MLS Stadium and District

gary kreie · PostMar 21, 2023#16262023-03-21T15:20+00:00

With all the excitement about soccer in St. Louis, I'm surprised the club has not been able to find a buyer for the stadium name.

Centene had bought the stadium naming rights, but then backed out saying they wanted to invest in more medical oriented sponsorship. So it was with some surprise when I saw that Centene sponsored the Ambetter Health 400 NASCAR race in Atlanta last Sunday on TV. Ambetter is Centene Corporation's Health Insurance Marketplace product. I guess car wrecks generate more healing opportunities than soccer?

Bart Harley Jarvis · PostMar 21, 2023#16272023-03-21T15:26+00:00

gary kreie wrote: ↑
Mar 21, 2023
With all the excitement about soccer in St. Louis, I'm surprised the club has not been able to find a buyer for the stadium name.

Centene had bought the stadium naming rights, but then backed out saying they wanted to invest in more medical oriented sponsorship. So it was with some surprise when I saw that Centene sponsored the Ambetter Health 400 NASCAR race in Atlanta last Sunday on TV. Ambetter is Centene Corporation's Health Insurance Marketplace product. I guess car wrecks generate more healing opportunities than soccer?

Would Ambetter Health see more opportunities for potential customers in the NASCAR fan base, perhaps?

soulardx · PostMar 21, 2023#16282023-03-21T16:06+00:00

gary kreie wrote: ↑
Mar 21, 2023
With all the excitement about soccer in St. Louis, I'm surprised the club has not been able to find a buyer for the stadium name.

Centene had bought the stadium naming rights, but then backed out saying they wanted to invest in more medical oriented sponsorship. So it was with some surprise when I saw that Centene sponsored the Ambetter Health 400 NASCAR race in Atlanta last Sunday on TV. Ambetter is Centene Corporation's Health Insurance Marketplace product. I guess car wrecks generate more healing opportunities than soccer?

No matter what Centene's new leadership claimed, it's probably just as simple as MLS just not being a sport with a critical mass of TV viewership, badly limiting a chance for wider awareness for whatever brand/offer Centene wants to promote.
The ATL NASCAR Cup Series race got about 3.5 million TV viewers nationally.
Would a STL City MLS game get 10% of that that NASCAR total in TV viewership? Heck, it probably didn't hit 1% of that 3.5M. No hyperbole.

chriss752 · PostMar 21, 2023#16292023-03-21T18:13+00:00

I still think CitiBank would be a good stadium sponsor. CitiPark would be the name since “CityPark” is already the name. It’s not like you’re changing much.

sc4mayor · PostMar 21, 2023#16302023-03-21T18:26+00:00

gary kreie wrote: ↑
Mar 21, 2023
With all the excitement about soccer in St. Louis, I'm surprised the club has not been able to find a buyer for the stadium name.

Centene had bought the stadium naming rights, but then backed out saying they wanted to invest in more medical oriented sponsorship. So it was with some surprise when I saw that Centene sponsored the Ambetter Health 400 NASCAR race in Atlanta last Sunday on TV. Ambetter is Centene Corporation's Health Insurance Marketplace product. I guess car wrecks generate more healing opportunities than soccer?

They’re not pushing hard for a naming rights sponsor anymore. Kindle said in an interview they really like how CityPark has caught on with fans and the community and while they will entertain offers for a naming rights deal…they hope CityPark stays as part of the name.

I definitely think in the early stages of being awarded a team, MLS was harder on them about naming rights and corporate sponsorships. But now, I think it’s pretty clear to MLS and anyone else involved, the team is probably going to be a smashing success (financially, though hopefully on the field too), the Taylor’s have tons of cash, the community is clearly into it…I’m not sure the naming rights carry the same importance they did early on.

My guess is the deal for the race naming rights was locked up sometime ago and they couldn’t back out. I wouldn’t put much of any stock into anything Centene does anymore.

_nomad_ · PostMar 21, 2023#16312023-03-21T18:54+00:00

sc4mayor wrote: ↑
Mar 21, 2023
gary kreie wrote: ↑
Mar 21, 2023
With all the excitement about soccer in St. Louis, I'm surprised the club has not been able to find a buyer for the stadium name.

Centene had bought the stadium naming rights, but then backed out saying they wanted to invest in more medical oriented sponsorship. So it was with some surprise when I saw that Centene sponsored the Ambetter Health 400 NASCAR race in Atlanta last Sunday on TV. Ambetter is Centene Corporation's Health Insurance Marketplace product. I guess car wrecks generate more healing opportunities than soccer?
They’re not pushing hard for a naming rights sponsor anymore. Kindle said in an interview they really like how CityPark has caught on with fans and the community and while they will entertain offers for a naming rights deal…they hope CityPark stays as part of the name.

I definitely think in the early stages of being awarded a team, MLS was harder on them about naming rights and corporate sponsorships. But now, I think it’s pretty clear to MLS and anyone else involved, the team is probably going to be a smashing success (financially, though hopefully on the field too), the Taylor’s have tons of cash, the community is clearly into it…I’m not sure the naming rights carry the same importance they did early on.

My guess is the deal for the race naming rights was locked up sometime ago and they couldn’t back out. I wouldn’t put much of any stock into anything Centene does anymore.

With how they're playing there's a possibility that the price for naming rights will be a lot higher after this season than it was before. Given that the rights will be a multiyear deal ownership could be willing to forgo that revenue this year and bet on getting a higher value deal later on.

RockChalkSTL · PostMar 21, 2023#16322023-03-21T19:01+00:00

From a March 3, 2023 St. Louis Biz-Journal article:

Kindle said she's still hoping to secure corporate naming rights for the stadium. But the name CityPark, she said, has been embraced to the point that she'd like to see any deal keep that part of the name.

