned above, it seems like the Checketts/RSL story and the Cooper/Huyghue effort are two totally separate situations. Cooper's group is the one that's laid the groundwork for a stadium. Checketts has said not only that he's not interested in moving RSL here, but that if they can't get a Utah stadium, he'll sell the team.

So, it's always possible the Cooper group could make a bid to buy the team. So in that sense, the team could wind up here. But not directly because of Checketts moving the team here.

Despite some superficial connections, I agree that this doesn't seem like a huge deal for St. Louis's MLS prospects, pro or con.

[EastSider]

Agreed, the situation is different in the details. I was mainly looking at it from a coincidental point of view that while in the process of trying to secure an expansion team, another team, with an owner with St. Louis connections, potentially becomes available.

I agree that if it were to come to pass, it would likely result from the Cooper/Hughyue partners purchasing the team from Mr. Checketts. But I think there is still much more to play out in SLC first.

[McGinty]

Despite some superficial connections, I agree that this doesn't seem like a huge deal for St. Louis's MLS prospects, pro or con.

The positive for St. Louis would be that a city seeking expansion could end up with Real, thus decreasing the competition for an MLS team.

And I don't think Cooper is going to step aside and let Checkett's become the beneficiary for his personal and financial investments in getting St. Louis to this stage. If a St. Louis team is here, it will be because of Cooper and Huygue, which would be a better situation than Checkett's.

And frankly, I'd prefer expansion to a relocated team. Sure, RSL has Freddy Adu, but I doubt he's going to be around by the time RSL moves anywhere (if they move).

[Atarian]

Copper has spent to much time and money to let someone else in here with a team. Copper may buy the team from Chicketts and move them over here. But for now it seems that all eyes should be on C'villes law makers and see how long it takes them to shot themselves in the foot (again).

[Sport Billy]

And I don't think Cooper is going to step aside and let Checkett's become the beneficiary for his personal and financial investments in getting St. Louis to this stage.


God, I would love it if he would. Right now, anyone is looking better than Cooper.
He has no plan. This Collinsville thing is not going to happen.
The media reports have indicated that Cooper has said "I want MLS" and "I want to put it on Horseshoe Lake Road."
There has been no stadium plan or any plan on how to fund this.
Cooper's approach so far has been - "I want a team and I'm rich."
Let someone with a clue how to run a team get involved.

The approach should have been - Here is our stadium design and here is how we will fund it now, if the City grants us some TIF land we will bring it to you. Collinsville would have jumped at this.

Instead, he asks for the TIF funds without offering any plan to pull it off.

I would love for someone with ESTABLISHED ownership credentials to come in and make a move.

I would love for a Rams repeat - An unknown (Then Clinton/Now Cooper) comes in and gets people talking. Someone with real abilities then sees the interest and makes the move. THIS WOULD BE FANTASTIC.

[McGinty]

God, I would love it if he would. Right now, anyone is looking better than Cooper.

You mean like that guy who had two years to get a stadium deal done in Salt Lake when he already had a team and now may be forced to sell? Or the people in Philly, San Jose or Cleveland?

He has no plan. This Collinsville thing is not going to happen.
The media reports have indicated that Cooper has said "I want MLS" and "I want to put it on Horseshoe Lake Road."

I don't think you can base all of this on a few sketchy reports and speculation (unless you're Fox News, I suppose)

The approach should have been - Here is our stadium design and here is how we will fund it now, if the City grants us some TIF land we will bring it to you. Collinsville would have jumped at this.

Instead, he asks for the TIF funds without offering any plan to pull it off.

This hasn't been the issue with Collinsville at all.

I would love for a Rams repeat - An unknown (Then Clinton/Now Cooper) comes in and gets people talking. Someone with real abilities then sees the interest and makes the move. THIS WOULD BE FANTASTIC.

Cooper is not really opposed to this, and he would like a larger investment/ownership group. I even think he would be willing to step away from the public spotlight. However, none of those people have come forward, and he is the one who has to push this.

[m16t]

I'm just not sure it really affects us.

Well, I'm wrong.

http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_5123653

Checketts is talking turkey with Cooper's group. Might just be a bargaining ploy; who knows. Wonder if buying RSL would be cheaper than the expansion fee MLS wants.

