MLS commissioner Don Garber was in St. Louis on Monday, when a pep rally was held in advance of the city’s forthcoming stadium referendum.
SC STL is pushing to secure approval from St. Louis voters on April 4, when a referendum on a $60 million public contribution toward the construction of a new stadium will take place. That vote could lead to St. Louis landing an MLS franchise, as SC STL is one of 12 entities to have submitted a bid for the league’s ongoing expansion process.
During his visit to the city, Garber weighed in on the situation, stating that he was “confident” St. Louis could land a team if the funding for the stadium is approved. However, the commissioner noted that the league will have plenty to sort through over the coming months. More from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
“I’m very confident that if we’re able to go forward here, all that energy behind bringing MLS to St. Louis for many, many years will be fulfilled,” Don Garber said Monday at a news conference. “But we still have work to do.”
Garber was referring to the expansion process, which includes bids from St. Louis and 11 other communities around the country. Two of the four new franchises are expected to be announced this year.
Garber appeared in St. Louis a week before city voters will decide on Proposition 2, which would designate $60 million in public financing to go toward a 22,000-seat stadium downtown.
“If you want MLS, that proposition needs to be successful,” Garber said. He delivered the same message at a pro-soccer rally Monday evening at Ballpark Village.
St. Louis is one of 12 expansion candidates in the mix, with MLS expected to select at least four teams. Two could begin play by 2020, with the other pair of clubs joining the league at a later date. Where St. Louis stands in its ongoing pursuit should be clearer after next week’s vote.
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