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MLS Awards Expansion to St. Louis

A yet to be named St Louis team will begin play in 2022

By Thad Bell
MLS: MLS4TheLou-St. Louis Press Conference Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

St. Louis was officially announced an the 28th Major League Soccer team by Commissioner Don Garber today. MLS awarded the expansion team to the city of St. Louis and they are expected to start play in 2022.

“It is with great pride that we welcome St. Louis to Major League Soccer,” said Commissioner Garber via press release. “St. Louis is a city with a rich soccer tradition, and it is a market we have considered since the league’s inception. Our league becomes stronger today with the addition of the city’s deeply dedicated soccer fans, and the committed and innovative local ownership group led by Carolyn Kindle Betz, the Taylor family, and Jim Kavanaugh.”

The St. Louis club is making history with their ownership. Enterprise Holdings Foundation president Carolyn Kindle Betz and six other female members of the Taylor family make it the first female majority-owned club in MLS history. The ownership group is rounded out by two executives with a long history in the St. Louis business and philanthropic community: Enterprise Holdings executive chairman Andy Taylor, and World Wide Technology CEO Jim Kavanaugh.

“Our ownership group has come a long way since we first announced our bid last October at Mathews-Dickey Boys and Girls Club, and it’s an incredible feeling to now be able to say, St. Louis is home to the first official majority female-led ownership group in MLS,” said Carolyn Kindle Betz via press release. “Our MLS team and stadium will only add to St. Louis’ renaissance currently underway and will provide us with a great opportunity to bring together many different segments of the community, uniting people in their love for the game.”

A new downtown soccer stadium will be located in the Downtown West district of St. Louis with plans close to finalization. The stadium will be a central elements of a major development project in the Downtown West district, which will include mixed-use retail, restaurants and gathering spaces open year-round to the public.

St. Louis and Sporting Kansas City should quickly become rivals.

Confirmed MLS Expansion:

  • Inter Miami 2020
  • Nashville SC 2020
  • Austin FC 2021
  • St. Louis 2022

There are a number of cities still battling for the 29th and 30th spots.

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