I also believe that this may be a good thing for bringing a team to St. Louis. I am sick of hearing us being used as a pawn for Philadelphia to get a team. Now that they have one, the league can start looking more seriously at us. Seems like some people are speculating that it should be announced in a few months or at least by the all-star break if its going to happen.

Personally, I don’t care when the team can officially start playing as long as we get one. I can’t wait to start making that drive over to Collinsville and root my home team on. I hope Cooper can pull this out in the end.

Anyways, congratulations to Philadelphia for getting a team. I know they will support it well and I will be interested in seeing who they get in their expansion draft.

Here Here Adam!! I just realy want to know that it is going to happen for sure.

On Saturday, Bernie M wrote in his Press Box “Cooper has lined up additional investors. He’s closing in on a deal, trying to decide between three or four proposals.

He also has a GM and coach in his sights.”

Not looking for any names, but has Cooper given you the impression he is close to overcoming the MLS stated issue of expanding the ownership group?

It seems a little premature to name a coach and GM lined up, particularly with no team.

Cooper feels he is close to overcoming the issue, but I should also say he has felt this way before. I’m not privy to the particulars as to how good this effort might be. In all my conversations with him, he has remained very confident.

As for a GM and coach, he obviously has had to think about this, since there was a chance there would be a very quick start up had the league approved the team in January of 08 to start in 09. But if the team isn’t going to start until 2010, reality says these people will be receptive to other job offers in the meantime, so any candidates he has might not be available when the time comes.

Sometime in the spring he’ll be naming a GM for the women’s team that starts next season.

If everything comes together, I would imagine we would be an All-Star Game announcement. That’s way too long for me, but there are too many other stories to promote before another expansion announcement (Philly, Seattle name and colors, MLS season, Quakes are back, Champions Cup, etc….)