A group of prominent St. Louis business and sports leaders are "working together" to land an MLS expansion franchise and will conduct a "market study, look into potential stadium sites and research stadium construction funding options," according to a front-page piece by David Hunn of the ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH. The group includes MLB Cardinals President Bill DeWitt III, World Wide Technology CEO and USL club St. Louis FC CEO Jim Kavanaugh, Lodging Hospitality Management Chair & CEO Bob O’Loughlin, UniGroup President Jim Powers, Blues President & CEO of Business Operations Chris Zimmerman and former NFL stadium task force co-Chair Dave Peacock. FleishmanHillard Global Sports co-Lead & Senior VP Jim Woodcock said that the group -- "which is dubbing itself MLS2STL -- came together naturally as several of its members, including Woodcock, began asking about MLS ownership" following the departure of the Rams. He added that the members of the group "will not necessarily be owners." Woodcock also said that the group's work "will be privately funded." Peacock "met with MLS Commissioner Don Garber" at the league’s N.Y. offices this month. He "left the meeting with promises to help MLS with such local work" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 2/18). Garber recently said that he has "been contacted by a number of potential owners for a St. Louis team." In St. Louis, Brian Feldt noted no team is "expected to enter the St. Louis market" until at least the '20 season. Other cities, such as San Diego, San Antonio, Detroit and Sacramento, also "are in the running for an expansion team" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 2/17).
