^ And, unfortunately, this tells me all I need to know about the integrity and long-term stability of Major League Soccer. What a shame. 
I feel bad for Cooper for all the work he has done.
Unfortunately, it really should come as no surprise that a professional league in this country is run by a group of hypocritical jackasses.
I know far too many people in this community that will be elated if the team/development falls through.
Unfortunately, it really should come as no surprise that a professional league in this country is run by a group of hypocritical jackasses.
I know far too many people in this community that will be elated if the team/development falls through.
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Was listening to 1380 the other day and they had Cooper on for an interview. He stated that "worst case scenario, we will have a team here in 2010." It sounded like the MLS was an absolute certainty, it was only the question of '09 or '10. If nothing else he sounded confident enough to be convincing.
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So shouldn't this announcement be coming today? Wonder when its going down...
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I'm planning on watching sportcenter at 6...so if no one hears anything before that I'll keep an eye out for the announcement. 
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newstl2020 wrote:I'm planning on watching sportcenter at 6...so if no one hears anything before that I'll keep an eye out for the announcement.
Don't bother. There is no announcement coming anytime soon. If Philly needs more time, Philly will get more time. Philly is clearly the priority city now.
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Little Egyptian wrote:If Philly needs more time, Philly will get more time. Philly is clearly the priority city now.
I'm starting to think W.C. Fields was right about Philadelphia.
Seems it's really coming down to whichever team gets the things MLS is asking of them in order. The commissioner has stated there may not be another new team announced for this round. Taking that in mind, I'd say they'd rather welcome one of the two teams than neither, they just really are waiting for more backing for St. Louis. Now if that's really as necessary as an actual stadium for Philly is a different story, but if Cooper could pull some investors in, I think we'd have it.
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MLS may hold off expansion until 2009 season
Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber said during Friday's SuperDraft in Baltimore that MLS likely will not see a 16th team join the league until 2009. Both Philadelphia and St. Louis are competing to become that 16th team.
The league still hopes to name an expansion team within the month. The delay is because the league would prefer to wait until a city's stadium is constructed before its team joins the league.
Jeff Cooper is the chair of St. Louis Soccer United, the group trying to bring an expansion franchise to St. Louis. In September 2007, the city council in Collinsville, Ill., approved a pre-annexation agreement. The city agreed to help Cooper's group fund a $400 million soccer stadium and mixed-use development in hopes of attracting an MLS franchise for the 2009 season.
The potential Philadelphia ownership group, which includes iStar Financial CEO Jay Sugarman and former AEG N.Y. President Nick Sakiewicz, is still negotiating a $45 million aid package from the state that would support the development of a stadium and mixed-use complex in Delaware County, Pennsylvania.
"It's our objective to make a decision by the end of January," MLS President Mark Abbott said, "but we'd never make a hasty decision."
SOURCE
Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber said during Friday's SuperDraft in Baltimore that MLS likely will not see a 16th team join the league until 2009. Both Philadelphia and St. Louis are competing to become that 16th team.
The league still hopes to name an expansion team within the month. The delay is because the league would prefer to wait until a city's stadium is constructed before its team joins the league.
Jeff Cooper is the chair of St. Louis Soccer United, the group trying to bring an expansion franchise to St. Louis. In September 2007, the city council in Collinsville, Ill., approved a pre-annexation agreement. The city agreed to help Cooper's group fund a $400 million soccer stadium and mixed-use development in hopes of attracting an MLS franchise for the 2009 season.
The potential Philadelphia ownership group, which includes iStar Financial CEO Jay Sugarman and former AEG N.Y. President Nick Sakiewicz, is still negotiating a $45 million aid package from the state that would support the development of a stadium and mixed-use complex in Delaware County, Pennsylvania.
"It's our objective to make a decision by the end of January," MLS President Mark Abbott said, "but we'd never make a hasty decision."
SOURCE
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I talked to someone close in with STLSU and they said that at the draft one of the asst. commissioners told the large group of present sponsors "That the MLS ecpects St. Louis to be its 16th team." Note that this was to sponsors and not the press. United has been waiting for Collinsville to pass the TIF for the stadium funding, this week, and that should hand us our MLS in St. Louis.
I was told 30-60 days, and its ours. Philly keepsgetting crucified on the stadium. Its not happening there. The reason everyone keeps talking about Philly is that ESPN is carrying the games and is pushing hard to get the 4th largest TV market on board. STL is 21st.
