it does mention that in the article I read in full after my post. Attending games couldn't be more convenient for me as I work practically across the street.
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Are they going to have any merchandising? I would hope that they would. Does this team have a website or is it just done through stlsoccerunited.com or whatever their website is?
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Permanent for the "USL" team. In fact, the first thing you will see is Mr. Cooper increasing seating to 10K.Xing wrote:Is Fenton temporary, or do they intend to play there fore awhile?
But if we do get an MLS team, they will not play at AB Soccer Park. At least not long term.
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http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports ... enDocument
Good signing for AC St. Louis. Ralston is an MLS legend. He will help in marketing the team. I like what Cooper is doing so far. I just wish he would have went with the St. Louis United name and logo. AC STL is growing on me, but I loved the other logo.
Good signing for AC St. Louis. Ralston is an MLS legend. He will help in marketing the team. I like what Cooper is doing so far. I just wish he would have went with the St. Louis United name and logo. AC STL is growing on me, but I loved the other logo.
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Very unfortunate!!!
Statement:
Athletica players have just been told in a meeting at the Soccer Park that the team is shutting down in the wake of the team’s financial problems. AC St. Louis appears to have survived, though that’s not definite yet. No word yet as to whether the Athletica will play this weekend’s game at Atlanta or not.
Here’s an official statement from team founder Jeff Cooper:
“The termination of Saint Louis Athletica is a painful outcome from the funding shortfalls and ultimate default by the investors who had the obligation to fund and operate the team on a day-to-day basis. I’ve given this matter my complete attention since returning to a more active role in the last few weeks, and numerous parties have spent a lot of hours during that time exploring what options or solutions might be available. Despite best efforts, nothing was found that would answer the immediate needs of the franchise. With more time, it is possible the answer to the financial challenges Athletica faced would have been met, but unfortunately we do not have the benefit of extra time. The investors who defaulted on a contract to fund Athletica through this season and beyond broke a promise to a league, team, players and a community, and that is what is most troubling about today’s development. I am grateful for everyone’s support of Athletica and am particularly appreciative of our players who represented the sport and our community with such class and spirit.
Despite the disappointing outcome with Saint Louis Athletica, we continue to work hard on securing the long-term future of AC St. Louis.”
More to come.
Statement:
Athletica players have just been told in a meeting at the Soccer Park that the team is shutting down in the wake of the team’s financial problems. AC St. Louis appears to have survived, though that’s not definite yet. No word yet as to whether the Athletica will play this weekend’s game at Atlanta or not.
Here’s an official statement from team founder Jeff Cooper:
“The termination of Saint Louis Athletica is a painful outcome from the funding shortfalls and ultimate default by the investors who had the obligation to fund and operate the team on a day-to-day basis. I’ve given this matter my complete attention since returning to a more active role in the last few weeks, and numerous parties have spent a lot of hours during that time exploring what options or solutions might be available. Despite best efforts, nothing was found that would answer the immediate needs of the franchise. With more time, it is possible the answer to the financial challenges Athletica faced would have been met, but unfortunately we do not have the benefit of extra time. The investors who defaulted on a contract to fund Athletica through this season and beyond broke a promise to a league, team, players and a community, and that is what is most troubling about today’s development. I am grateful for everyone’s support of Athletica and am particularly appreciative of our players who represented the sport and our community with such class and spirit.
Despite the disappointing outcome with Saint Louis Athletica, we continue to work hard on securing the long-term future of AC St. Louis.”
More to come.
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Absolutely terrible news, but sadly, I'm not surprised. Hopefully a similar fate is not in store for AC St. Louis.
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I will really miss Hope Solo.... 
I do not think this is an indictment of St. Louis as a soccer town. The team did not fail due to lack of support, as some want to portray. They were in the top 5 in atttendance, right up there with the major markets. Some of the local news stations made it seem like it was lack of support. It was lack of financial stability. This proves that Cooper only has the will to get soccer going here, not the way. He, for some reason, cannot get a big time investor to join his effort. Maybe his biz plan is weak and turned off investors, other than those shady guys from London. I think AC St. Louis can work, but it will never draw like big time MLS soccer would. In the long term, Cooper needs to bring in more biz savvy execs to market, build a strategy and attract real investors. I can't imagine he has done that or a deal would be done and MLS would be here. If KC can do it, why not STL? My hope is that he'll eventually get that big time investor and bring back the Athletica and get an MLS team with a new venue in Fenton. I am not going to hold my breath though!
I do not think this is an indictment of St. Louis as a soccer town. The team did not fail due to lack of support, as some want to portray. They were in the top 5 in atttendance, right up there with the major markets. Some of the local news stations made it seem like it was lack of support. It was lack of financial stability. This proves that Cooper only has the will to get soccer going here, not the way. He, for some reason, cannot get a big time investor to join his effort. Maybe his biz plan is weak and turned off investors, other than those shady guys from London. I think AC St. Louis can work, but it will never draw like big time MLS soccer would. In the long term, Cooper needs to bring in more biz savvy execs to market, build a strategy and attract real investors. I can't imagine he has done that or a deal would be done and MLS would be here. If KC can do it, why not STL? My hope is that he'll eventually get that big time investor and bring back the Athletica and get an MLS team with a new venue in Fenton. I am not going to hold my breath though!
