Mayor Slay pitches soccer support

St. Louis Mayor Slay has some good words of support for Jeff Cooper's bid for an MLS soccer franchise.

"I had hoped to find a site in the city for Jeff Cooper's proposed major league/youth soccer complex. But, the 400 acres – ready for construction now — required for the project were simply unavailable here.  Jeff’s eventual selection of a site near Collinsville, barely ten minutes from the Edward Jones Dome, Scottrade Center and Busch stadium is next-to-perfect, and I expect it to be an asset to the City and, especially, to downtown."

"New thoughtful construction east of downtown, particularly along an existing transportation spine, is a positive development that I have been asking the local corporate community to support. As heartened as I was by the business community’s pledged support for the ultimately unsuccessful bid to win an NCAA Final Four selection in the next decade, I believe that Jeff’s bid to win a MLS men’s franchise here and his proposal to construct the soccer complex in Collinsville will have an even greater and more positive long-term economic impact on St. Louis than landing a single sports tournament."

Comments

[Ron]

Talks cheap. Will Slay be willing to commit any St. Louis money? I doubt it. Will he ask the city, state of Missouri, or county? I doubt it.
By the way, Missouri is one of the few states reporting a surplus for the year and good finances.
Slay's rhetoric is not leadership. It's being a cheerleader.

[Jamie Krock]

The money that will come from St.Louis will be from people attending the games. Having Slay come out and say that it is okay to cross the river is an important step.