Again, from a very high up in United: Its all but been officially been given to us. Philly can't compete with the stadium deal Collinsville and Cooper put together. Collinsville had approved the TIF, it now as to "pass" in the Board and thats the final stamp of approval.
Keep the faith.
I was told 30-60 days, and its ours. Philly keepsgetting crucified on the stadium. Its not happening there. The reason everyone keeps talking about Philly is that ESPN is carrying the games and is pushing hard to get the 4th largest TV market on board. STL is 21st.
Again, from a very high up in United: Its all but been officially been given to us. Philly can't compete with the stadium deal Collinsville and Cooper put together. Collinsville had approved the TIF, it now as to "pass" in the Board and thats the final stamp of approval.
Keep the faith.
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TheWayoftheArch wrote:I talked to someone close in with STLSU and they said that at the draft one of the asst. commissioners told the large group of present sponsors "That the MLS ecpects St. Louis to be its 16th team." Note that this was to sponsors and not the press. United has been waiting for Collinsville to pass the TIF for the stadium funding, this week, and that should hand us our MLS in St. Louis.
I was told 30-60 days, and its ours. Philly keepsgetting crucified on the stadium. Its not happening there. The reason everyone keeps talking about Philly is that ESPN is carrying the games and is pushing hard to get the 4th largest TV market on board. STL is 21st.
Again, from a very high up in United: Its all but been officially been given to us. Philly can't compete with the stadium deal Collinsville and Cooper put together. Collinsville had approved the TIF, it now as to "pass" in the Board and thats the final stamp of approval.
Keep the faith.
That is GREAT to hear, thanks for posting. I'll take any good news whatsoever at this point because things have been looking so bad lately. Love to have that substantiated by something else, but there has been such a lack of news lately that I am willing to take your word on it. This is the most plugged-in board in Saint Louis after-all. That's GREAT news. I still really, really hope this gets done (although I have forever lost a degree of respect for MLS - that is beyond repair at this point).
Cooper has surprised us in the past, let's hope he can do it one more time.
From MySoccerBlog
We already basically knew it, but for him to outright say it just seems like a smack in the face to Cooper and STL.
MLS Expansion - Philadelphia a step ahead of St. Louis
MLS Commissioner Don Garber didn't say a lot about expansion but what he did say was very telling.
First, he said that the race to land the next expansion team was indeed a two city event between Philadelphia and St. Louis, meaning that even if Miami moves ahead on their stadium idea or if Montreal pulls together their group, they are non-factors. Second, he said "If Philadelphia is able to finalize their plan, they have been leading the charge and have a step ahead of St. Louis." So if both team are equal, Philadelphia will get the nod.
The idea that Philadelphia is the more desired of the two cities should not come as a big surprise as they are a bigger market and is the last major city along the Northern East Coast without a team.
Something else the Garber mentioned was expanding the deadline (huge shock). He has been saying for months that 31 Jan was the latest date MLS was willing to consider but that has now moved. Although they would prefer to announce by the end of the month, they are now willing to wait 30-45 days, which could push it back to the end of February. It looks to me that this is yet another example of the league wanting to give the Philadelphia big every opportunity to be successful.
We already basically knew it, but for him to outright say it just seems like a smack in the face to Cooper and STL.- 1,768
While its obvious they would want Philly, they are simply waiting for the public money vote to come down at the end of the month. Everyone familiar with it seems to think that they aren't going to get near all the 45 million ask for. If thats so, Philly won't have a stadium deal, and they won't be on even footing. Obviously, if it was even, one would go with Philly for market size. The point is that it won't be on even footing.
As I said before, I heard it was told to the major MLS sponsors, that St. Louis "would most likely be the sixteenth team..."
The commissioner is supposed to look out for the leagues interst, and the fourth largest market is obviously better for the leagues interest. Thats why they are extending the deadline til mid Feb. To see the vote on Philly's public money.
Don't complain about getting screwed unless they don't award a team to either city for 09. That would be a complete screw over for Cooper and STLSU.
I can handle losing out to a much larger market fair and square. Getting a non-bid for no reason other than the fact we aren't Philly would really chap my ass.
As I said before, I heard it was told to the major MLS sponsors, that St. Louis "would most likely be the sixteenth team..."
The commissioner is supposed to look out for the leagues interst, and the fourth largest market is obviously better for the leagues interest. Thats why they are extending the deadline til mid Feb. To see the vote on Philly's public money.
Don't complain about getting screwed unless they don't award a team to either city for 09. That would be a complete screw over for Cooper and STLSU.
