St. Louis' prospective ownership group is increasingly confident in what it can offer MLSMLS4THELOU
Members of a prospective MLS St. Louis franchise ownership group "made an under-the-radar trip" to N.Y. to give MLS Commissioner Don Garber and his colleagues an "update on progress made," according to Ben Frederickson of the ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH. The St. Louis group's leader, Enterprise Holdings Foundation President Carolyn Betz, said the group "reached out" to MLS six months ago, and the group has "done a lot" in over that span. The group, spearheaded by Betz and World Wide Technology CEO Jim Kavanaugh, "finds itself walking a fine line." It is "increasingly confident in what it can offer MLS." However, the group "sees stiff competition -- specifically a Sacramento effort that just welcomed a wealthy investor -- and realizes recruiting season continues." The St. Louis group has the ownership, it "has the fans" and it "has the sway." Frederickson: "But does St. Louis have enough support from area businesses?" The St. Louis bid "lacks key sponsorship commitments for the stadium and the front of the team uniform, a marquee spot in soccer." Garber is "scheduled to make a visit" to St. Louis before the MLS board meeting in April. Betz said one of the things Garber had said was that to "have other partners on board is a better, healthier way to go." She added, "Having different corporations that are willing to make a multi-year commitment to this project, what better way to say, 'We believe in St. Louis'"(ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 2/5).
