Garber: St. Louis Must Strengthen Investor Base

• Associated Press, Friday, January 16, 2009 1:45 PM

St. Louis' chances of landing a Major League Soccer franchise in 2011 hinge on the city strengthening its investor base, according to MLS Commissioner Don Garber . "It's a great soccer market and we hope to be here at some point," Garber said Thursday, in town for the NSCAA convention. "It's got most of what it takes. We've got to find out if it has all of what it takes."

Garber said money was St. Louis' "primary concern." Jeff Cooper, who heads the ownership group for the proposed St. Louis franchise, said that money has been the league's "constant refrain as we've gone through this process. We're probably being held to a little higher standard. We've been looking to strengthen our group and will continue to do so."

"I think the commissioner knows what a great soccer city St. Louis is," Cooper said. "It would be a great, supportive atmosphere. Everything about the bid is strong, and in line." Although it's worth recapping that any future team won't be in St. Louis at all, but 23 miles away in the city of Collinsville, Ill.

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