Athletica moving... good idea? let them stay a year? ideas?

Discussion in 'Saint Louis Athletica' started by rokagrl13, Apr 10, 2009.

  1. rokagrl13

    rokagrl13 Member

    Aug 14, 2007
    STL
    Club:
    Saint Louis Athletica
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Again, don't have much to contribute yet (off to work) but I would like to see one place to throw all of our ideas.

    I understand if they need to move (although I don't want them to because I live 10 minutes from the stadium), but I don't think they should do it this year. Telling those people from IL that now you have to drive an additional 40 minutes or so would be bad for business. The MO people already knew they would be driving, but to move a team halfway through the season may not sit well with some parents. Plus they have to consider sponsers. If they have any, they may not be on the MO side and want to drop out.

    That's about all I have time to say. :D ... for now
     
  2. Cville K C

    Cville K C Member

    Nov 3, 2008
    Collinsville, IL
    Club:
    Saint Louis Athletica
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...I just made a fairly long post on another thread concerning my feelings.

    https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=994435

    They definitely should stay put this year. Until someone can figure out a way to keep Soccer Park from flooding, I don't think we should use it. What would happen if the field flooded in late July? We play 4 home games in 15 days. If it floods at that time, there is no way they could get those fields ready in a short period of time. I know it's not a big probability, but it is a major risk. Neither Athletica nor WPS could take that chance, that they would have to reschedule that many games, especially given international schedules, etc.

    I wouldn't mind Hermann Field at SLU, but you can forget tailgating and you can forget practicing there.

    As for the future, a lot depends on if they get an MLS team or not. If they do, then there has to be a consideration as to whether both teams should play in the same place.

    Also, they did sell out for the opener and the only major complaint I heard was about parking, which could probably be worked out with a shuttle or something of that nature.
     
  3. SiberianThunderT

    Sep 21, 2008
    DC
    Club:
    Saint Louis Athletica
    Nat'l Team:
    Spain
    If we set aside the fact that SLSU has Soccer Park now, has there been any hint that Athletica even needs to move? I admit I would like being at Soccer Park since it's closer, but as long as SIUE is willing to host, I say stay there. Don't mess with a winning formula. Stay there a year, two years, five.... however long SIUE is willing to stay on board. This is, of couse, as long as the Collinsville stadium is still in limbo =-)
     
  4. dweissen

    dweissen New Member

    Nov 6, 2008
    Doesn't SIUE barely have enough capacity for Athletica to break even? Even disregarding parking issues, they could probably stand a stadium upgrade if one is available.
     
  5. sirfallsalot_2000

    Apr 18, 2006
    St. Louis, MO
    Club:
    AC St. Louis
    How much farther East is SIUE than Collinsville? Because Collinsville is already a 40 minute drive for me with good traffic, that becomes a journey the farther we go.

    Still, keep the schedule as is for this season. Then examine Soccer Park or Hermann.
     
  6. Sport Billy

    Sport Billy Moderator
    Staff Member

    May 25, 2006
    It depends on where you are.

    But for a 40 min drive to the Collinsville location you must be way out.

    If your way out 40 or 44 then SIUE will be a little further.

    If your way out 70, then SIUE is closer - you just cut across 270.
     
  7. sirfallsalot_2000

    Apr 18, 2006
    St. Louis, MO
    Club:
    AC St. Louis
    I am in St. Peters off 70, so yeah I have a little drive no matter where I go. Except to Lions games.....which I haven't been to anyways. Sorry, got a budget and all.
     
  8. SiberianThunderT

    Sep 21, 2008
    DC
    Club:
    Saint Louis Athletica
    Nat'l Team:
    Spain
    From downtown, SLSU advertises Collinville as 10min and SIUE as 20min
     
  9. Sport Billy

    Sport Billy Moderator
    Staff Member

    May 25, 2006
    True - the same would apply for those coming from SoCo on I-255.

    But if you are coming from the NorCo, St. Chuck, etc, SIUE is about 6 miles closer.
     
  10. DeigoRedD

    DeigoRedD Moderator
    Staff Member

    Aug 28, 2004
    Fort Worth, TX
    Club:
    FC Dallas
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    From an outsider's perpsective (meaning I don't live in St Louis but I did attend the opening game)...

    The stadium is a little small for the numbers that WPS is hoping to draw per game. Basically every game would have to be a sell out for Athletica to turn a profit (which would be hella cool to pull off). The atmosphere was fun.

    If they could get the bleachers on the endlines replaced with a large bank of seats that could add more seating and you'd be able to get more folks in the gate. As it is, they're kinda steep and I can easily see someone falling through one of them just trying to get up or down them. I almost fell when I was headed down at the end of the game.

    Secondly, if there's an option with more seating for fans that is a grass field instead of turf, that would be preferable in the long run on the players bodies. Playing on turf week in and week out will start tearing them down faster than would naturally occur.

    Third, if they can get that parking lot paved, it would go a long way to make getting in and out of the stadium quicker.

    Again, I'm not familiar with the other options in the area but those are my thoughts about where the games are currently being played.
     
  11. Cville K C

    Cville K C Member

    Nov 3, 2008
    Collinsville, IL
    Club:
    Saint Louis Athletica
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I can kind of address some of these.

    I am totally with you on the bleachers. They do have potential for accidents for those of us (namely me) who are less than agile. Also, I was afraid to put my camera equipment down for fear it would fall through and break. The problem is those bleachers were on the track. If they put in permanent bleachers, they couldn't be that close to the field which would certainly detract from the experience.