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It's WOMAN'S soccer. I don't think this says anything about our ability to support MEN'S soccer.
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^Who said it did? 
I didn't.....
However, I do think a town considered by many to be the best soccer town in the US, should be able to support any pro soccer. Again, the failure had nothing to do with lack of support, so that point is moot.
I didn't.....However, I do think a town considered by many to be the best soccer town in the US, should be able to support any pro soccer. Again, the failure had nothing to do with lack of support, so that point is moot.
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But doesn't it say something when leadership and the corporate community fails to save Athletica? Doesn't that speak against "Soccer town USA"?DOGTOWNB&R wrote:^Who said it did?
However, I do think a town considered by many to be the best soccer town in the US, should be able to support any pro soccer. Again, the failure had nothing to do with lack of support, so that point is moot.
We stepped up and built scottrade for the Blues when they were at risk of relocating but no one has come to the rescue of Athletica?
They folded the wrong team, no doubt about that. AC St Louis and Cooper have lost a lot of respect from the soccer community with this move.
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I agree. Like I said, the fact that Cooper never got a 'real' investor(s) to join his effort, tells me that there had to be flaws in his biz model and strategy. If it was a can't miss, he'd be able to line up someone with deep pockets or a group of investors. I think building in Collinsville would have been a mistake first off. I never understood the Pujols thing, other than it was a front to get 'real' investors. I feel that Cooper's heart is in the right place, but being an attorney and soccer lover, does not make you a great businessman. I just don't think anyone cares enough to save the Athletica, except true soccer fans. Unfortunately, that is not enough. Even more unfortunate is the fact that this debacle may have killed our chances to get an MLS expansion team down the road.
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Personally, I think they made a big mistake by switching their home field from SIUE to Fenton in the middle of last season. Yeah, I know there are more people around Fenton than around Edwardsville, but they'd already sold a bunch of season tickets and built support over there. Up and moving 40 miles away doesn't make a lot of friends. Doing it between seasons would have been far less disruptive.
As for the which-team-should-be-killed question, personally (as a casual fan), I'd rather watch the best womens soccer players in the world than some third-tier mens league. But maybe that's just me.
As for the which-team-should-be-killed question, personally (as a casual fan), I'd rather watch the best womens soccer players in the world than some third-tier mens league. But maybe that's just me.
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Because Lamar Hunt lived in KC and not here.DOGTOWNB&R wrote:If KC can do it, why not STL?
Sadly, this is true.Moorlander wrote:It's WOMAN'S soccer. I don't think this says anything about our ability to support MEN'S soccer.
Not true.Arch_Genesis wrote:AC St Louis and Cooper have lost a lot of respect from the soccer community with this move.
It was an odd move. Especially considering that he had paid for the new field over there.stlwriterman wrote:Personally, I think they made a big mistake by switching their home field from SIUE to Fenton in the middle of last season. Yeah, I know there are more people around Fenton than around Edwardsville, but they'd already sold a bunch of season tickets and built support over there. Up and moving 40 miles away doesn't make a lot of friends. Doing it between seasons would have been far less disruptive.
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The Central Scrutinizer wrote:Sadly, this is true.Moorlander wrote:It's WOMAN'S soccer. I don't think this says anything about our ability to support MEN'S soccer.
No doubt it's true. Women's sports are just not appealing AT ALL to the masses. The doubt the athletica could beat the best high school boys teams.
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I would argue that it's probably been 30 years since we've been the "best soccer town".DOGTOWNB&R wrote:^Who said it did?
However, I do think a town considered by many to be the best soccer town in the US, should be able to support any pro soccer. Again, the failure had nothing to do with lack of support, so that point is moot.
Recent TV ratings for the Champions League final seem to confirm this. http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports ... enDocument
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http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/news/story?id=5264076
Ralston gone....sign of things to come for AC St. Louis?
Not good to lose their biggest marketing tool. Not good for St. Louis soccer.
Ralston gone....sign of things to come for AC St. Louis?
Not good to lose their biggest marketing tool. Not good for St. Louis soccer.
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I suspect the NE side determined that his knee was healed, and Ralston probably determined that he should get out while he has the chance.
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Maybe Ralston was not as committed to AC St.Louis as he made it seem. He said he wanted to be close to home and play close to home. ^I agree, more than likely, NE told him to heal up and if he did, they'd take him back. Being a competitor, he didn't want to stand pat and not play, so AC STL was the best option. He likely jumped off of a sinking or damaged ship.
I'd like to see guys like Ralston and others, get together and head a group to bring MLS here someday. I think Cooper's heart is in the right place, but his pocketbook and biz plan are not. Maybe someday, ex-pro soccer players like Ralston, could round up 'real' investors.
I'd like to see guys like Ralston and others, get together and head a group to bring MLS here someday. I think Cooper's heart is in the right place, but his pocketbook and biz plan are not. Maybe someday, ex-pro soccer players like Ralston, could round up 'real' investors.