Collinsville soccer project blooming (Pro Soccer)

xing · PostJul 13, 2007#12007-07-13T04:21+00:00

Collinsville soccer project blooming into large-scale, mixed-use development

By ALAN J. ORTBALS

The proposed professional soccer project in Collinsville is moving forward and expanding far beyond a new stadium, according to Jeff Cooper, managing partner in the law firm of SimmonsCooper LLC and investor in St. Louis Professional Soccer Expansion Group LLC which is pursuing the Professional Soccer League franchise.

While exact plans are still being molded, Cooper has acquired rights to more than 400 acres of land in the Collinsville area and is planning a mixed-use development that will include residential, office and retail components along with the soccer

Crossroads Development LLC is planning a 400-acre, mixed-used project in Collinsville using a 'new urbanism' theme similar to New Town at St. Charles in St. Charles County, Mo. as shown above.

stadium and multiple soccer fields for amateur play.

James Berg and Rob Christlieb, partners in the real estate development firm, Crossroads Development LLC, are master planning the project and acting as owners'

cont...

http://www.ibjonline.com/

shimmy · PostJul 13, 2007#22007-07-13T07:37+00:00

I'm glad that they're looking at New Town as an example, and that it won't be just more mindless sprawl. I hope they get the team to fill the stadium, it will at least compensate for Collinsville losing the Grizzlies.

Downside: With us selling all this farmland, it isn't long until we're no longer the horseradish capital of the world.

little egyptian · PostJul 13, 2007#32007-07-13T14:11+00:00

Forget the horseradish stuff. That is no big deal. We can do that up or down the river a little.

I am as enthused about this project as anything on the East side, and perhaps anything else in StL with the exception of Ball Park Village (and if someone can convince Centene to come downtown). Why, because it is real. Collinsville is holding hearings on TIF districts. Cooper is buying up land. Cooper tried to buy the Salt Lake team and is clearly on the list for future MLS franchises.

This has the potential to transform not only Collinsville, but the entire perception of the East Side. I know there is debate about how many people on the Missouri side will cross to watch soccer matches, but at minimum it will be tens of thousands per year. That is tens of thousands of Missourians crossing past East Saint Louis to see ... WOW, Illinois looks a whole lot like West County or St. Charles County, except it is like 30 min. closer to downtown.

What of this TIF district? Does anyone know if Cooper is only asking for a TIF or is he also asking for public financing of the stadium (and/or soccer fields)? If it is just a TIF at issue, that seems like a slam dunk and I would wonder why it is taking Collinsville so long to approve it? We give TIFs for Walmarts and new hotels, etc... a TIF certainly seems appropriate for this stadium.

I love this project. I will go to games. It could transform Collinsville and the East Side. I am glad to see Cooper is making progress.

Alex Ihnen · PostJul 13, 2007#42007-07-13T14:43+00:00

^ I guess this is cool, but why does every developer only want to do enormous projects? The Lindell/Grand site sat for a long time until someone could gather enough land. Cortex had to use emminent domain to create acres and acres of development potential. McKee wanted 100 acres+ in North St. Louis before doing anything. Just one more reason we should clone the Gills! It's great that they would like to build a mix-use project, but h3ll, there are many, many parts of St. Louis City (and County) that are already mixed-use and that would be fantastic for a stadium. I also just don't like the idea of a stadium in Collinsville - IMO it's too far from the West County/St. Charles soccer crowd AND isn't as accessible by walking/bike/bus/metro as it should be.

little egyptian · PostJul 13, 2007#52007-07-13T15:09+00:00

Grover wrote:^ I guess this is cool, but why does every developer only want to do enormous projects? The Lindell/Grand site sat for a long time until someone could gather enough land. Cortex had to use emminent domain to create acres and acres of development potential. McKee wanted 100 acres+ in North St. Louis before doing anything. Just one more reason we should clone the Gills! It's great that they would like to build a mix-use project, but h3ll, there are many, many parts of St. Louis City (and County) that are already mixed-use and that would be fantastic for a stadium. I also just don't like the idea of a stadium in Collinsville - IMO it's too far from the West County/St. Charles soccer crowd AND isn't as accessible by walking/bike/bus/metro as it should be.

