I stole that headline from my esteemed fellow soccer blogger over at Glendale Soccer. Bob has applied his debate skills to the speculation around the collapse of the Real Salt Lake stadium deal and its potential aftermath. He points to a NY Times article about the possibility that Checketts, also owner of the St Louis Blues professional hockey team, might sell his rights to a group in St. Louis.
I never thought I’d be accused of being more cynical than Bob but I’m going to point to my favorite new soccer blog, My Soccer Blog. Mike H, who lists his hometown as Soccer Town US (St Louis?) has already noted that St Louis will have pro soccer in 2008. Heck, he’s even identified the location of the new stadium required to support the team.
The bet I would take is that it ends up being a USL team. As much as St Louis fancies itself a soccer town, I think targeting a franchise that can be supported with a game attendance of 5000 to 7000 is more realistic then an MLS franchise that would need over 15000. It’s a recipe for failure in Soccer Town, US.
Update – the St Louis Post-Dispatch chimes in. Hat tip to Coach Schmitt yet again.
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The Wiz certainly do their part to bring down the MLS attendance average since they only average 11,000 per game. They won’t even be at Arrowhead this season because of renovations. I keep hearing Olathe since a plan to play at Ray-Pec fell through.
I’m not sure this region can support two MLS teams, but I’m not convinced that KC will keep their franchise. They don’t seem to have support for a stadium deal which is surely the death knell for long-term stability. It would be easier for Real, or any other MLS team, to move into St. Louis if The Wiz went elsewhere.
And BTW, I seriously doubt that you are cynical as me.