USL-1 Team coming to St. Louis?

I don't know anything, but Cooper has said before that he'd consider USL-1 if the MLS effort failed. And the Soccer Park, which his St. Louis Soccer United group now owns, is perfect for USL-1: currently seats about 7,000 but could be easily expanded to 10,000.

Hell, at that size it's perfect for the Kansas City Wizards.

 

It'd be cool if they and Atheltica could hook up. That's a great little stadium.

 

Your wish is granted! Jeff Cooper (the guy mentioned in the first post, backer of the St. Louis MLS and apparently USL-1 effort) is also the owner of Athletica and the Soccer Park.

 

Ok, how does this impact Tony Glavine's efforts to expand the St Louis Lions to USL-1? Is that deal dead, or what?

 

I was informed today by a shareholder of the Lions organization that they actually have a clause through the USL that entitles them to first right of refusal within a 90 mile radius. Mr. Cooper has talked to them but is not willing to partner with them or buy them out. So, the only way to land a team is through litigation or to go beyond that 90 mile radius (No Fenton!).

 

So, how deep are Tony Glavine's pockets? Deep enough to manage spending $1-2 million a year on running a USL1 team?

This is the problem with many people that have a certain amount of money. The egos that drove them to getting that much money makes them too egotistical to work together even if it would benefit soccer in a city. Or the US.

Not that I have a clue whether Cooper or Glavine would be better for having a USL1 team in St. Louis. I'm just guessing based on how many PDL owners have successfully created and run a USL1 team (anyone? Bueller?) Aztex are doing OK so far, but their goal was a USL1 team right from the start and, truthfully, the jury's still out on it. I can't think of one single other team.

As far as I know, the successful USL1 teams have been USL1 teams from the start.

So that biases me against Glavine being the right person. The mindset between running a PDL team and running a USL1 team is so radically different that it's unlikely for someone to make that transition.

But I'm always happy to be proven wrong on this.

...on the other hand, if this is true, I can see where there's no way Glavine and Cooper could cooperate. And I probably don't want Cooper involved in the USL.

 

Reading some of the comments on Kartik's page makes me wonder if some of these people grew up yesterday and only have access to MLS games.

 

I'm assuming we can probably forget about this for a while unless Tony Glavin is much wealthier than we suspect.

 

I feel that Jeff Cooper may be out of options and if he really wants a team, he will have to settle and join forces with Glavin to buy a USL1 team.

 

As long as it doesn't play in Cottleville. I've come close to going to some Lions games over the past few years, but jeez, it's such a haul from my house in South City that when I factor in the extra hour driving each way, it's just too much. Maybe I'm spoiled living so close to SLU.

 

Oh, I totally agree with that. Besides, it wouldn't be a very smart business decision to keep them out there, on the far western front of St.Louis. The AB Soccer Park at least is close to 270 and not as out of the way. Plus with AB SP they wouldn't have to add seating or parking, not at first anyway.

 

That's interesting to hear. I was under the impression that since the Lions had invested a fair amount into their Cottleville complex, you guys were committed to staying there. Obviously I was wrong about that last part.

 

Wow! I just read this and noticed St.Louis Soccer United is included. Now I'm totally confused. I wish someone could clear this up.
http://www.bcsoccerweb.com/articles-september/toa-sep-01.html

(if it doesn't come up, just enter bcsoccerweb and look at the article from today)

 

Does anyone know if the Lions have an opinion on this mess, or are they just going with the flow? I'm guessing since we haven't heard anything that the Lions are not going to be in USL-1 in 2010, at least.

 

I'm still waiting on word from my inside guy. He said there was a meeting today with League Officials. I'll post as soon as I hear anything.

 

My guess is that if the Lions step up and the TOA bolts like they're threatening to, y'all are going to end up with two professional teams in your town.

 

Could be. We could probably support an entire USL-2 league in the St Louis MSA if they were spread out, maybe even USL-1 level. St Louisans are too lazy to drive far so it's not like they'd be competing for fans.

It would probably put the kibosh on any thoughts the Lions had of crossing the river into St Louis County, though.

 

I'm sorry, if St.Louisans were so lazy they wouldn't make the drive, that so many make, from all over (including St.Charles County) to downtown to watch the Cardinals, Rams and Blues each year. Of course some can be considered lazy and wouldn't make it, but can you blame them since they probably drive about a half hour to work 5 days a week, so I'm not sure if I'd consider that lazy.
But, since we aren't here to debate the personal lives and driving habits of the peoples of metro St.Louis, I will agree with you that the entire St.Louis metro area could support a smaller team version of USL1 or at least USL2. But then again, so could just about any Metro City within the top 20 population in the US.

 

The Cards exert a little more pull on people than a USL-1 level team would. Nobody is driving from Fenton to Sauget to see the baseball Grizzlies.

I think St Louis has more soccer interest per capita than most cities in the US. (Now that I think about it, I wonder how many amateur players there are in St Louis compared to other cities. But that's getting a bit off topic.)

Didn't you talk to your inside guy about that meeting yet?

 

He didn't give me too much insight. Here's what his message said this morning:

"Yes they do want to start their own league. They need eight teams to do it. Minnesota wants to do it but in financial trouble so they are probably out. Yes vancouver won't be in that since they are going mls. Word is cooper has now alienated himself not just locally but nationally. Ussf has to sanction this new league and I've heard probably won't happen anyway. Cooper is making a lot of people think he's a loon and all alone. I believe the number of firm teams is 5-6 that he has for new league. Needs eight even to be considered. We are willing to work with him here locally but he wants complete and total control. His decision"

 

D'oh Cooper's a loon.

What does wanting complete and total control mean? Control of what?

edit: Oh yeah, this is from the Lions. Duh. Too many threads going on.