AC St. Louis Players Told Team is Done
IMS has learned today that AC St. Louis General Manager Tim Owen made phone calls to his players on Sunday informing them the club would not be in operation next season. The phone calls were made in an effort to make sure players could make other arrangements for the 2011 season.
The news will surely come as a disappointment to St. Louis fans who had held hope of Ryan Woods purchasing the team and saving AC St. Louis.
IMS revealed in September that Woods, a 35-year-old St. Louis real estate developer, was working on a deal to purchase the team and had even expressed interest in bringing MLS to St. Louis. But the deal seemed to get bogged down with details of Woods’ current real estate deals including the Richmond Heights proposal. The huge redevelopment project included plans for a new soccer stadium as an entertainment component.
AC St. Louis is still currently owned by both Jeff Cooper and the Vaid brothers who reside in Europe. Woods had been dealing with both parties and was believed to have worked out a deal with Cooper but was originally having trouble with the Vaids. IMS doesn’t know exactly what killed the deal but the loss of Woods surely ends the team’s involvement with the newly sanctioned Division II league, the NASL.
It was just under a year ago that AC St. Louis owner Jeff Cooper held a press conference to announce that he would field a team that would play in the 2nd division in 2010. His team AC St. Louis would end a 30-year drought of professional outdoor soccer for citizens of St. Louis. But the team started having financial issues after Cooper sold a portion of the team and his WPS team Athletica to the Vaids. The new partners stopped making payments to Cooper and soon the organization was struggling. Eventually Cooper folded Athletica in midseason and it took help from US Soccer to keep AC St. Louis afloat through the end of their season.
Edited 8:00 p.m.
AC St. Louis released a statement this afternoon in reference to the IMS article.
ST. LOUIS, MO (November 23, 2010) – AC St. Louis would like to state that despite unsubstantiated reports to the contrary the club has yet to make any final decisions with respect to their participation in the upcoming 2011 season.
These reports apparently stem form the club’s decision to not renew club options in the contracts of some players.
Comments are closed.
It’s unfortunate for the fans of St. Louis who have lost both of their outdoor teams in the span of less than a year.
That said, some of y’all were sure Cooper was the guy who was going to lead you to the promised land, and you insisted that Nike not selling him the USL was ridiculous.
Sad news for St. Louis and NASL fans. Hopefully at some point in the future a new group can get a team back in place in St. Louis.
It appears the NASL has some competition in San Antonio. Not sure I would want to go head-to-head against the Spurs in that market.
http://www.uslsoccer.com/home/482512.html
This is terrible news.
Guess this puts to rest all those rumors that the inclusion of Atlanta in NASL was just a smoke screen to give time to ACSTL.
It is terrible news for us St. Louligans. We wanted to believe in Jeff Cooper. BUT, we do still have The St. Louis Lions in the USL PDL. They will be our focus now.
Thanks for the link Bob. Lets hope for San Antonio Hot Spurs of course in silver and black.
Sad, but what a wild ride it was.
@Trevor – Those were stupid rumors in the first place. The USSF is not going to tolerate that kind of shennanigans anymore. They put the new standards in place to combat just that sort of ridiculous thing. Heaven only knows how the Silverbacks are rising from the dead, but indeed they must be.
@Bob Evans – Here we go again with USL trying to concern themselves with what NASL is doing instead of minding their own situation. Their site still shows only 13 teams, meanwhile they continue telling everyone there will be 16 for 2011. So in 6 months time, they’re going to have 3 moer franchises up and running, not to mention the infamous FCNY, and Orlando which has a lot of work to do to get themselves set up.
Instead, they’re busy trying to jump into San Antonio now, where the NASL has already announced a franchise for 2012. No one city is going to support both a D2 & D3 franchise. But hey, it’s seemed to be a numbers game with USL right from the start. They don’t need a SA franchise, while the NASL certainly does, so if they can sabotage just one of their markets (remember those comments about a USL franchise supposedly coming to Ft. Lauderdale as well) then they will still “win the battle.”
