Where? St. Louis, of course...Hermann Stadium on the SLU campus, where the Billikens draw 4K a game all season long. I notice that the A-League is excited about the new 6K SSS in Des Moines, so I'm sure someone is on the phone right now ringing up potential St. Louis-area investors, too, right?
more likely PDL I had heard that a group was looking to bring a PDL team to St Louis. And they were looking to play at SLU's stadium. I think this would make more sence to start with a PDL team and build up to a A-League team.
If I'm an owner, a 6,000-seat stadium is perfect for A-League... if I can sell beer. Am I right in assuming that no such opportunity would exist on the SLU campus?
Jason beat me too it. Catholic colleges are often not as hung up about the public consumption of beer at things like sporting events, faculty (and even student) gatherings, etc.
Yeah, if SLU didn't sell beer, something tells me they may not draw as well. And I'd love to have a PDL team here. I'd love to have ANY team here!
...which merely begs the question of why U Portland doesn't sell beer at Merlo Field (or maybe I committed a serious oversight by not seeing any- wouldn't be my first). Given that attendance there is now pushing under 1,000 per game, sounds like an idea whose time is overdue. Anyway, memo to St. Louis- "So whatcha waiting for?!?!"
I agree. Everybody says St. Louis is Soccer City USA yet they have no pro teams? There college team draws better than most A-league teams. If I was rich enough to buy a team I would definitly put one in St Louis. My dad used to live in St Louis and he said thats were soccer in the USA really started.
I've heard the A-League doesn't want St. Louis or Philly as expansion teams as they've given into the fact that they'll one day be MLS franchises.
The governing body of SLU may be more than happy to have someone rent their field (for ALOT of money) for games during the summer....but what about from Mid-march through late September? THAT is where you run into problems with university facilities in ANY market! Also, given the new NCAA rules, there may be interest for a PDL club here - but it may be alot tougher to get an A-League club into such a University facility. (BTW - there was a previous USL (USISL) club in St. Louis (Knights?) but it was met with little support from the soccer/general public. Previous history may make any new ownership shy away from the risk here).