Talks have been going back and forth for a long time, but it looks as if the Kansas City Wizards will be playing a Superliga game in St. Louis at Hermann Stadium on June 21 (which is Father’s Day). The Wizards can’t use their minor-league ballpark home on that day because of a conflict, so they’d have to play at a high school-type stadium over there or try moving it somewhere else. And it looks like they’re coming here, where they will likely draw a much better crowd than they would anywhere else, probably including Kansas City.
It’s not definite yet, though it could be by Thursday. The opponent would be a still-to-be determined Mexican first division team. Talks could also fall apart. Tickets would likely run from $20 to $30. Since MLS and the Mexican league are behind this, teams are more likely to use their first team players, rather than the reserves you see in Open Cup matches.
Superliga, for those who don’t pay close attention to these things, is a club competition played between MLS teams and Mexican teams. This will be the third edition. It used to be the four MLS teams with the best regular season record the previous season that got invited, but then with the growth of the CONCACAF Champions League, some teams had schedules that got just too crowded, so now it’s the four best teams that aren’t in the Champions League.
I’m driving 5 1/2 hours to see KC June 6th. I’ll absolutely drive an hour to see them a few weeks later.
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Southsided-
I have yet to hear Cooper come forward and help out….it’s all words. I am not affiliated in anyway. I’m a big fan that wants MLS here in St. Louis. But people like you who are jealous because it’s not Cooper will probably not support it. So it goes big guy!
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For you radio listeners, Ron Jacober at KMOX will have us on his “Sports Open Line” this coming Friday night during the 7pm hour. We’re trying to get former SLU Billiken Jack Jewsbury booked for this, but I don’t have a definite confirmation yet. It very well could be myself, since I’m from the area and responsible for most of the promoting. Ron will also has un on his “Sports on a Sunday” show at a future date.
What BJ stated is very true. This is a great opportunity for the St. Louis community to come out and support the cause. We all want a team and we should all be in this togteher. If not, then it’s as good as dead.
For those of you that are wondering, interest for this game has been very high. Even fans from KC are wanting to make the short trip to St. Louis for the game.
Brian Roth
Kansas City Wizards
913-387-3839
Broth@kcwizards.com
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So wait, St. Louis is going to host a game and potentially be able to show off their passion for the sport and it has devolved into a partisan bitch fest? Regardless of your feelings about the ownership group, if you want pro soccer to come to St. Louis in your lifetime, now is the time to support the cause.
Don’t make excuses, just be there. Eads Brigade and whoever else, the stage is yours, bring the heat and build the numbers. We had to go 2 hours to games to see live pro soccer while campaigning for Philly.
If it’s true about youth soccer poisoning the well on this, shame on you parents living vicariously through your children. Support the game.
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Matt, who the hell made you the one-man credentials committee for St. Louis soccer? What the hell do you know about what Jeff Cooper has or hasn’t offered to do? What, have you been listening in to their conversations? What is with your obsession with Jeff Cooper? Let me guess: you have something to do with Lou Fusz, or Metro Strikers, or some other club left out of the big SLSG merger. Talk about “jealous”. Here’s an idea: put YOUR cards on the table and let everybody know what your dog is in this fight, or stop taking petty, stupid snipes at people who ARE putting themselves out there IN PUBLIC to bring YOUR dumb ass an MLS team. Simple enough!
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Hi Jeff,
I have to disagree with your comments. You have not offered to help. How come Tony Hubert hasn’t mentioned it on the Saturday Soccer Show? Why? Because he’s jealous because he’s not part of it. If you want to support it. Come out publicly not just on a blog. Please answer this question…How do you plan to help? Simple enough!
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Guys,
Jeff Cooper here. Please stop submitting riduclous comments that suggest I am against the Wizards playing here. We have offered to help them in any way possible and plan to do so. While we don’t have any direct involvement in planning or producing the game, we are very supportive of the Wizards playing in St.Louis. Personally, I plan on being in the stands that night and cheering the Wizards to victory.
Very Sincerely,
Jeff Cooper
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First off, I’d like to thank Tom Timmermann for posting all of the information about our Superliga game against Atlas on June 21st. Being from the area, it’s nice to see the spirited talk between the fans. I’ve always thought the soccer fans in the area are extremely knowledgeable and I know our players are excited to come to St. Louis for the game. We’ve already heard from several youth club coaches that are excited about the game and we really hope to put on a great show for the St. Louis fans. Tom graciously posted my direct line at the office, but additionally I can be reached at Broth@kcwizards.com if you have any questions.
Thank You,
Brian Roth
Kansas City Wizards
Direct Line: 913-387-3839
Broth@kcwizards.com
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According to Steve Goff, the match will be KC Wizards vs. Atlas.
For what it’s worth, this is a nice opportunity to show the MLS suits that St. Louis is a market that is hungry for high-level soccer. A well-attended Superliga game would be something Cooper et al could point to when trying to pursuade MLS to locate a team in St. Louis; likewise, a poorly attended match will not look good and will be an opportunity wasted.
