So, not an NFL city...what about MLS? (Kansas City, St. Louis: how much, home)

[twill30]

Good bye to the Rams! Maybe good riddance is the better way to put it!

I read online that the powers the be in the soccer world have an eye on St. Louis for a MLS expansion team. I remember the excitement that surrounded the few games played in the last couple of years at Busch Stadium. And while I didn't get to go to any of the games (darn work schedule), I heard from friends that attended that it was a great experience!

How do you all feel about MLS coming to St. Louis? Would it be a good idea, or are we more of a Baseball/Hockey town? In my opinion, I'd love to see this happen! Lets make St. Louis the Soccer Capital of the U.S.!!!

[FrankMiller]

St. Louis was already the soccer capital of the US pre-MLS.

[twill30]

That was a tagline I heard about KC during my time there...I didn't know St. Louis considered itself the soccer capital as well

[FrankMiller]

KC is the soccer capital because they have a popular MLS team the last few years. St. Louis was the center of US soccer from 1900 until 1990ish. St. Louis was the home to the only pro league in the US, half the 1950 World Cup team was from The Hill, USMNT would play qualifiers at Soccer Park in the 80s, etc.

Obviously MLS snubbing St Louis has led to more soccer growth in other areas, but until recently St. Louis was one of the few US cities where adults cared about soccer.

[twill30]

Thanks for the background on that. I was just a kid living in California when soccer was really big here.

[STL74]

I think it would do well here. I've gone to two of the big exhibition games and they were a lot of fun and if we can sell out Busch for exhibition soccer, we can fill up an MLS size stadium.

But I also don't think that this is NOT an NFL city. I think the market for NFL is great here. But we weren't going to show up in droves to watch a walmart quality team with an owner everyone knew was plotting a move.

[Fishtacos]

This is very very very simple.

Money.

St. Louis would successfully support an MLS team. It would do just fine.

However, you need a big boy (or girl) owner(s) with big person money. Expansion fees and costs are up. Kansas City owes a great deal of gratitude to the Hunt family. They had the money, the interest in different sports teams, as well as the interest in Kansas City.

You get all three and you will see a team in Stl eventually.

[STL2006]

Originally Posted by Fishtacos

This is very very very simple.

Money.

St. Louis would successfully support an MLS team. It would do just fine.

However, you need a big boy (or girl) owner(s) with big person money. Expansion fees and costs are up. Kansas City owes a great deal of gratitude to the Hunt family. They had the money, the interest in different sports teams, as well as the interest in Kansas City.

You get all three and you will see a team in Stl eventually.

I think people in STL are thinking the Taylors could be that for us. They're comparable in wealth to the Hunt family.

[MUTGR]

Originally Posted by FrankMiller

KC is the soccer capital because they have a popular MLS team the last few years. St. Louis was the center of US soccer from 1900 until 1990ish. St. Louis was the home to the only pro league in the US, half the 1950 World Cup team was from The Hill, USMNT would play qualifiers at Soccer Park in the 80s, etc.

Obviously MLS snubbing St Louis has led to more soccer growth in other areas, but until recently St. Louis was one of the few US cities where adults cared about soccer.

Not to mention almost every white kid who isn't tall or huge plays soccer in this metropolitan area.

[Fishtacos]

Originally Posted by STL2006

I think people in STL are thinking the Taylors could be that for us. They're comparable in wealth to the Hunt family.

Problem with that is the Taylor family is not a a sports family. Andy Taylor is more of an arts guy. He gave up his NFL Rams seats many, many years ago to a colleague because he was not using them.

He has never wanted to be an outfront owner nor primary owner of any pro sports team in St. Louis. It is not his thing.

With that said, he was willing to be talked into being a quiet investor with a group, for the St. Louis Blues, so that the team could stay in St. Louis. He is seen as a reluctant big money safety net for the Blues.

It would appear a St. Louis MLS team would need a large group of investors similar to the Blues. Times have changed for MLS in the sense of how much upfront money is needed to own a team. It is far greater than the past.