Sad that they’re the only ones still viewing it as a competition, with their continued “top level of soccer outside of MLS” remarks, and now this kind of BS. Just more of the same nosense from Holt, Papadakis, and Co.
It is a shame that the birthplace of the American soccer player won’t have a team in the top two levels of US soccer.
I feel bad for all AC St. Louis fans. It was a pleasure watching them play here in Minnesota, and I really think once they got rid of Anelka, things were getting better on the pitch.
My question is, who saved NSC Minnesota from the same fate?
Condolences, from Austin, to St. Louis fans.
Glad to hear you still have a PDL team, at least.
Too bad for AC St. Louis! This is a shame. Ill never forget the rocket that Mike Ambersley scored on The Rowdies in Tampa in late August! Maybe, he’ll make it down here and score a few more…for The Rowdies this time!
@Strikers Return
Great post. I’d like to see Bart defend the USL on any of the points you’ve made. How, exactly, is this best for American soccer?
@Grant Stephens
Way to add insult to injury. Real sensitive.
@Everybody who’s ever been an AC STL fan
Sorry again. You guys deserve so much better than what you got.
ARGH!!!!!1!!1
Yeah, almost everyone here in StL knew this was coming, but still…it is just heartbreaking. We have one of the richest soccer histories in the entire country, but we can’t have a team. It was just a few years ago that we were on the verge of getting an MLS team, and now after this…we have no chance.
Another ‘condolences’ to St. Louis from Austin.
Bizarre, that comment regarding San Antonio. If they make it happen, it will make Austin’s departure even sadder. Better to have closed the Aztex down for a season (or three, hey, Atlanta did!) and wait for a USL PRO to get established here than to move to Orlando and start over (and fail) again.
Very sad. St. Louis deserves better. The thought of a St. Louis/MN rivalry was fun. Hope we see you back soon (and I hope we’re around to do the seeing).
This is a loss for us in St. Louis, but, we’ve had the Lions going strong for over 5 years. Tony Glavin is a highly respected man who was bumped out of going USL-1 due to Cooper bringing St. Louis Soccer United to the table.
Tony and his club have HUGE goings on right now and this is a bright spot in St. Louis soccer.
We will be stronger than ever. Thanks for everyone’s kind words. I’ll miss AC, but it’s time to move on.
hang on to your hats folks, this might not be entirely true. Friends with a couple AC players on Facebook and they are denying it. Maybe they were told to deny it, but then why say anything at all. Hmmm…?
several players are also saying that the story is not 100% accurate, but not sure what that means. Team may still fold, but its not completely dead yet.
But I echo Kyle’s sentiment. the St. Louis Lions will get the full support of the St. Louligans.
here’s from the team’s facebook page: “AC St. Louis would like to state that despite unsubstantiated reports to the contray the club has yet to make any final decisions with respect to their participation in the upcoming 2011 season. These reports apparently stem form the club’s decision to not renew club options in the contracts of some players.”
I got the same messages from the players as well.
And either way I don’t care. They’ve fucked up way too much and I’m done with it.
The Lions were there before and will be standing mighty in the future. Bet on it.
Trevor permalink
@Strikers Return
Great post. I’d like to see Bart defend the USL on any of the points you’ve made. How, exactly, is this best for American soccer?
Alright, Trevor, I will bite. The hypothesis you are using assumes (and we all know what happens when one assumes…it makes an “ass” out of “u” and “me”)
is that each independent league has to stay away from another’s territory. If that were the case, MLS would be far smaller than it is today, because they took every single decent market that USL had up to this point, and it will do the same to NASL or USL, it makes no difference. What is best for American soccer has no bearing on this, and to assume that NASL is the best is a faulty assumption as well. I truly wish NASL the best and hope they succeed, but the shenanigans have and will continue.
@Trevor – Those were stupid rumors in the first place. The USSF is not going to tolerate that kind of shennanigans anymore. They put the new standards in place to combat just that sort of ridiculous thing. Heaven only knows how the Silverbacks are rising from the dead, but indeed they must be.
