MLL in the STL? [Archive] - The Lacrosse Forums

Prof. Mushroom

10-26-2007, 02:29 PM

St. Louis was a city under consideration for a future MLL expansion team along with Cincinnati, Dallas, Portland, Salt Lake, San Diego and, Seattle. Originally the MLL announced that there would be two new expansion teams for the '08 season, but I have not heard anything about that lately so who knows if that plan fell through or what...

rider

10-27-2007, 09:50 PM

Well, East St. Louis (Collinsville, IL) is going to have a 20,000 seater stadium for an MLS team, as it recently got approval. Maybe the possibility of a MLL franchise is tied to that.

8-ball

10-28-2007, 02:39 AM

well isnt bud light there as well? i heard there was something like that as to a big reason why they were looking to put a team there

Midi Lax

10-28-2007, 07:14 AM

that would be cool if they started to expand the teams because i don't really have a team near me so i don't know who to root for

Prof. Mushroom

10-28-2007, 08:53 AM

that would be cool if they started to expand the teams because i don't really have a team near me so i don't know who to root for

Root for the Cannons. :thumbsup:

HawkletLax

10-28-2007, 07:14 PM

if i am not mistaken, the owner of the mll lives in missouri....or the founded did....correct me if im wrong

Midi Lax

10-29-2007, 04:14 PM

Root for the Cannons. :thumbsup:

cannons fan huh:roll:

Eclipse

10-29-2007, 04:28 PM

If an MLL team played in Collinsville, there attendance would be dead last. It needs to be in the suburbs, or in the city. Almost all lacrosse players in the area are going to live out in the 'burbs, since thats where all the HS lax is. If its in the city, at least its centrally located. Im not sure what the possibility is in the upcoming years. There best bet for a stadium would be to use SLU or WashU's soccer stadiums. WashU's stadium won't hold over a couple thousand.

superlaxman2

10-29-2007, 04:53 PM

I agree with Eclipse: nobody would want to go there. Downtown would be great though.

8-ball

10-29-2007, 05:14 PM

maybe the owners of the rams may get interested at some point. theres a place to play, and good publicity.

westlakelax17

10-29-2007, 08:19 PM

maybe the owners of the rams may get interested at some point. theres a place to play, and good publicity.

The owners of the Rams need to work on getting above an 0-8 record before they should even think about starting an MLL franchise. The Rams where speculated to be a contender this year in the NFC.

Eclipse

10-29-2007, 08:27 PM

Considering an MLL team will NEVER play in Edward Jones Dome, this is really irrelavent to the conversation.

laxhead22

10-30-2007, 12:42 PM

Considering an MLL team will NEVER play in Edward Jones Dome, this is really irrelavent to the conversation.

Why not? If Denver can play at INVESCO Field at Mile High, then there's no reason a St. Louis MLL can't play in Edwards Jones Dome. You just need to get the Rams' owner involved.

CmLaX8

10-30-2007, 12:45 PM

what about pittsburgh? why cant we get a team? we have one of the most up and coming lax programs

Eclipse

10-30-2007, 02:31 PM

Why not? If Denver can play at INVESCO Field at Mile High, then there's no reason a St. Louis MLL can't play in Edwards Jones Dome. You just need to get the Rams' owner involved.

Consider that Denver plays in Mile High, the ONLY team in the MLL that plays in a Professional football stadium. Before the MLL even moved there, they were setting league attendance records in the NLL..the owners of the Bronco's saw some good potential and bought a team.

If Chicago's example is a sign of anything to come here in St.Louis, putting an MLL team in Edward Jones is completely unrealistic and completely unnecesary. Even if they pulled in 5,000 a game...EJ Dome is not smart. Financially speaking, putting them in a college stadium or even a High School stadium makes more sense.

And to the kid above me, with a team already in Philly, there is no need for a team in Pitt. It has already been proven there is not enough fan base for two teams to compete inside their own state with the exception of California...because its huge.