I can handle losing out to a much larger market fair and square. Getting a non-bid for no reason other than the fact we aren't Philly would really chap my ass.
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TheWayoftheArch wrote:I can handle losing out to a much larger market fair and square. Getting a non-bid for no reason other than the fact we aren't Philly would really chap my ass.
I'm trying to figure out what's happened more often: the MLS extensions of deadlines, or the number of times the start date on construction of Ballpark Village has been pushed back? Both have happened far too often, and both have me quite frustrated.
Unfortunately this posting almost reads as though Cooper is conceding to Philly. Hopefully I'm wrong and St. Louis wins out, but if the Penn. legislature agrees to finance a stadium, MLS will give the expansion team to Philly.
http://www.stlouissoccerunited.com/content/view/82/73/
TIF Approved – St. Louis is Ready
A belated but sincere Happy New Year to everyone. I apologize for not keeping the blog feature on our website more up to date, but over the past few months the process of attracting a Major League Soccer expansion franchise for St. Louis had essentially reached a point where there wasn't much to report. That isn’t to say there wasn't activity, because there was. And there is. But as we continue to explore ways of strengthening our position in the eyes of the league, the best way to accomplish that is to work closely and in confidence with potential investor candidates who share the same vision and passion for the game – and St. Louis – as I do.
Also, we should not forget that our strongest message was made public months ago, and that was with the passage of a private-public partnership to build a new soccer stadium and complex in Collinsville, Ill., at highways 55-70 and 255, just 10 minutes from downtown St. Louis. It is hard to believe that nearly five months have passed since the Collinsville City Council approved the financing package for the new stadium, and certainly we hoped to have started construction by now. But it’s important to remember that everything is very much in still in place, and our key audiences – MLS and potential investors – are very aware of everything we have done and still have to offer.
If anything, the package that we offer a potential partner was strengthened on Monday night when the Collinsville City Council formally approved the ordinance for TIF financing in the 400-acre mixed-use development that will be home to the 18,500-seat stadium and adjacent complex of soccer fields. The message to potential investors and everyone involved in Major League Soccer -- league officials, team owners, marketing partners, broadcasters, fans and the players themselves -- is very clear. Collinsville, on behalf of our entire St. Louis community, has stepped up like no expansion market ever has in the history of MLS with a completely approved, totally comprehensive stadium plan and funding package.
We understand an announcement is being made today that the Pennsylvania state legislature will sign a letter of intent to contribute financing for a soccer stadium in suburban Philadelphia, which also hopes to enter MLS by 2010 (the realistic target for any new expansion club, including St. Louis). Philadelphia is a terrific soccer market and, like us, is deserving of a franchise. Here in St. Louis, we'd like to be part of a league that counts Philadelphia among its clubs. It is our understanding this is a pledge by the state to see the financing through. Obviously, we'll be watching it closely and wish the best for the Philly group and fans in Philadelphia as the process unfolds in the Pennsylvania legislature.
Whatever happens in Philadelphia doesn't deter us in St. Louis. It doesn't change a thing. We never saw this as being in competition with Philadelphia. We see this as two outstanding expansion markets -- Philly and St. Louis -- both wanting the same thing, and that's to be part of an extremely strong, growing and promising league in MLS.
As mentioned earlier, we gained momentum this week with the formal passage of the TIF stadium financing package, making it possible for an investor or investors to come here with complete confidence that the ultimate private-public stadium partnership is awaiting them -- and completely approved. Our situation is ready-made for the perfect partner, or partners, who want to be part a league that is a rising star on soccer's global stage ... and be a hero here in St. Louis, the greatest soccer city and community in North America.
Said another way, our story in St. Louis has never been better, and I fully plan to tell our story in the weeks ahead.
http://www.stlouissoccerunited.com/content/view/82/73/
TIF Approved – St. Louis is Ready
A belated but sincere Happy New Year to everyone. I apologize for not keeping the blog feature on our website more up to date, but over the past few months the process of attracting a Major League Soccer expansion franchise for St. Louis had essentially reached a point where there wasn't much to report. That isn’t to say there wasn't activity, because there was. And there is. But as we continue to explore ways of strengthening our position in the eyes of the league, the best way to accomplish that is to work closely and in confidence with potential investor candidates who share the same vision and passion for the game – and St. Louis – as I do.
