One of two groups that want to bring major league soccer to St. Louis will hold a public forum Tuesday night.
Foundry St. Louis is a group of mostly St. Louis residents attempting to secure an MLS Soccer franchise and stadium.
The group is offering people the chance to give their input on initial plans for a stadium that could possibly be built near the Saint Louis University campus in the city of St. Louis.
Foundry St. Louis President Nicholas Mahrt says St. Louis deserves an MLS team because of the area’s history with the sport.
“St. Louis has a long, proud and rich tradition of soccer that dates back over a hundred years," said Mahrt. "In fact in 1920, Ben Miller Football Club earned St. Louis its first national championship.”
Tuesday’s meeting is the first of six events. It will be held at the Urban Chestnut Brewing Company in the Grove from 7 to 10 p.m.
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The series of forums is a step towards Foundry St. Louis’ goal to submit a bid to MLS for a team by 2020. It will be an expensive endeavor.
“2020Vision is Foundry St. Louis’ program, if you will, to develop the market including the fans, the sponsorship dollars, etc., the stadium and the site location and obviously the financing for an expansion franchise fee which is rumored to be approximately $125 million,” said Mahrt.
Tuesday's forum offers people the chance to see renderings of the proposed stadium, designed by the architecture and engineering firm, CannonDesign.
For Mahrt, public participation in the bid for an MLS franchise is crucial.
“What we want to do is make sure that everyone has the opportunity to express their opinions, their input, their feedback, their comments on really most aspects of a major league soccer franchise in St. Louis," Mahrt told St. Louis Public Radio.
Major League Soccer has not yet decided whether to expand to St. Louis.
