Yeah, that is the big question isn't it. I have to agree that the Richmond Heights location would be ideal for a soccer stadium, and not only because I could easily walk to it. It must be pretty close to the center of mass for the population of the metro area, it's right by a metrolink stop, easy access to 40 and 170, 44 is not far away, and there are a bunch of great bars nearby. I think it's even better than a downtown stadium as a location. But I don't think it makes sense to build a new stadium for a d2 team when soccer park is perfectly adequate for them, and if he doesn't have at least half a billion net worth, he's not getting an MLS team. I just hope he isn't planning to buy the d2 team and then abandon it if he can't get an MLS franchise.
http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2010/09/12/jeff-cooper-addresses-claims-in-ims-article/ Jeff Cooper Addresses Claims ...
Recap of big wins by AC St. Louis and NSC Minnesota on the NASL Fanatic.... http://acstlfanatic.wordpress.com/
He probably needs more than a half a billion in net worth - probably more like a billion or two in net worth.
I don't understand the reason for wanting to build a soccer stadium without a team.....unless that stadium will only seat 6,000 or so. We only have a D-2 team that averages 2,500 fans per game. I think building a 15,000-seat stadium, just in HOPES to get an MLS team, is ridiculous.
that would definitely be a gamble. The attendance would definitely rise based on just the vacinity and spending on marketing (which I'm sure would be improved upon 100%), but still would not fill a 15,000 seat capacity stadium. not a D2 team.
Blues Burst St. Louis' Bubble: Miami FC Wins 4-2...on the NASL Fanatic... http://acstlfanatic.wordpress.com/
Before we discuss prospects, I need to ask: Are we certain the team will be hear next year? Have we gotten an answer to that yet?
I would say that as promising as things seem, there is definitely no certainty about it. Especially with the new USSF Div 2 financial guidelines for the team. The last thing that was said about any of it, was from IMS on Sept 29: "Ryan Woods, a St. Louis native, had previously told IMS he is currently in negotiations to purchase AC St. Louis and A-B Park from Jeff Cooper. “We are still in negotiations,” said Woods by phone on Wednesday. He indicated that negotiations continue to move forward and he is hopeful but did not have a deadline on when he believed things might be finalized."
Does Woods have the cash? He was the one working on Hadley Township. However, he missed the Aug 16 deadline to post $3 million in escrow as proof of its financial ability to proceed with the 60-acre redevelopment. http://stlouis.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/2010/10/11/story6.html He also failed to attend the City Council meeting. He did send word that "there had been substantive change in the situation". http://stlouis.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/2010/10/04/daily25.html Maybe that "change" is the soccer park. Looks like he lost some serious money on Go Fig. http://stlouis.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/2010/08/16/story4.html If Woods falls through, will Cooper keep it going another year or shut it down?
I don't think a single word is going to be uttered until after the USSF makes a ruling, and I don't think they're going to say a word until the Div 2 playoffs are over. If you're Woods, would you sign a contract to buy the soccer complex before you even know if you'd have a team to put in it?
Makes sense. By the same token, though, if Woods actually does have the cash to bring AC St. Louis up to the new D2 standards, NASL would want USSF to know that before they make a ruling. One more solvent team could make the difference between sanctioning or not. What a mess.
The offer by the NASL has already been made. The deadline(s) have already passed. If I'm Woods, I don't rope myself into the complex till I'm sure.
and let's not forget that Woods has already been through a vetting process by NASL officials which tells me that this is a serious investment. And that since no news came out of it, and yet the negotiations are still going on, that it can be pretty safe to assume that he fit the standards. http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2010/09/11/ryan-woods-making-bid-to-purchase-ac-st-louis/
Will the league accept him with no definite place to play? What if he agrees to buy the team and not the complex and then Cooper finds a buyer for the complex?
I'm rather surprised that so many people seem to care. Would have been nice if those people would have made it out to a few games. Perhaps it wouldn't be an issue. I'm confident that Mr. Woods will either buy the club or invest, depending on what's needed to ensure our future. I know he enjoyed his time in Section 20 with the rest of the Louligans.
At this point, is most of AC St Louis nation just waiting for the NASL AGM to clarify if the team has been sold/diversified?
I hope AC comes back more than anything, I loved the games. but if they don't at least I can go watch the Lions still.
I one thing I'm hearing from people close to the front office is that Cooper is still searching for more investors, but has yet to line up anyone. Not sure if the Woods deal fell thru or not, but I believe he was involved in some other non-soccer related deals that fell thru.