8-ball

10-30-2007, 05:32 PM

good marketing and good ownership, doesnt really matter where you put a team. chicago isnt doing well, b/c they arent a good team right now and probably (like most teams) lack of advertising. denver is a great example of what its like to have good marketing in an area with good support. people kept talking about how it would do great in st louis etc. go ahead and put a team there. it could be in the dome if the ownership did a good job; which i have no doubt theyd do it. it would be horrible for them to play at a high school. the mid west is ready for more expansion. down south, not so much. dallas is the only southern city i think i think could really support a team. detroit, any of the major cities in ohio, st louis, toronto, etc. all great places.
oh, and id hate it if pittsburgh got a team, b/c pitt sports fans are horrible. go browns and bengals. haha. anyways. im done for now.

Eclipse

10-30-2007, 06:33 PM

I agree that St.Louis can handle a team, but the dome is not the best place to put it...by any means.

I feel like a broken record but its just too large, and since lacrosse is a summer sport in the MLL..who wants to sit inside? One of the many St.Louis Universities could handle an MLL playing at their stadium, and it would make 1000 times more sense then posting a team in the Dome.

Even more logical then that would be Busch Soccer Park. Their main stadium can hold 5000+, its natural grass, very well kept, with concessions...and being in Fenton, its in a pretty centrally located area west of the city.

redskinsatheart

10-30-2007, 06:34 PM

screw st louis, they should add a team in maine...

mikeman5

10-30-2007, 06:37 PM

screw st louis, they should add a team in maine...

ha :laugh:

kbrisotti

10-30-2007, 08:52 PM

Hey, this may be a bit off topic but I am considering moving to St. Louis and I was very happy to see this thread. Can any of you give me an idea of what the lacrosse scene is like in St. Louis? I'm especially interested in learning about any HS and college programs (boys & girls) as well as any muni leagues available.

Eclipse

10-30-2007, 09:47 PM

PM me if you want some info

kbrisotti

10-30-2007, 09:56 PM

Hate to sound stupid, but what's "PM"????

Eclipse

10-30-2007, 09:58 PM

Click on my name, then when that menu drops down click "send private message"

laxdrummer3692

10-31-2007, 07:32 AM

mll in st louis would be AMAZING

CmLaX8

11-01-2007, 07:56 AM

pittsburgh fans are horrible? thats a joke we love our teams...except the pirates they suck...but an nll or mll team in pittsburgh would b more than welcomed

westlakelax17

11-01-2007, 05:00 PM

pittsburgh fans are horrible? thats a joke we love our teams...except the pirates they suck...but an nll or mll team in pittsburgh would b more than welcomed

Pittsburgh used to have an NLL team...but then it folded.

gctales

11-02-2007, 10:26 AM

And to the kid above me, with a team already in Philly, there is no need for a team in Pitt. It has already been proven there is not enough fan base for two teams to compete inside their own state with the exception of California...because its huge.

Please be aware that Pittsburgh is on the opposite end of the state... that is roughly 300 mils away and a 5 to 6 hour drive. Thus, theoretically, they are sufficiently far away, at least the same distance, if not farther than Chicago to St. Louis so the distance argument there is moot. This is also similar to the distance between LA and San Fran (roughly 350 miles) and much greater than LA to San Diego (~ 120 miles).

With regards to support.. with the vast majority of MLL teams drawing in the sub 4,000 per game range, that type of distance between teams is hardly a negative thing.

Having said that, Pittsburgh is not exactly a hot bed of lacrosse and I would have concerns with a team there for a multitude of reasons - none of which have anything to do with a team (or possibly no team) in Philly. Those include the lack of support by the community at large for an indoor team and the general attendance of MLL teams.

laxhead22

11-04-2007, 01:36 AM

Pittsburgh used to have an NLL team...but then it folded.

Actually, Pittsburgh had two NLL teams: the Bulls and CrosseFire. The Bulls folded, while the CrosseFire moved to Washington.

laxhead22

11-04-2007, 01:52 AM

I feel like a broken record but its just too large, and since lacrosse is a summer sport in the MLL..who wants to sit inside?

