St. Louis Soccer United - About Major League Soccer

MLS

About Major League Soccer

Major League Soccer (MLS) is the premier men's American professional soccer league and was founded in 1996, after the country hosted the 1994 FIFA World Cup. Entering into its 13th season, MLS is experiencing a period of growth highlighted by franchise expansion, the construction of soccer-specific stadiums, and new investors. The league aims to have 16 teams operating by 2010, and potentially 18 clubs by 2011.

Major League Soccer (MLS) currently operates franchises in the following cities:

Western Conference
Carson, CA (CD Chivas USA)
Denver, CO (Colorado Rapids)
Dallas, TX (FC Dallas)
Houston, TX (Houston Dynamo)
Los Angeles, CA (LA Galaxy)
Salt Lake City, UT (Real Salt Lake)
San Jose, CA (San Jose Earthquakes)
Seattle, WA (2009)

Eastern Conference
Boston, MA (New England Revolution)
Chicago, IL (Chicago Fire)
Columbus, OH (Columbus Crew)
Kansas City, KS (Kansas City Wizards)
Philadelphia, PA (2010)
New York, NY (New York Red Bulls)
Toronto, Canada (Toronto FC)
Washington, D.C. (DC United)

In the race to expansion, St. Louis Soccer United has earned the support of key Major League Soccer figures including Dave Checketts, who is the investor-owner of the Real Salt Lake club in MLS as well as chairman of the St. Louis Blues, Scottrade Center, and Sports Capital Partners. Checketts expressed this in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: “We’ve got to get a team there (St. Louis). It’s absolutely ready for it … there’s more passion for soccer there than any place I’ve been.”

MLS Demographics


			St. Louis Ideal Market for Professional Soccer Proposed Stadium Development in Collinsville St. Louis MLS Players