I agree the Metro is a big problem. Obviously there will be busses running from one of the stops (probably the Washington Park stop, which is certainly not a great thing), but they do need to think about developing another line that goes Northeast in Madison county, that could stop at the stadium. I know it has been talked about in the past, but maybe the new stadium would make people get serious about it. It would be pretty easy to take the Metro from the Jackie Joyner Kersee stop north along Collinsville Road with stops in Fairmont City, Cahokia Mounds, Fairmont Park, and then North along 255 (or the bluff) with stops at EastPort Plaza, the new SSS and development, then up to SIUE, and a stop in Edwardsville (where it would end).

Anyway, I disagree on the West County thing. They come downtown for ballgames don't they? Well, it is just a few minutes more to Collinsville. It will be fine. Most of the matches are on the weekends anyway, so the extra 10 min. should be no big deal. They will just have to run special promotions or charge a lower price for the couple of weekday games.

southslider · PostJul 13, 2007#62007-07-13T15:19+00:00

If the Collinsville stadium has free parking, very few will take Metro. Besides, a Madison County extension will go to Granite City for sure, missing Collinsville. It's just a question of whether the line then heads to Alton or Edwardsville from Granite.

shimmy · PostJul 13, 2007#72007-07-13T15:43+00:00

Little Egyptian wrote:WOW, Illinois looks a whole lot like West County or St. Charles County, except it is like 30 min. closer to downtown.

You know I have to admitt, I'm assuming you live on the Eastside and you've got to be the first Eastside resider that I've met that actually wants the Metro East to look like West County. Though, now that I bring it up I'm sure a few others on here will agree with you.

little egyptian · PostJul 13, 2007#82007-07-13T15:43+00:00

southslider wrote:If the Collinsville stadium has free parking, very few will take Metro. Besides, a Madison County extension will go to Granite City for sure, missing Collinsville. It's just a question of whether the line then heads to Alton or Edwardsville from Granite.

I would assume it would have free parking, but with this new development happening around the proposed stadium, I am less sure of it. But, even if they charge, it would only be a couple of dollars, which would probably be less than the metro ride anyway.

IF you wanted that loop to include Granite City, you could just make a loop with it through Pontoon Beach and then Collinsville and back down and skip Edwardsville/Alton altogether. Anyway, like you said, most people would drive.

xing · PostJul 13, 2007#92007-07-13T18:05+00:00

Shimmy wrote:
You know I have to admitt, I'm assuming you live on the Eastside and you've got to be the first Eastside resider that I've met that actually wants the Metro East to look like West County. Though, now that I bring it up I'm sure a few others on here will agree with you.

Nope. I'm afraid I don't want the Metro East to look like West County either... no offense West County.

little egyptian · PostJul 13, 2007#102007-07-13T19:10+00:00

Shimmy wrote:
Little Egyptian wrote:WOW, Illinois looks a whole lot like West County or St. Charles County, except it is like 30 min. closer to downtown.

You know I have to admitt, I'm assuming you live on the Eastside and you've got to be the first Eastside resider that I've met that actually wants the Metro East to look like West County. Though, now that I bring it up I'm sure a few others on here will agree with you.

It is not that I want the East Side to look like West County, but parts of it do look like West County a little. If you travel along 157 in Edwardsville and around Glen Carbon it has a Chesterfield feel. And certainly along 64 past 255 (Fairview, O'Fallon) it is starting to feel like St. Peters/O'Fallon MO.

I am not sure if I like it or dislike it (probably dislike it) but development is development. We are all happy on here that Cooper wants to build a new urban community like New Town, but all those things turn farmland into suburbs, and suburbs typically tend to look alike. If I were to post a satellite picture of an Illinois Suburb and a Missouri Suburb, it would be hard to tell the difference because both sides are doing deadend streets and culdesacs and business developments around their interstate exchanges.