The Silverbacks are rising because someone (wink wink) is feeding them a lot of money to cover any operating deficits they may have. It is not because Boris Jerkunika has had an epiphany and want to come back and field a team. He is doing this because he fits the net worth requirement, hates USL and as along as he is not out of pocket, so be it. A smart move by the NASL in my book.
@Bob Evans – Here we go again with USL trying to concern themselves with what NASL is doing instead of minding their own situation. Their site still shows only 13 teams, meanwhile they continue telling everyone there will be 16 for 2011. So in 6 months time, they’re going to have 3 moer franchises up and running, not to mention the infamous FCNY, and Orlando which has a lot of work to do to get themselves set up.
Instead, they’re busy trying to jump into San Antonio now, where the NASL has already announced a franchise for 2012. No one city is going to support both a D2 & D3 franchise. But hey, it’s seemed to be a numbers game with USL right from the start. They don’t need a SA franchise, while the NASL certainly does, so if they can sabotage just one of their markets (remember those comments about a USL franchise supposedly coming to Ft. Lauderdale as well) then they will still “win the battle.”
USL has been courting the Spurs for over 3 years now, and if you look at the various press releases, that is no secret. The Spurs, in San Antonio, are the better bet to get a venue with City help than Hartman is. The question you should be asking is why has not NASL closed as sale with the Spurs? Maybe, as with Phil Rawlins, the Spurs just did not like what NASL had to offer.
You are of course correct that San Antonio can probably only field on professional team. Since neither NASL or USL have fielded teams playing in San Antonio, I would state from a capitalist market perspective that all is fair game.
Sad that they’re the only ones still viewing it as a competition, with their continued “top level of soccer outside of MLS” remarks, and now this kind of BS. Just more of the same nosense from Holt, Papadakis, and Co.
Let’s face a few facts here, all of this IS competition. It is about market penetration and territorial expansion. This is true for NASL and USL. And I believe that market penetration and territorial expansion, done properly, is the best for American soccer. This gets the game out to more people in the US, and that is a great thing, whoever is doing it.
Trevor, I hope I did not dissapoint you
Ill support Hartmans team over Spurs team.
And, Dan, on what basis do you state that?
I rather give something new a chance then go with the same old con.
Who the hell is this Bart guy? Someone from USL? Yeah NASL has had a rough start but USL is a wreck anyway…
Let’s support both but being D2, it is more important that NASL does ok
Thor,
As you well know it’s not the first time AC St. Louis has denied something that later turned out to be true. It seems Austin pretty much did the same thing didn’t they.
The truth is, a number of players were told exactly what I printed. They can spin it however they want but that’s what happened. As well, if you notice on all the NASL material, AC St. Louis has been removed and has been since they submitted their bid to the league.
While anything is possible and I certainly hope that Ryan Woods can pull a rabbit out of his hat, things are not looking good if players are told to look for work elsewhere. Where did we hear this before? The Thunder before they totally folded and the Cleveland City Stars.
Gotta love that USL press release referring to a team that’s never kicked a ball (Orlando) as a “marquee franchise”. They may have lost D2 status and most of their worthwhile teams, but USL hasn’t lost their ability to spin outrageous nonsense with a straight face.
So there have been 2 NASL expansion team decisions since they announced themselves to the world, AC Saint Louis and Minnesota Stars. Of those 2, 1 has officially folded within a year and the other 1 is only still alive because the some mystery investor is apparently supporting it because its clear the NSC isn’t. Considering the Minnesota team is on artificial life support, I would say that the NASL is 0 for 2 so far with its expansion decisions.
1 for 4 if you count Baltimore and Tampa but maybe we don’t count them because they were in the USL first. (Baltimore seemed to do fine when the years were in the USL and Tampa were a USL expansion team before they moved over to the NASL.
So how is the NASL an improvement on the years of the USL? Its actually worse so far!
Hope Edmonton has a better fate but I doubt it based on what we saw their last summer.
I worry that the NASL is just a less organized, “flavor of the month” version of USL.