Also, we should not forget that our strongest message was made public months ago, and that was with the passage of a private-public partnership to build a new soccer stadium and complex in Collinsville, Ill., at highways 55-70 and 255, just 10 minutes from downtown St. Louis. It is hard to believe that nearly five months have passed since the Collinsville City Council approved the financing package for the new stadium, and certainly we hoped to have started construction by now. But it’s important to remember that everything is very much in still in place, and our key audiences – MLS and potential investors – are very aware of everything we have done and still have to offer.
If anything, the package that we offer a potential partner was strengthened on Monday night when the Collinsville City Council formally approved the ordinance for TIF financing in the 400-acre mixed-use development that will be home to the 18,500-seat stadium and adjacent complex of soccer fields. The message to potential investors and everyone involved in Major League Soccer -- league officials, team owners, marketing partners, broadcasters, fans and the players themselves -- is very clear. Collinsville, on behalf of our entire St. Louis community, has stepped up like no expansion market ever has in the history of MLS with a completely approved, totally comprehensive stadium plan and funding package.
We understand an announcement is being made today that the Pennsylvania state legislature will sign a letter of intent to contribute financing for a soccer stadium in suburban Philadelphia, which also hopes to enter MLS by 2010 (the realistic target for any new expansion club, including St. Louis). Philadelphia is a terrific soccer market and, like us, is deserving of a franchise. Here in St. Louis, we'd like to be part of a league that counts Philadelphia among its clubs. It is our understanding this is a pledge by the state to see the financing through. Obviously, we'll be watching it closely and wish the best for the Philly group and fans in Philadelphia as the process unfolds in the Pennsylvania legislature.
Whatever happens in Philadelphia doesn't deter us in St. Louis. It doesn't change a thing. We never saw this as being in competition with Philadelphia. We see this as two outstanding expansion markets -- Philly and St. Louis -- both wanting the same thing, and that's to be part of an extremely strong, growing and promising league in MLS.
As mentioned earlier, we gained momentum this week with the formal passage of the TIF stadium financing package, making it possible for an investor or investors to come here with complete confidence that the ultimate private-public stadium partnership is awaiting them -- and completely approved. Our situation is ready-made for the perfect partner, or partners, who want to be part a league that is a rising star on soccer's global stage ... and be a hero here in St. Louis, the greatest soccer city and community in North America.
Said another way, our story in St. Louis has never been better, and I fully plan to tell our story in the weeks ahead.
That Cooper guy sure sounds like a class act (hard to believe he's a lawyer).
Unfortunately, it looks like Philly is getting the 16th team since they've gotten state money:
Now I hope Cooper can pull in the partner/partners to help us at least beat out Miami.
Gov. unveils Philly MLS stadium plan
CHESTER, Pa. (AP) -- Gov. Ed Rendell unveiled a $47 million state funding package Thursday to aid in the construction of a soccer stadium in this Philadelphia suburb, the latest step in an effort to attract a Major League Soccer franchise.
Rendell and state Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, R-Delaware, announced the aid package a short distance from the the hilly, barren land that would be transformed by the $414 million project named "Rivertown."
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In addition to the stadium, the plan calls for offices, stores and housing in the struggling waterfront city.
"I guarantee that Chester will be one of the first class cities in Pennsylvania," Rendell said.
In the package, $25 million would go toward the stadium and is contingent on MLS awarding a franchise. That money, combined with $30 million committed by Delaware County and the city of Chester, would go toward a planned 18,500-seat stadium on the banks of the Delaware River.
"This project, if done right, is a major league score for Chester," said Rep. Thaddeus Kirkland, D-Delaware. "People from all walks of life and government have worked to make this come together.
"This brings a new sense of 'Chester Pride,"' he said.
The next step is to persuade the MLS to award a franchise to the area.
MLS commissioner Don Garber called Rendell's announcement "another very positive development" toward bringing a team to the area.
"The Philadelphia market just took a big step forward and is now well positioned to receive an MLS expansion team," Garber said in a statement. "The opportunity to be part of a large-scale urban renewal project along the historic Chester waterfront remains extremely appealing to us."
Garber said the league is eager to continue conversations with the potential ownership group.
Jay Sugarman, chief executive officer of the New York-based iStar Financial, heads the group of investors hoping to get the MLS to award its 16th team to the Philadelphia market. In addition to Sugarman, the investors include the owners of the Wilmington, Del.-based Buccini/Pollin Group, and James Nevels, founder of the Swarthmore Group and former chairman of the Philadelphia School Reform Commission.
The St. Louis suburb of Collinsville is also in the running for the expansion team. Earlier this week, the Collinsville city council approved a tax-increment financing plan to fund a stadium.
