Slay — and Pujols — back pro soccer franchise in the Metro East
Pujols
Mayor Francis Slay, a championship soccer player in college, is backing a bid by a high-powered lawyer and an even more high-powered slugger to bring professional soccer to the St. Louis area — even if it is on the other side of the river.
Slay is urging community support for a plan by attorney Jeff Cooper — co-founder of the East Alton asbestos litigation firm SimmonsCooper — to bring a Major League Soccer franchise to the region.
Cooper’s effort has at least one big-name investor: Cardinals first baseman and reigning MVP Albert Pujols.
Slay praised as “next-to-perfect” Cooper’s desired location of a stadium in Collinsville, ten minutes from downtown St. Louis.
“I support Jeff’s project for many of the same reasons I support the new Mississippi River Bridge: it keeps the city at the center of the region,” Slay writes on his website. “The key to securing the franchise is a strong demonstration of community and corporate support … I strongly urge you to step up now.”
Slay attended what is now Quincy University in Illinois, where he tried out for the soccer team as a walk-on. He made the squad and became a pivotal part of three national championships.
Love the idea of proffesional soccer in St.Louis. You might want to check your demographics and see if Ill. is the right choice. I live 20 minutes west of STL and Collinsville is just too far. I will not see games because of this.