What’s next?
Well, eleven other cities have also filed expansion plans vying for just four available slots.
The league’s due diligence governing expansion critiques prospective newcomers on three factors:
- A committed ownership group;
- A dedicated stadium plan (controlled by the club); and
- A market with a strong appetite to have soccer in it.
This is about adding teams that enhance the league. Saint Louis is doing what they can to score high in each of these boxes.
So, how do they currently fair?
They have always been high on the MLS expansion city consideration list, and moved considerably higher earlier this year following the departure of the NFL’s Rams back to Los Angeles, giving the city a very unique opportunity: to capitalise on this sports vacuum by filling it with soccer.