A case concerning the financing of stadiums in St. Louis is now being reconsidered, and it may very well affect the city’s MLS pursuit.
Three city residents—Jeanette Mott Oxford, Earl Garrett, and William White—had attempted to join a lawsuit between the city and a board that ran the Edward Jones Dome, contending that the city was not doing enough in the case, which questioned the power granted to citizens in voting on stadium funding through a 2002 initiative. This issue was unfolding as the St. Louis attempted to keep the Rams–who have since moved to Los Angeles–but it has been through the courts a few times since, with an appellate court ruling in April that the trio could not join the case.
Now, however, the State Supreme Court, has told the lower court to take another look at the case. This comes as MLS backers in St. Louis are trying to organize an expansion bid that would include a new stadium, something that those involved in the case seem to be very well aware of. More from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Even with the Rams gone, Ammann called the case important to get settled in case the city tried to support construction of a professional soccer stadium in the future.
“We’re excited that the Supreme Court accepted the case and asked the Eastern District to take another look at it because this involves the rights of the voters in St. Louis,” Ammann said.
The St. Louis effort still requires a more visible ownership group, along with a funding plan for a stadium. Having this case in the mix may only further complicate the issue.
Rendering dates from a previous effort to bring MLS to St. Louis; it does not reflect any current plans.
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