MLS 4 The Lou - What Happens to St. Louis FC?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ก.พ. 2025
- MLS is (finally) coming to St. Louis. While the potential is massive for this to be another huge success in MLS, it must be asked: What happens to St. Louis FC? Can they still survive in the lower divisions even with an MLS team in the same market? Can this be proof that there is a market for lower division soccer? (hint hint, pro/rel).
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/ dannytradio - กีฬา
I’m a Liga MX fan..but it’s great watching your videos and I’m learning a lot about MLS.
I was under the impression that St. Louis FC was the same team that bought itself into MLS just like other USL teams have done.
I’m a big fan of mls, and I love your videos. There very informative, and also great to see other people’s opinions. Keep up the great work.
Grant F1 thank you for watching! I appreciate the kind words. If there’s any video you want to see just let me know!
St. Louligan here - I’m actually in a few of those photos/clips you use of us! I just want to say that STLFC actually is somewhat related to the new MLS group, but it’s in a way that doesn’t actually clear things up much.
In your photo of the ownership group, the guy on the far left is Jeff Kavanaugh, CEO/owner of STLFC. He is a minority owner of the group. HOWEVER, CKB & the Taylor family are not promoting STLFC to MLS in the same way that say FC Cincinnati did. Had the 2017 stadium vote go through, STLFC would indeed have been the MLS club, but now it won’t be, but it won’t necessarily be competition either. As it stands it’s very unclear what their place will be - initially the MLS 4 The Lou (dumb name btw) website listed STLFC as part of the proposed organization pyramid, likely as the MLS2 team and playing in USL (tho perhaps with a demotion to USL League 1). But all references to STLFC have since been removed from the website, except for the FAQ section where they say that STLFC will not become the MLS club.
I know that probably doesn’t make things clearer, but now you guys have a better idea what we’re trying to muddle through here in St. Louis. There’s an awful lot that needs to be sorted out before 2022.
Jason McAdams thank you for the response! I knew about Kavanaugh being an owner but I had not heard anything about St. Louis FC being affiliated with the MLS team. While it makes sense, I wish they would be lead by their own group. I remember in 2017 when STLFC was trying to get into MLS
@@dannytradio imo the MLS should try to expand into every market where the NFL move teams, so for example the St Louis team should call themselves the St Louis Rams, and use as close to the Rams branding as they can get away with. And the same for Oakland, make an Oakland Raiders MLS and tap into the huge Raider Nation fanbase that the raiders left behind when they moved.
@@alternatehistorysports It may be too much competition in Northern California with San Jose and Sacramento already there
@@gsxss3741 Yeah good point.
@@alternatehistorysports 😂😂 no.... just no
Great video! I feel bad for Phoenix, I really think that they deserve a team especially considering how well there doing and how many fans are coming
Vaken Phoenix would be awesome. And I’m not just saying that for $1 beer nights
I think that if NM United gets more money that we would be perfect because we are selling out a 13500 stadium with 15000 fans
NM United is such an awesome story. Definitely didn’t see that one coming. I really think it’s a situation of if they build it, they will come. I’d like to see a game at the UNM football stadium to see how much they fill it. If support keeps up in year 2, I think 20,000+ stadium is definitely achievable
Albuquerque should build a 20k stadium and lure XFL to share with NMU
DannyTRadio thanks for the recognition ever in Albuquerque let me know let’s go to a match!
Yes, but 15,000 fans is on the low side for MLS attendance.
I'm a football fan from the UK, and I've been watching the MLS increasingly in the last 5 years or so. I don't believe the MLS should adopt pro/rel, and I'll state my case as best as I can.
I live in Scotland, and in our league we have two very rich clubs, rangers and celtic, who between them win almost every league title with very rare exceptions. Because they win the league, they earn more money, buy the best players, and win the league again. And as time goes on that gap between the rich clubs and poorer clubs becomes wider and wider, until it can hardly even be considered a competition. The same situation exists in England, albeit with 5 or 6 teams rather than two. And of those teams at least two are the result of massive investment, rather than actual sporting success. Needless to say it's the same in Italy, and Spain and many other leagues with this system. And there's nothing wrong with that, but for me it's very refreshing to see the MLS system, which is much more fair and competitive, truly anyone could win the league. Sure they have their better and worse teams, but the league balances things out a lot and makes it much less predictable, and therefore much more exciting. For the novelty alone of having something different I would support keeping the MLS system, as there are a thousand pro/rel leagues already. BTW I also love the draft, and the names of teams. Here we have insert town/city name United/ City or at best Rovers or Wanderers, it's a nice change to see Timbers, Sounders etc. It's when they try too hard to be like other leagues it sounds strange, case in point 'Real Salt Lake' (no offence guys I just don't get the connection to Spanish Royalty). It's an American league, and imo you guys should go all out with the American style; cheerleaders, halftime shows, tailgating, national anthem. Okay maybe not that last one.. And of course you can adopt some of the better elements of football from around the World, the tifos, the pyro, the fan displays.