The planned stadium and hoped-for franchise would be the latest boost for the long-downtrodden city of Chester. A slots casino opened in the city in January as part of a harness racing track.
"This announcement today is more exciting for the city, the county and the region," Pileggi, a former Chester mayor, said Thursday.
Major League Soccer, founded in 1996, currently has 14 teams. Its newest franchise in San Jose is scheduled to begin play this year and one in Seattle is expected to start play in 2009.
Now I hope Cooper can pull in the partner/partners to help us at least beat out Miami.
Newspaper report: Philly getting MLS franchise
News-Democrat
A Philadelphia newspaper's Web site is reporting that the city will be awarded a professional soccer franchise next week.
The Philadephia Inquirer has reported that Major League Soccer will announce Thursday that Philadelphia will receive the league's 16th franchise, which would begin play by the 2010 season.
There is no indication what this means for an effort by a group of St. Louis-area investors, St. Louis Soccer United, and its attempt to bring a professional soccer franchise to the city of Collinsville. East Alton attorney Jeff Cooper, who has been the spokesman for the group, could not be reached for comment this morning.
MLS representatives in New York today would not confirm the Inquirer's report.
With that being the whole story, I didn't find it necessary to split it up. But to try to stay in forum rules, here's the link: http://www.bnd.com/breaking_news/story/262641.html
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Jrathert wrote:Now I hope Cooper can pull in the partner/partners to help us at least beat out Miami.
So do I, but my optimism has been deflated. To me this farce proves the MLS is a complete joke.
It does feel as if we are getting jerked around by Garber and the MLS. We can only hope that there will be another announcement soon (month or so) about a team in STL. The Big Soccer message boards are speculating as such...
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Cooper was on the Roll Home with Bernie this afternoon and was still positive about us getting a team after Phili. Bernie has been pretty upset and feels that MLS has been stringing us along. He pointedly asked Cooper a number of times if he felt the same. jeff obviously dissagreed and said that he has much faith in the league and feels that we will be getting some good news late spring or early summer about us being the next team. He did say that if this same situation unfolds again, with another team in say St. pete or Miami (bernie's suggestions) coming in and one upping us, that he'd be very dissapointed.
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Cooper is more patient than I am on this. If MLS did that to me, I think I would have went off on them in several national newspapers. MLS is a joke, at least Bernie has the moxey to say it.
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Little Egyptian wrote:Cooper is more patient than I am on this. If MLS did that to me, I think I would have went off on them in several national newspapers. MLS is a joke, at least Bernie has the moxey to say it.
That's how I feel about this. I'm glad Jeff Cooper has far more patience than I would have in this situation.
If you listen to him and look at the situation as it stands now, the odds for St. Louis should be pretty good since Cooper is close to putting the final pieces in place as far as the MLS' demands are concerned (primarily, another investor). However, I don't like this talk of a possible Miami and/or Tampa Bay franchise. Just how short are the memories of those in charge of the MLS? The (TB) Mutiny and the (Miami) Fusion didn't last all that long. If they somehow leap ahead of St. Louis, I'll be (1) very pissed and (2) finished with Major League Soccer.
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Lets be glad that Cooper can bite his tongue and has the patience and fortitude to see this through. The last thing we need is another blustery Bill Laurie who pissed off the NBA so bad they told him they would ever give him or ok his purchase of a team so he tanked the blues and ran out of town with his plaigarist daughter.
He'll get it done, and he's saying all the right things right now. I would have expected anything less.
He'll get it done, and he's saying all the right things right now. I would have expected anything less.
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ThreeOneFour wrote:Little Egyptian wrote:Cooper is more patient than I am on this. If MLS did that to me, I think I would have went off on them in several national newspapers. MLS is a joke, at least Bernie has the moxey to say it.
That's how I feel about this. I'm glad Jeff Cooper has far more patience than I would have in this situation.
If you listen to him and look at the situation as it stands now, the odds for St. Louis should be pretty good since Cooper is close to putting the final pieces in place as far as the MLS' demands are concerned (primarily, another investor). However, I don't like this talk of a possible Miami and/or Tampa Bay franchise. Just how short are the memories of those in charge of the MLS? The (TB) Mutiny and the (Miami) Fusion didn't last all that long. If they somehow leap ahead of St. Louis, I'll be (1) very pissed and (2) finished with Major League Soccer.
I am not sure if there is actual talk of those cities getting teams. I think Bernie was just throwing them out there randomly to portray how pissed they'd all be if another city hopped ahead of us after everything Cooper has been through.