"It's very endearing how CityPark has caught on," she said. "So I think when we find the right partner, it will be just as important to them as it is to us to make sure that we have CityPark in that name."

pop_scientist · PostMar 22, 2023#16332023-03-22T12:40+00:00

RockChalkSTL wrote: ↑
Mar 21, 2023
From a March 3, 2023 St. Louis Biz-Journal article:

Kindle said she's still hoping to secure corporate naming rights for the stadium. But the name CityPark, she said, has been embraced to the point that she'd like to see any deal keep that part of the name.

"It's very endearing how CityPark has caught on," she said. "So I think when we find the right partner, it will be just as important to them as it is to us to make sure that we have CityPark in that name."

CitiPark?

quincunx · PostMar 31, 2023#16342023-03-31T19:36+00:00

Let's hope they don't thneed more parking.

STL BJ - St. Louis City SC buys Downtown West buildings, adding to its real estate portfolio

The buildings, at 2111 and 2113 Olive St., add to City SC’s existing real estate in Downtown West, which already includes its 22,500-seat stadium, training facility and its future headquarters.

https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/new ... dings.html

pattimagee · PostMar 31, 2023#16352023-03-31T20:11+00:00

Looks like both of these are in use already - wonder what could come of these...

Suds · PostApr 01, 2023#16362023-04-01T02:15+00:00

quincunx wrote:Let's hope they don't thneed more parking.

STL BJ - St. Louis City SC buys Downtown West buildings, adding to its real estate portfolio

The buildings, at 2111 and 2113 Olive St., add to City SC’s existing real estate in Downtown West, which already includes its 22,500-seat stadium, training facility and its future headquarters.
https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/new ... dings.html

They said they're using them for operational purposes for the short-term. Possibly additional office space while the main building finishes?

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dbInSouthCity · PostApr 10, 2023#16372023-04-10T18:30+00:00

CityPark will host a Gold Cup game this summer, it was selected as one of 15 stadiums to host games.

dweebe · PostApr 10, 2023#16382023-04-10T18:34+00:00

dbInSouthCity wrote: ↑
Apr 10, 2023
CityPark will host a Gold Cup game this summer, it was selected as one of 15 stadiums to host games.

6 soccer stadiums/9 NFL football stadiums

jshank83 · PostApr 10, 2023#16392023-04-10T21:03+00:00

Averages just over 2 games per stadium so I’m hoping we do get 2.

dbInSouthCity · PostApr 18, 2023#16402023-04-18T02:30+00:00

The Pitch has been doing well beyond expectations so far.

dweebe · PostApr 18, 2023#16412023-04-18T11:51+00:00

dbInSouthCity wrote: ↑
Apr 18, 2023
The Pitch has been doing well beyond expectations so far.

As in their non-match day business?

No stats, but a friend who frequents Sybergs says it seems busier.

dbInSouthCity · PostApr 18, 2023#16422023-04-18T12:57+00:00

dweebe wrote: ↑
Apr 18, 2023
dbInSouthCity wrote: ↑
Apr 18, 2023
The Pitch has been doing well beyond expectations so far.
As in their non-match day business?

No stats, but a friend who frequents Sybergs says it seems busier.

yes non match too, they are expecting a huge summer at the whole complex and rolling out a new attraction in May.

moorlander · PostApr 18, 2023#16432023-04-18T19:35+00:00

RuskiSTL · PostApr 18, 2023#16442023-04-18T20:53+00:00

moorlander wrote: ↑
Apr 18, 2023

Great news! In a "what should be" timeline, Jones Dome should be the USMNT & USWNT national stadium with Soccer HOF adjoining. One step at a time

STLEnginerd · PostApr 18, 2023#16452023-04-18T21:14+00:00

Jamaica-Nicaragua game should be an interesting test of the market. Those nationalities aren't exactly broadly represented in the St. louis market so just how soccer mad are we...? Of course the USMNT game will sell out in about the time it takes to click a mouse. Great that we got two games.

pop_scientist · PostApr 19, 2023#16462023-04-19T00:46+00:00

STLEnginerd wrote:Jamaica-Nicaragua game should be an interesting test of the market. Those nationalities aren't exactly broadly represented in the St. louis market so just how soccer mad are we...? Of course the USMNT game will sell out in about the time it takes to click a mouse. Great that we got two games.

I believe that your ticket gets you both games.

No re-entry once you’re in though.

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Bart Harley Jarvis · PostApr 19, 2023#16472023-04-19T12:29+00:00

moorlander wrote: ↑
Apr 18, 2023

Anyone else feel that it's confusing to determine who is playing who in this graphic? Is is Jamaica vs USA or Jamaica vs Nicaragua?

dbInSouthCity · PostApr 19, 2023#16482023-04-19T12:32+00:00

Bart Harley Jarvis wrote: ↑
Apr 19, 2023
moorlander wrote: ↑
Apr 18, 2023
Anyone else feel that it's confusing to determine who is playing who in this graphic? Is is Jamaica vs USA or Jamaica vs Nicaragua?

its pretty simple actually, its Jamaica and US combined teams vs Nicaragua and the nation of Winner Prelims 9

gone corporate · PostApr 19, 2023#16492023-04-19T13:02+00:00

Jamaica vs. Nicaragua
United States vs. TBD

Bart Harley Jarvis · PostApr 19, 2023#16502023-04-19T13:13+00:00

gone corporate wrote: ↑
Apr 19, 2023
Jamaica vs. Nicaragua
United States vs. TBD

Yeah, no, I get it. Just bad design is all.

MLS Stadium and District

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