    The owner of Athletica just paid to have the turf field put in specifically for the soccer team. I think it was part of the agreement with SIU to ease their fears about the soccer team wearing out the grass. I tend to agree with you about turf, but this did appear to be a fairly high grade stuff and not as bad as some of the older style turfs. So I don't think the wear and tear issue for players is as bad. There is always the seam problem, however.

    I totally agree about the parking lot. A paved, marked parking lot would not only be better, but with parking spots marked, they could probably fit more cars in the lot.

    As far as fields go, there are really three options in the area. SIU is one. Hermann field at SLU is another and in my opinion, could ultimately be the best option, but I think SLU would never agree to let the team practice there and they don't really have parking lots nearby for tailgating, although there is quite a few available garages in the area. Hermann seats about 1,000 more than SIU. Soccer Park is a 3rd option and Cooper now has access to the site, since Anheuser Busch donated it. They have some problems with flooding, parking, and reconfiguration that would need to be addressed. I actually think this is where the team will end up. It's 35 miles further for me to drive, but closer to the rich western suburbs of St. Louis (and to those fans who like to drive up from Dallas/Fort Worth:D).
     
  12. DeigoRedD

    DeigoRedD Moderator
    Staff Member

    Aug 28, 2004
    Fort Worth, TX
    Club:
    FC Dallas
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Every little bit helps! :)

    I'm half contemplating trying to make it back up for the Sol game, as there isn't an FCD home game that weekend. Is FSN-SW available up there?
     
  13. Cville K C

    Cville K C Member

    Nov 3, 2008
    Collinsville, IL
    Club:
    Saint Louis Athletica
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I get FSN-SW, but most people wouldn't. We get it with the top ATT Package. I'm not sure if any pubs or any of the hotels/motels would or not.
     
  14. REALfootballRulez

    May 25, 2007
    Club:
    Saint Louis Athletica
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Not even the best hotels would carry FSN-SW. Expanded basic with some movie channels and pay per view is as far they go as far as I've seen.

    Unless you're talking about staying in a suite but even then I doubt it. :(
     
  15. rokagrl13

    rokagrl13 Member

    Aug 14, 2007
    STL
    Club:
    Saint Louis Athletica
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I don't think Cooper actually paid for the turf stuff. I think SIUE was planning on updating them due to moving up to D-1. I could be wrong(wouldn't surprise me), but I need to try and look this up. ....
     
  16. Cville K C

    Cville K C Member

    Nov 3, 2008
    Collinsville, IL
    Club:
    Saint Louis Athletica
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    You may be right. I may have read a story that related to Cooper and Korte Stadium, but also mentioned that Cooper's law firm had donated $1,000,000 for the baseball complex at SIU. Perhaps, I combined the two by mistake.
     
  17. rokagrl13

    rokagrl13 Member

    Aug 14, 2007
    STL
    Club:
    Saint Louis Athletica
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    SIU paid for the upgrades....

    http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/news.html?d=157393

    It also talks a bit about the field... the properties of the turf and whatnot. From what I've heard it plays like real grass better than any other turf out there. It is very realistic and the best stuff on the market.

    So back to the topic... Fenton here we come... :(
     
  18. REALfootballRulez

    May 25, 2007
    Club:
    Saint Louis Athletica
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Why are you sad about Fenton? Too many problems with the Soccer Park?

    It would great to somehow have the team on the Missouri side. I would think attendance would be higher if the Athletica were on the Missouri as long as they were not TOO far west. LOL!
     
  19. Cville K C

    Cville K C Member

    Nov 3, 2008
    Collinsville, IL
    Club:
    Saint Louis Athletica
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    There are problems with Soccer Park that need to be solved. If it were just one game, then the flooding problem is not that big of a deal, because what are the chances of it flooding at that particular time and if it does, rescheduling or changing the venue for one game isn't that big of a deal. But if your whole schedule is there and it floods, it would be a major problem, both for the team and the league. At some point, they are supposed to do studies about the flooding and feasibility of the site. If they are able to correct that problem, it is a viable alternative.

    However, Soccer Park isn't any more central than SIU when you get right down to it. Saint Louis University, however, is right in the middle of everything and easily accessible (even more so after Highway 64 is completed). Would they draw more at Soccer Park? Maybe, because West County is where all the money is in St. Louis.

    What some people seem to ignore is that moving it from one place might be more convenient for some people, but it's also going to be less convenient for other people. I've already made my rant about this subject on another thread, so I won't go further. I'm going to support the team wherever they move as long as I can get there.
     
  20. REALfootballRulez

    May 25, 2007
    Club:
    Saint Louis Athletica
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Have the Athletica or WPS done any soccer-specific demographic studies to show if most fans are on the Missouri side or Illinois side? I would think Missouri if only because there is a much larger population on the Missouri side than southern Illinois and like CVille KC said the big money is in West St.Louis County.
     
  21. Cville K C

    Cville K C Member

    Nov 3, 2008
    Collinsville, IL
    Club:
    Saint Louis Athletica
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Does this mean I'm fired?:(

    I actually thought the field looked great for the opener.

    The other thing is if the team moves to Soccer Park, it would almost be necessary to move the team's offices which are now in Collinsville. That's another thing to be considered. And ultimately, Cooper needs to decide what the future is. If he still intends to get an MLS team and he decides they will ultimately play at an improved stadium at the Soccer Park site, then the women's team should probably move there. If, on the other hand, he still intends to build a stadium at the Collinsville site, then it really wouldn't be smart to keep moving the women's team back and forth, first at SIU, then Soccer Park, then at a new stadium in Collinsville if they build that.
     

Share This Page