The point was not to imply that we should make the East Side look like the West Side of Saint Louis. The point was that I think the new stadium and development will help convince Missouri residents that Illinois is not that different and it just happens to be closer to downtown. It is not that I want all Missouri residents to suddenly flock to Illinois, but I would like to get rid of the Illinois stereotype that many people in Saint Louis have because everytime we want to develop something on the Illinois side, the first post from a Missouri resident is "it will never work." I would like to have something substantial on the Illinois side that proves that theory wrong.

shimmy · PostJul 13, 2007#112007-07-13T19:30+00:00

I understand your point, and I agree. I guess I'm sorta NIMBY-like in the sense that I don't want the Metro East towns to lose their individual, Illinois feel.

trent · PostJul 14, 2007#122007-07-14T19:40+00:00

I just think they're missing out on a great opportunity to really unite the east and west side of the river...

shimmy · PostJul 15, 2007#132007-07-15T03:12+00:00

^If you're suggesting putting the stadium on the East riverfront, I think that's a great idea. I mean, I want my hometown to do good and grow and stuff, but Collinsville is doing alright. Anything that will give a boost to East St. Louis I'm all for.

little egyptian · PostJul 15, 2007#142007-07-15T13:41+00:00

Why would the stadium in Collinsville not unite the East and West? I think a Collinsville stadium would actually go further in connecting the main population centers on the east and west side. If the stadium was just across the river and had a view of the skyline, that would be awesome, but it would do nothing to connect Illinois and Missouri. People would cross to watch the game and then cross back to the Landing to hang out after the game. While I do not doubt it would be good for East Saint Louis and that it could succeed there, for many reasons Collinsville is the better location, not the least of which is the youth soccer fields that moms are going to be driving their children to play on on weekdays and weeknights. Plus, although the stadium would help East StL, I am not sure it could transform it like relocating Busch across the river would have. It would make a nice splash, but it would end up being an island like the Casino Queen is.

shimmy · PostJul 15, 2007#152007-07-15T23:34+00:00

^Good point about the Casino Queen, but I think a more family thing that offers something for all ages might be different. But you could be right. The question is would more county residents be turned off by driving all the way out to Collinsville(not far, I know, but even Clayton seems like a long drive from here), or going to big bad East St. Louis.

b.a. · PostJul 16, 2007#162007-07-16T14:56+00:00

I really want this to happen, but nothing in this town ever happens on a reasonable time-table or in a logical manner. They'll find a way to shoot themselves in the foot.

little egyptian · PostAug 07, 2007#172007-08-07T15:53+00:00

I have heard there is a do or die meeting in the Collinsville City Council later this month. Does anyone know if that is true or what the vote is looking like? I heard that it is looking positive and that if the vote goes through it will not be too long before MLS makes an announcement. I am hoping that is all true, so does anyone have any verification or have heard anything else on this project?

shimmy · PostAug 07, 2007#182007-08-07T17:19+00:00

I haven't heard anything, but I'm kinda worried. Well honestly, I don't care about soccer at all, so it doesn't really effect me, but I can't get the Grizzlies out of my head. The Gateway Grizzlies were suppose to be in Collinsville, but they lost by one vote on the funding or something like that, and now they're in Sauget. And they just became the third Frontier League team to get their 1 millionth fan.

Deja Vu?

little egyptian · PostAug 07, 2007#192007-08-07T17:39+00:00

I don't care that much about soccer either, but I would go to matches a couple times a year. It is something to do that will probably be pretty cheap and pretty fun.

But, more importantly, I think it would be a large development for Collinsville and the East Side that they may never have another chance at. That is why I really support this project.

I just hope the crazy Collinsville Council does not mess this up by voting against it. Jeff Cooper has put a lot of effort into Collinsville and he pretty much has everything riding on it. If Collinsville says no I would assume he would give up on this project altogether.

