A belated but sincere Happy New Year to everyone.  I apologize for not keeping the blog feature on our website more up to date, but over the past few months the process of attracting a Major League Soccer expansion franchise for St. Louis had essentially reached a point where there wasn't much to report.  That isn’t to say there wasn't activity, because there was.  And there is.  But as we continue to explore ways of strengthening our position in the eyes of the league, the best way to accomplish that is to work closely and in confidence with potential investor candidates who share the same vision and passion for the game – and St. Louis – as I do. 

Also, we should not forget that our strongest message was made public months ago, and that was with the passage of a private-public partnership to build a new soccer stadium and complex in Collinsville, Ill., at highways 55-70 and 255, just 10 minutes from downtown St. Louis.  It is hard to believe that nearly five months have passed since the Collinsville City Council approved the financing package for the new stadium, and certainly we hoped to have started construction by now.  But it’s important to remember that everything is very much in still in place, and our key audiences – MLS and potential investors – are very aware of everything we have done and still have to offer.

If anything, the package that we offer a potential partner was strengthened on Monday night when the Collinsville City Council formally approved the ordinance for TIF financing in the 400-acre mixed-use development that will be home to the 18,500-seat stadium and adjacent complex of soccer fields.  The message to potential investors and everyone involved in Major League Soccer -- league officials, team owners, marketing partners, broadcasters, fans and the players themselves -- is very clear.  Collinsville, on behalf of our entire St. Louis community, has stepped up like no expansion market ever has in the history of MLS with a completely approved, totally comprehensive stadium plan and funding package.

We understand an announcement is being made today that the Pennsylvania state legislature will sign a letter of intent to contribute financing for a soccer stadium in suburban Philadelphia, which also hopes to enter MLS by 2010 (the realistic target for any new expansion club, including St. Louis).  Philadelphia is a terrific soccer market and, like us, is deserving of a franchise.  Here in St. Louis, we'd like to be part of a league that counts Philadelphia among its clubs.  It is our understanding this is a pledge by the state to see the financing through.  Obviously, we'll be watching it closely and wish the best for the Philly group and fans in Philadelphia as the process unfolds in the Pennsylvania legislature.

Whatever happens in Philadelphia doesn't deter us in St. Louis.  It doesn't change a thing.  We never saw this as being in competition with Philadelphia.  We see this as two outstanding expansion markets -- Philly and St. Louis -- both wanting the same thing, and that's to be part of an extremely strong, growing and promising league in MLS.

As mentioned earlier, we gained momentum this week with the formal passage of the TIF stadium financing package, making it possible for an investor or investors to come here with complete confidence that the ultimate private-public stadium partnership is awaiting them -- and completely approved.  Our situation is ready-made for the perfect partner, or partners, who want to be part a league that is a rising star on soccer's global stage ... and be a hero here in St. Louis, the greatest soccer city and community in North America.

Said another way, our story in St. Louis has never been better, and I fully plan to tell our story in the weeks ahead.