St. Louis residents will tomorrow (Tuesday) vote on whether or not to help fund a new Major League Soccer stadium in the US city.
The SC STL group is spearheading plans to launch an MLS expansion franchise in St. Louis and would invest $95m (£76m/€89m) into a 22,000-seat soccer-specific stadium.
The Associated Press news agency reports that voters will decide whether to designate $60m towards the project. The fee for securing an MLS franchise currently stands at $150m, which SC STL would cover. The group has also requested that 24 acres of unused land be donated to allow for the development.
MLS commissioner Don Garber has spoken positively about St. Louis’ chances of securing an expansion franchise, but stressed that the proposal will hinge on how the city votes. “Without that vote being positive, this project’s not going forward,” Garber said, according to the AP.
MLS plans on adding two new teams by the 2020 season, with an announcement expected to be made later this year.
The league currently comprises 22 teams after Minnesota United and Atlanta United joined the competition for the 2017 season. Los Angeles FC will make its debut next year, while talks between MLS and a David Beckham-backed Miami team have been ongoing for some time.
SC STL’s proposal has attracted criticism and it has taken months for the matter to be put to a public vote.
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