Regardless, the Superliga matches have in my opinion been excellent with nearly every team playing hard and taking the matches very seriously – at least those matches between MLS and MFL teams. Should be worth seeing and bringing your friends or co-workers to.
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Why would anyone put up money for this game?
It’s KC – they are playing below .500.
It’s KC – why would a rival city support them.
(I would think most in attendance would be rooting against them)
It’s Father’s Day – this makes it a very difficult draw.
I just don’t see where there is money to be made here.
As far as Cooper’s involvement (or lack there of) – I don’t understand what people want him to do. It doesn’t really involve him or his efforts and for the reasons I listed above, he would be a fool to try to use this as a “Let’s show MLS what we can do” game.
What do people want from him? – it’s not like he is out there saying “Don’t go.”
St. Louis’ MLS effort is hindered by finances – the league has never doubted this city’s ability to support it. I don’t see how this game would have any affect at all.
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Good to see passions running high between St. Louis and Kansas City on the forum.
As for Cooper’s involvement, or lack of same, the Wizards have been looking for someone in St. Louis, Cooper, the Sports Commission, me (OK, not me), to, in effect, buy the game, to put up money to put it on here, and I believe the local reaction could be described as, ‘You can play it here, or you can play it at Blue Springs High.’ It’s negotiating. Why shell out money for the game when you can get it for nothing, or next to nothing?
If this was such a sure thing for the Wizards, they could play it someplace a lot closer to Kansas City. (Are there no 6,000-seat stadiums within 50 miles of Kansas City?) And the game could end up being two MLS teams, which would definitely make this a tough draw for K.C.
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“…where they will likely draw a much better crowd than they would anywhere else, probably including Kansas City.”
For St. Louis’ sake, you better be able to back that up.
There is a large Latino population in KC (mainly Kansas side) that would be more than willing to show up for a match against a Mexican club, especially a popular club, so I’m not really sure how that statement could hold much weight unless Hermann stadium holds more than 10,000, which we both know for a fact it doesn’t. Should be a match against another MLS club like New England anyway, that would be the best case scenario for both KC supporters and St. Louis fans.
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Where does this say anything about Cooper not supporting it?
I do not see that part.
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BillJ – “I fear Coop knows STL isn’t really a pro soccer city, we just like to say it is.”
Yeah, that’s why he’s spent millions of dollars of his own money on the MLS expansion bid, and on Athletica, while you’ve been sitting on your fat ass flicking boogers at anybody trying to actually accmplish anything. You’re a true St. Louisan: nothing but negativity and bitching. Congratulations.
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I agree the Wizards should be supported better. But it is MLS. Tiny minds think alike!
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Not to mention…”the fans who have supported the Wizards through thick and thin”? All, what, five thousand of them? The Wiz is the joke of the league. And in this league, that’s really saying something.
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Bill you are so right. Jeff Cooper wants nothing to do with this game. He’s jealous or something and he will be no where near SLU that night. Also guys that are part of the MLS coming to St. Louis won’t come or they will bad mouth it. Shows that these people have little minds!
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John – what will give you the “opportunity to watch your team in a meaningful match” is a legitimate soccer-specific stadium. Kansas City does not have a soccer stadium that fits the bill, and until that type of facility materializes, it’s ludicrous for you to expect to host this game.
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What’s really lame is Jeff Cooper refuses to have anything to do with the game!!??!!And he claims to want to get in MLS. Makes you kinda of go “hmmmmmmm?” doesnt it? I fear Coop knows STL isn’t really a pro soccer city, we just like to say it is. This game should show everyone the truth.
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Michael – what will “get MLS (no the) off their backsides” is a legitimate ownership group. St. Louis does not have an ownership group that fits the bill, and until that type of support materializes, it’s ludicrous for you to expect a team.
As to the feasibility of putting this game in St. Louis? I think it’s asinine that the fans who have supported the Wizards through thick and thin are being denied the opportunity to watch their team in a meaningful match. I’m fine with the Wizards playing an out-of-season exhibition in St. Louis, but not a match in season.
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After the way the MLS has jerked this city around in their attempts to get a team, they can stick this game in the back corner of their own goal. Forget them.
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Great job BR on getting the game to play in St. Louis. It’s amazing how alot of MLS supporters won’t support it because it’s “not” a Cooper event!
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zzzzzzz
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The Kansas City T-Bones play in the Northern League, a different league than River City and Gateway, who play in the Frontier League.
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The Wizards are sharing their stadium with a minor-league baseball team — I think it’s the same league the two St. Louis-area independent teams are in — and the baseball team is playing that day. The Wizards aren’t the primary tenant, so they’ve got to go somewhere else.
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What kind of conflict would an MLS team have at their home park?
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Bring on soccer in some form any form. Maybe this type of exebition game will lead to the MLS to get off their backsides and bring a team into the St. Louis area. Lets try to sell out the place.
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