Ever heard of air conditioning? From what I hear, St. Louis can get kinda hot and humid during the summer. Temps can get into the 90s, humidity in the high 70s. I'd be willing to go to the dome for the relief it provides, rather than sit in uncomfortably warm weather at some college field that seems a bit unfitting.

8-ball

11-04-2007, 02:52 AM

thats a good point. years back the st louis cardinals put fans in their dugout and not the opposing teams dugout to stay cool, and it proved to be helpful for them. it really can get hot there. its a midwest area, but still southern for the most part. the size is an issue, but one point we can all make, unless something happened, is denver is doing just fine with the large space and having a team.

Eclipse

11-04-2007, 09:36 AM

I don't think im gonna get through to you guys that with smaller, more realistic venues in the area, the dome is not the smartest place financially to field a first year team...in an unproven area.

Lax'N'Roll

11-04-2007, 12:16 PM

Also the Edward Jones Dome is used with the convention center when its the offseason, so thats another reason why it wont work

8-ball

11-04-2007, 12:39 PM

i think the reason theres an argument is because no one really wants to see a pro team go to a university stadium, or a high school stadium. of course it would work better in a smaller venue to start off, and it isnt exactly a proven area.

Eclipse

11-04-2007, 01:16 PM

Sure no one wants to see them go to a college stadim, and of course not High school...but aside from Denver..no one else plays in an NFL stadium. Chicago has the right idea with Toyota Park..which is why if a team decided to come, Busch Soccer Park would be the best fit in my mind.

http://www.abconference.com/images/LacrosseCloseUpLg.jpg

http://www.abconference.com/images/PressBoxViewLg.jpg

http://www.abconference.com/images/LacrosseActionLg.jpg

ConanLax

11-04-2007, 03:08 PM

The owners of the Rams need to work on getting above an 0-8 record before they should even think about starting an MLL franchise. The Rams where speculated to be a contender this year in the NFC.

Injurys DEVASTATED our O line. Next year, when everyone is healthy we will bounce back.

VianneyLax22

11-10-2007, 09:35 PM

i think that they should use SLU's soccer field...beautiful complex will comfortably seat all the lacrosse fans stl can produce

Gummybear

11-15-2007, 10:25 AM

Soccer Park is a great place for lacrosse and, as far as i know, doesn't have a permanent tenant so a potential team/ownership group would be able to cooperate and really create an identity with the facility owners (AB, whose affiliation with the MLL is established).

Also, I agree with Eclipse. NFL stadiums are a silly pipe dream in nearly every market... there are sound arguments against the Outlaws using Invesco, and they do so rent-free!

missouri lax

11-15-2007, 11:24 AM

well isnt bud light there as well? i heard there was something like that as to a big reason why they were looking to put a team there

Yeah there is. St. Louis is known to be more of a baseball town, but lacrosse is starting to get really big. I think an MLL team would do well in STL.

Stlouislacrosse

12-08-2007, 11:41 AM

That would be so sick if Stl got a team. PS is did a lax camp at soccer park (those pics)

missouri lax

12-09-2007, 02:14 PM

westlakelax17

12-09-2007, 04:15 PM

I think the MLL team should make its own venue. Think about it. It would be on the news that a lax team is coming and they are makeing their own stadium. Attention would be drawn to the program and people would become interested.

Most Franchise Owners in the MLL cant afford to buy and support a team, and then build a stadium that will probably have limited use.

rider

12-09-2007, 08:45 PM

Some minor league soccer teams have scrapped together some cash of their own and built their own little stadiums. Of course, "some cash" still means at least $10 million.

VianneyLax22

12-09-2007, 09:48 PM

As much as i would love a MLL team, from what i hear we will get a MLS team before lacrosse.

Eclipse

12-09-2007, 10:45 PM

As much as i would love a MLL team, from what i hear we will get a MLS team before lacrosse.