On the surface I would have to agree that the Spurs have the background and sports management experience to succeed in San Antonio – what I’m not sure of is the “fit”. Here’s their team portfolio:
San Antonio Spurs of the NBA – the highest level of basketball in the US (and the world)
San Antonio Silver Stars of the WNBA – the highest level of basketball in the US (if not the world) and a huge money pit….
Austin Toros of the NBA D-League – owned by the Spurs and is part of the NBA minor leagues
San Antonio Rampage of the AHL – the Phoenix Coyotes farm team (they have a long term agreement in place).
USL-Pro soccer team – third lowest level soccer league in the US?
Three quarters of their portfolio are basketball teams that are either at the highest level or are associated/owned by the parent company and a hockey team that is primarily funded by someone else.
I could see the San Antonio entity either running a team for someone, or aspiring to be a MLS candidate, but opting for a lower tier soccer team just seems a bit “fish out of water” IMO.
There goes any possible rivalry with Almost Complete St. Louis, and reuse of some great Nessy tifo. Hmm…
Manmhunt permalink
Who the hell is this Bart guy? Someone from USL? Yeah NASL has had a rough start but USL is a wreck anyway…
I am a retired attorney who has followed the game with absolute loyalty for almost 40 years. I have spent significant time across the pond, and have seen personally, how it should be done.
I am a believer of facts and accuracy, and you flout gibberish that is merely opinonated and sophomoric at best.
I appreciate your desire for NASL to succeed, and I share the same goal. However, I do not believe it is a zero sum gain. You state that USL is a wreck. On what factual basis do you state this? They just concluded a very successful AGM. The USL Super Y was just finalized very successfully as well. The USL Pro has far more teams than the minimum necessary for USSF sanctioning.
If you want to walk the walk, then do so, otherwise be part of the crowd.
BQ: The AC STL logo is listed on the NASL website. However, STL might not be mentioned in any of the NASL news releases.
@Bart – “The USL Pro has far more teams than the minimum necessary for USSF sanctioning.”
Sanctioning as what? Are there established guidelines for D-3 sanctioning?
Steve, There are sanctioning rules, not guidelines, for every sanctioned league. There is a set of MLS but there uses to be the same rules for D2, D3 and WPS. In other words all pro leagues. With the new standards set for D2 in August it now separates D2 as having their own set. USSF told me there will be new standards coming in the future for D3 and WPS as well. But all sanctioned leagues have some general standards. If you look at this link, you will see the first section labeled general requirements then a later section labeled D2.
http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2010/08/12/ussf-d-2-professional-league-standards/
These general standards apply to all USSF leagues. These are pro leagues falling under USSF so they therefore are some things that have to comply with FIFA standards. Like an 8-team minimum. However, that exception has been allowed in the past if they league can prove it will have the 8-teams by the following year. Which is exactly what D3 did last year. ULS-2 (D3) had six team. This year it looks as if they will have between 13-16.
One more clarification, USL was already sanctioned as a D3 league with USL-2. That means they do not have to be re-sanctioned to have a league again this year. They just need to file their annual report which is then reviewed by US Soccer each year. This is true of all sanctioned leagues.
@BQ – That makes significantly more sense. I don’t think anyone would argue that USL Pro should have D-2 Sanctioning (For financial reasons and more), but Bart’s post came off a bit vague and I wanted to be sure.
Now that NASL Sanctioning has been approved (we can bicker over the usage of “provisionally” here all day), it seems a bit overly petty to still get into a USL/NASL shouting match over who is more likely to succeed. For this year, NASL is D-2, USL is D-3, now let’s all shut up about it for a bit and move forward with our respective seasons. I’m just happy to support one of the few clubs in this whole mess that has no worry of financial difficulties, pizza delivery boys notwithstanding.
@Steve – Here, here Steve, well said. I’ve tried to say it myself a couple times, but I keep allowing myself to be pulled back into debating the whole thing. LOL We know who the players are, where they are, and what they are now. I don’t wish any harm on USL, like some USL supporters do to NASL ( Sammy Pizza Guy ). I hope MLS continues to grow and succeed. I’m glad NASL has been able to lay a foundation, and I hope it can now grow and succeed. I also hope USL can stabilize and sustain D3 as well.