Alex Ihnen · PostAug 07, 2007#202007-08-07T17:49+00:00

I've come to accept that Collinsville isn't the absolute worst place for an MLS team to go, but I wish someone with a real interest in St. Louis City was the one with the $$ and desire to bring a team to the region.

jrathert · PostAug 07, 2007#212007-08-07T18:22+00:00

So, hypothetically speaking, would they be the Collinsville ________ or something that ties them to St.L?

shimmy · PostAug 07, 2007#222007-08-07T18:36+00:00

I'm sure it would be St. Louis. A lot of cities have their teams in the suburbs but bear the city's name. If not St. Louis, then it would be Gateway _____, Southern Illinois _____, or something. Not Collinsville:

"Where's Collinsville?"

"In Illinois"

"Oh, Chicago?"

"

...No."

Bart Harley Jarvis · PostAug 08, 2007#232007-08-08T01:30+00:00

Little Egyptian wrote:I just hope the crazy Collinsville Council does not mess this up by voting against it. Jeff Cooper has put a lot of effort into Collinsville and he pretty much has everything riding on it. If Collinsville says no I would assume he would give up on this project altogether.

I think, IF Collinsville votes against this, Cooper should talk with SIU-E. SIU-E already is in the top 5 in D-II Men's soccer attendance (granted they still only average 500+). Plus, there is already a SimmonsCooper Baseball complex on campus. SIU-E will be making the jump to D-1 in a few years and even though they don't need new soccer/track & field facilities, it wouldn't hurt to toss the idea around and try to go halvesies on the project or something? There is plenty of room around the current Korte Stadium with youth fields already in place, easy access from I-255 and I-270 for all the suburban soccer families from both sides of the river.

Yes, I know it is 30 mins from downtown STL, but if Cooper is spearheading the project, he would like it to be in the Metro-East somewhere. In 20 years when MetroLink makes it to SIU-E, it wouldn't seem like nearly as far of a trip.

little egyptian · PostAug 10, 2007#242007-08-10T12:50+00:00

Big story in the post today. The soccer project is looking better than ever!!!

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/s ... enDocument

WE HAVE RENDERINGS!!! Finally. Renderings can be found here: http://www.stltoday.com/mds/sports/flash/333

The renderings are a little underwhelming right now, but I expect them to get better as construction nears. The stadium itself does not really have that much artistic flavor, but who cares that much.

I got to say, after the ballpark village experience, Cooper looks to be borderline genius. The only other party to his soccer corporation is the City of Collinsville itself (not the states). And although he is asking for 20 million in bonds from Collinsville, the way the deal is structured it looks like Collinsville is functioning more as a bank that will get interest on its loan in 10 years and then collect a profit. On top of that is the economic study that said it would have a 2.3 billion dollar economic impact over that same 10 years. This is a clear win-win for Collinsville. They should thank God Cooper approached them and not some other city.

This is looking fantastic on the MLS front too. Cooper is already talking to MLS about hosting all-star games and whatnot. As soon as Collinsville approves the deal, MLS is going to grant us a franchise.

Amazing work by Cooper. Being from Southern Illinois, I was impressed how is law partner Simmons brought a Frontier League team to Marion in short order. But, this master stroke by Cooper is even more impressive. I will tell you one thing, if I was a business around Saint Louis I would surely take note and consider Simmons Cooper, LLC for my legal needs.

PostAug 10, 2007#252007-08-10T13:01+00:00

More renderings and more information at Saint Louis United Soccer's new webpage (which is really nice - is there anything this guy does not do well?)

http://www.stlouissoccerunited.com/

Just from Browsing around the webpage, ... I don't want to say done deal ... but we are pretty damn close to that.

So impressive. Working under the radar and getting all the ducks in a row. Amazing work.

Here is their functioning logo. I sort of like it. I like the green and there is a lot of speculation the team would be called the Knights, after Saint Louie.