Thats because we already got an MLS team. The stadium is being built in Collinsville.

rider

12-10-2007, 12:32 AM

The MLS team could actually help STL get an MLL team. The owner of the STL MLS team may want to fill out his new stadium with a secondary tenant, and it makes perfect sense to get a lacrosse team.

The owner of the Rochester Rhinos decided to put an MLL team in his stadium, and the owner of the LA Galaxy decided to put an MLL team in the Home Depot Center practice field (yea, that's pathetic, but still).

missouri lax

12-10-2007, 06:49 AM

I think a Lacrosse team owner could easily get the cash together to make their own stadium. I'm sure the passionate lax fans of St. Louis would donate some money.

Eclipse

12-10-2007, 10:56 AM

I think a Lacrosse team owner could easily get the cash together to make their own stadium. I'm sure the passionate lax fans of St. Louis would donate some money.

If teams in Boston, Washington, Bridgeport, Long Island, Denver, LA, San Fransico, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Baltimore couldn't get enough money to build their own stadiums...what makes you think a team in St.Louis could afford it?

Not to mention the average attendance at MLL games is around 5,000...so unless your building a Highschool sized stadium, it won't be filling up.

missouri lax

12-10-2007, 11:06 AM

If teams in Boston, Washington, Bridgeport, Long Island, Denver, LA, San Fransico, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Baltimore couldn't get enough money to build their own stadiums...what makes you think a team in St.Louis could afford it?

Not to mention the average attendance at MLL games is around 5,000...so unless your building a Highschool sized stadium, it won't be filling up.

It doesn't have to be a huge stadium. And I would think that Budwieser would donate money to the team, considering lax runs in their family.

Eclipse

12-10-2007, 11:33 AM

IF the team could somehow find a donator that could put forth enough money to build, operate, and staff the stadium for a couple of years...then maybe.

But dont you think, in your logic, if Budweiser was going to donate money for a new stadium, it would be much smarter for them to just say "Heres Busch Soccer Park, the main stadium is yours for use." Since that stadium is almost the perfect size, and great for lacrosse?

the ice box

12-10-2007, 11:44 AM

what about CBC's field, able to hold a lot of people, and they just rent it out.

missouri lax

12-10-2007, 07:53 PM

what about CBC's field, able to hold a lot of people, and they just rent it out.

I think a MLL team deserves something better than a high school field.

rider

12-10-2007, 08:54 PM

I think a MLL team deserves something better than a high school field.
Yea, at least a high school stadium.

HawkletLax

12-10-2007, 11:54 PM

cbc's field is nice, but they should use that soccer park you guys are talking about. thats where the soccer state championships were right? id just be kinda a joke to have them play at a high school.

the ice box

12-11-2007, 08:00 AM

you have to remember though, in the summer they have all soccer games and stuff goin on there.

t-dub

12-11-2007, 09:05 AM

Eclipse

12-11-2007, 10:16 AM

you gotta look at what denver did, they got the whole city hyped up about it because they had a guarentee the city that they would have a team for like a year, and then when it finally came, like 18000 came to the first game, and people ended up loving it.

The situation is a little different because of how lacrosse is accepted in Denver. Before the Outlaw's came to town, they had the Mammoth...and were averaging somewhere around 20,000 people a game. St.Louis has never seen lacrosse on that level and its impossible to tell how the city would react to it. If we use our fellow midwestern city chicago as an example...odds are it won't be good.

rider

12-11-2007, 11:29 AM

Eclipse

12-11-2007, 02:10 PM

Another thing for Denver is that they had money to spend, and they spent it. Being owned by a billionaire, and a billionaire that seemed to care about his team, the Outlaws spent a LOT of money advertising and reaching out to the community, and the returns were awesome. I don't know if St. Louis will find deep pocketed investors like how Denver did.

Agreed. As stated earlier, unless the Busch family reaches out and buys the team..I just can't see that kind of thing happening here. Anheuser-Busch hasn't owned a team in St.Louis since they sold the Cardinals in 1995.