Bart talked about spending time abroad and seeing how things should be done. All of the major soccer powers around the globe have multi-tiered systems that work. The US needs to emulate that to have the right kind of development ladder in place to become successful on both the D1 and international levels. Anyone not agree with that? I think it’s just our natural American arrogance sometimes that leads us to think we can be successful doing it our own way, we don’t need to copy countries that have been successful for decades upon decades. So far we are infants by comparison to the English, German, Spanish, etc. of the footballing world.
Let’s hope 2011 is a step in a positive direction for all levels of soccer in our country, Canada, and the Carribean as well.
Wow now the USL wants to really try to sink the NASL with a San Antonio franchise. Half of their AGM press release is about San Antonio.
Give it a rest already Marcos, Papadikis & Holt. Would you rather bring the whole soccer pyramid down than just accept you can only have a piece of it. Its bad enough you are trying to get in every tiny Caribbean club to join USL, which really is a VERY silly endeavor USL.
@bART-USL has been courting the Spurs for over 3 years now, and if you look at the various press releases, that is no secret. The Spurs, in San Antonio, are the better bet to get a venue with City help than Hartman is. The question you should be asking is why has not NASL closed as sale with the Spurs? Maybe, as with Phil Rawlins, the Spurs just did not like what NASL had to offer.
You are of course correct that San Antonio can probably only field on professional team. Since neither NASL or USL have fielded teams playing in San Antonio, I would state from a capitalist market perspective that all is fair game.
Hartman has already got a Venue set . FIVE STAR Soccer park.
Just a theory…no inside sources.
Woods could have a back-door deal in the works with Glavin’s Lions to move them up in USLPro or NASL and eventually MLS.Afterall, AC St Louis isn’t the most respected brand (with all of the financial oproblems last year). Glavin could make-out like a bandit with that deal, while Woods wouldn’t tied to any existing real estate deals (AB Park) and free to build where he wants to.
Just a theory!
Dan,
Five Star Soccer Park does not meet the D2 standards. That is why Hartman is trying to get public financing to build one that does.
Bart,
The People of San Antonio are more likely to support Hartman over Spurs Sports & Entertainment because Hartman is using all the proceeds for Morgans Wonderland. In case you dont know what that is, it is a charity to help kids with Disabilities. The Spurs on the other hand are trying to use Education money for their stadium.
Dan,
First of all Happy Thanksgiving! I hate to tell you this, but reality dictates that the People of San Antonio will support the team that provides the best entertainment. Yes, helping kids with disabilities is a wonderful charity, but that will not bring out fans over the long run. A one time charity event, probably, however.
In no way would I cast any dispersion on Hartman and what his vision is, in fact, I commend him for it.
The fact of the matter is that the Spurs are the sports entertainment business of San Antonio and have the connections and glitz to make it happen, if that is what they want to do.
Which is a better sell to the City:
1. Hartman: Provide me with public monies because I will donate most of my profits (if there ever are any) to Morgans Wonderland.
2. Spurs: Provide us with the monies, we have demonstrated that it can be repaid, just like our other bond issuances, and we will increase revenue to the City through sales taxes generated from food and ticket sales.
Now the big question…. who is more likely to be able to repay the debt if the team collapses?
Bart,
From what I understand there is an issue with the fact that SS&E walked away from the stadium funding to revamp the Alamo and then came back once it was approved which has rankled more than a few people down in San Antonio. Unless the SS&E group are absolutely sure they will some day step up to MLS, why would they want to place a D3 or D2 team in a 23,000 seat stadium. As MLS found out early, there’s nothing worse than a team that draws an attendance 1/4 or less of a stadium’s capacity. In this case I’m guessing it would be 1/8th to begin with.
If they were sure they were going to MLS, why would they want to play in a 70 year old stadium?
If they were intent on going with MLS, then why should USL Pro be attractive to them at all? From another point, why would USL want them? All this has done historically has torn up the USL divisions.
So why play in a 23,000 seat stadium then?