St. Louis Pro Soccer Could Come By Way Of USL

• St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Thursday, December 18, 2008 1:01 PM

While St. Louis waits to hear if it has secured an MLS franchise, another possibility for pro soccer in the city has emerged -- a United Soccer Leagues team. Not only could it come a year sooner than the projected 2011 MLS start date, it would be 39 million bucks cheaper. Tony Glavin, a former indoor player who came to St. Louis from Scotland and stayed to become a coach, has met with USL officials about placing a team in the league's top flight, writes Tom Timmermann.

"When I put together my youth program, part of the goal was to build a pyramid of youth programs through men's and women's senior teams and hopefully a professional team," said Glavin, who already has an amateur team in the USL's Premier Development League. "We've talked about it enough and now we're trying to piece things together to make it happen by 2010."

The USL1 entrance fee is $1 million, compared with $40 million for MLS, with operating costs substantially less and the standard of play arguably close to being at MLS level, judging by results in the U.S. Open Cup and this year's Concacaf Champions League. Glavin is putting together an ownership group and looking for a place to play. A decision is expected by July.

 

 

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