Park planned at I-255, Horseshoe Lake Road
Collinsville officials are continuing to talk with private investors in hopes of bringing a 14th Major Soccer League team to the area. The talks began more than six months ago.
"Discussions are taking place. Issues are being resolved. Progress is being made," said Collinsville City Administrator Bob Knabel on Tuesday.
One thing that has not been released publicly are details about the negotiations.
The two sides are considering having a soccer-specific park built near Interstate 255, on Horseshoe Lake Road.
An amphitheater had been proposed for the site but was never built. The site is part of an existing tax increment finance district, Knabel said.
The Major Soccer League has been around for 13 years, with the nearest franchises in Kansas City and Chicago. It got a publicity boost recently when the Los Angeles Galaxy announced they had signed former English captain and Real Madrid star David Beckham to a contract. The league has also been hoping to increase attendance by building soccer-specific stadiums near large cities. Since 1999, the MLS has constructed six stadiums, which are generally a third of the size of football stadiums.
Plans call for stadiums to be built soon in Salt Lake City and East Rutherford, N.J.
"Having a stadium and a complex on this side of the river would be a great thing," said Dale Schilly, program director for Metro United of Southern Illinois. Metro United hosts tournaments, such as the Final Four Showcase Tournament in December, that attract teams from across the country.
Practices and games are played at the Metro United Soccer Complex, off Horseshoe Lake Road, and at signs ups for tryouts recently parents and players signed petitions meant to show support for bringing professional soccer to the area. Petitions are still being circulated, Schilly said. Over the years, thousands of teens have come to Collinsville from places like Chesterfield, Mo., and Schilly has no doubt that they and others would return now to watch professional soccer.
The petitions will be passed along soon to Nate Brinson, who said Tuesday that he has also been collecting petitions in the St. Louis area and Illinois. Neither Brinson nor Schilly knew how many petitions have been signed so far. Brinson plans to turn them over to East Alton attorneys Jeff Cooper and John Simmons, who head the exploratory group looking to bring a team here.
Cooper said that discussions between his group and Collinsville officials are continuing and that "we hope to have an announcement soon."
Said Schilly: "We're interested in this for the development of the game here. We're just excited they're as close as what everybody says they are."
©Edwardsville Intelligencer 2007
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