[Monarch Bay Beachbum]

I think Checketts would like to keep Real in Utah. That is by far his favorite option. But, I think he was at his wit's end with all of the politicians when he commented that he would have a buyer by Friday.

I took that comment to mean Cooper's group, and Cooper's group only.

So, if we are to talk percentages, I would say 85% likely that Real will stay in Utah, 10% chance of coming to St. Louis, and 5% chance of going elsewhere.

[SoccerPrime]

Some comments from a RSL fan that has St Louis ties and just loves MLS expansion.

-SLC paper says "league sources say" Checketts has permission to talk to St Louis. Might as well said BS is the source.
-Cooper seems to think his group is close to getting a Collinsville stadium together.
-There are at least 2 semi-viable sites for RSL to build in Utah. At least 1 maybe 2 Utah owners that can buy RSL from Checketts and keep it in Utah.

-Even if Cooper got RSL, where would they play until Collinsville was ready?

[Monarch Bay Beachbum]

-Even if Cooper got RSL, where would they play until Collinsville was ready?



They would stay at the U of U for 2007.

Cooper has already stated, or was it the mayor of Collinsville, that they could have a stadium ready to be played in by the 2008 season.

[sirfallsalot_2000]

One thing is for sure: Real St. Louis makes a hell of alot more sense than Real Salt Lake. We are named after a king, they have....a lake? Help me out.
Also, Chris Klein would be coming home. Relocation wouldn't be terrible. In '96 STL fans saw both expansion teams playing for the Superbowl. In 2000 we celebrated. Who knew?

[McGinty]

-SLC paper says "league sources say" Checketts has permission to talk to St Louis. Might as well said BS is the source.
-Cooper seems to think his group is close to getting a Collinsville stadium together.


I get the feeling that St. Louis in MLS is like Houston or Kansas City for the NHL: a possibility for relocation, but more likely a political pawn.

[athletics68]

I get the feeling that St. Louis in MLS is like Houston or Kansas City for the NHL: a possibility for relocation, but more likely a political pawn.
That's what San Jose said about Houston a year ago... look what happened to us.

[McGinty]

That's what San Jose said about Houston a year ago... look what happened to us.

The big difference is that it is fairly likely that Checketts truly wants RSL to stay in Salt Lake, whether he owns them or not. I don't think AEG is the devil, but they certainly weren't going to go to extreme lengths to keep the Earthquakes in San Jose.

[m16t]

The big difference is that it is fairly likely that Checketts truly wants RSL to stay in Salt Lake, whether he owns them or not. I don't think AEG is the devil, but they certainly weren't going to go to extreme lengths to keep the Earthquakes in San Jose.

But at the end of the day, Checketts is a businessman. If there are no viable options in Utah, he'll sell the team to someone with viable options.

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/othersports/story/B46455F5E9BB3191862572750019FC60?OpenDocument

Cooper seems to think he can get the deal done in a couple of weeks. He also mentions that there are two Missouri sites being considered for a stadium, but they aren't as far along as the Collinsville negotiations.

[Sport Billy]

He also mentions that there are two Missouri sites being considered for a stadium, but they aren't as far along as the Collinsville negotiations.


Where did you see that?

[Sport Billy]

You mean like that guy who had two years to get a stadium deal done in Salt Lake when he already had a team and now may be forced to sell? Or the people in Philly, San Jose or Cleveland?


Those people have at least had plans not just hopes.


I don't think you can base all of this on a few sketchy reports and speculation (unless you're Fox News, I suppose)


What else is there to go on. And, if I was Fox News - I'd make it up - Negative spin for Dems Positive spin for Reps ;)


This hasn't been the issue with Collinsville at all.
The what is his plan?????? Who is financing - he already said it wouldn't be him. Where is the stadium design? You usually have that done by now so you can go to the City and say we want to put THIS - HERE



Cooper is not really opposed to this, and he would like a larger investment/ownership group. I even think he would be willing to step away from the public spotlight. However, none of those people have come forward, and he is the one who has to push this.

That is nice to hear.


Believe me, I would love for Cooper to succeed. But he has been at this for over 2 years and we are no closer than we were before. No plan, No financing, No land. From what I've been hearing, the Collinsville thing may happen, but right now they aren't even close.

I just have a great fear that the Metro area will miss out on and MLS opportunity because we can't get our Sh!t together. I also fear that you miss out now and we fall to the bottom of the pack of wannabes