The biggest advantage to pro/rel as I see it would be the chance for lower league teams to compete with the best teams in the league. I feel this is better achieved in the Open Cup, maybe have group stages or two legs so the non-MLS clubs get more exposure to the best players, more fans in their stadiums, and more revenue. If the system is going to be overhauled into a pro/rel one anyway, why not restructure the existing leagues into a pro/rel system? I personally think that given the size of the USA and Canada it makes more sense to divide the leagues regionally instead, as travel costs could be exorbitant for smaller clubs.
This is just my opinion, I would be interested to hear your thoughts, thanks for reading my lengthy book there!
Im glad someone from Europe defends the MLS structure. People praise the Pro/Rel system like its the only way. I tell people all the time that Pro/Rel creates a league with the same winners every year. My best example is the Ukraine league. In the past 30 years; there’s only be two teams to win. How is that fun? So i salute you for standing up for the American system and supporting the league. Thank you 🙌🏻
@@alexbeltran6668 Thank you! Yes I'm from Scotland, and in the Scottish league we have Rangers and Celtic who dominate the league. Every year one of those two clubs will win, it's pretty boring imo. Also it's not just people from Glasgow who support those Glasgow clubs, I'm from Edinburgh and more than half my school were 'gloryhunters' who supported Rangers or Celtic. So they get the biggest crowds, make the most money, win the league, get more money, and buy the best players. What was really annoying is if any other teams found a great player either rangers or celtic would buy them, then they'd spend a season or two on the bench for them. They just did it to weaken the competition because they had enough money to do it. This included promising young players. So that's a big part of the reason I love the MLS, it at least tries to be a fair competition.
Added to this I'd just like to say that pro/rel is fine for England, or France, or Italy. But in the USA and Canada having a true soccer pyramid would be ridiculous, how could an amateur team from Alaska be expected to travel to Puerto Rico or Hawaii for an away match? Or even NY to LA travel could bankrupt a small team overnight. I don't think Europeans understand just how big the USA actually is. We regard a fixture between Newcastle and Southampton as a long distance fixture :D
Sorry to ramble on, but it's also worth noting that in the last ten years more than 60% of the newly franchised MLS teams were actually effectively promoted from lower leagues. If they can meet the requirements of attendance, finances and stadium, teams can move up to the MLS.
This is pretty much every reason of why I dont watch LaLiga, idk how people get entertained by a league where only Barcelona or Real Madrid win.
They are kind of affiliated because their CEO (Jim Kavanaugh) is one of the owners of MLS St. Louis.
I agree, he would re brand his USE club to an affiliate to the future MLS St.Louis club just add a "2" in its name.
I’m Saint Louis FC till I die, if STLFC still exists and is independent when MLS comes to town I’m definitely sticking with STLFC
creí que esta nueva franquicia era STLFC no es asi? será un equipo diferente?
Team Forte Lo más probable, sí. Los colores, la cresta y el nombre serán diferentes. no será STLFC, será un club completamente nuevo. Soy STLFC hasta que muera, o supongo que hasta que el club muera por el asesinato de MLS
I could be wrong but the reason why lower league teams don’t draw that many fans is because there is no path to the top. As a cosmos fan, when the reboot happened, 5-10k fans were the norm. We were getting all indications from ownership that the team was legit (big name signings, fighting for a new stadium, fighting for pro/rel, etc.) when all these things fizzled away and it was clear that nothing would come of this they were lucky to draw 500-1k fans a game. I honestly didn’t care that they would never play in MLS but I’m sure the average, casual fan, would prefer to support a team in the mainstream.
St. Louis has a beautiful history with American soccer. I hope USL and MLS teams will succeed.
Steve Trittschuh is the new coach of Saint Louis FC, he was a great defender and is an excellent coach too.
Well, I guess we got an answer now. They're folding after the 2020 season (that is, more than two years before St. Louis City takes the field in MLS). I think that's very sad, but it is what it is...
Hey Danny. Just watched some of your videos for the first time. You mentioned that Promotion/Relegation is not in play but it actually is. Promotion/Relegation is in play with the players. Players get moved up and down the US soccer pyramid based on their level of talent. Kind of like Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball players but with more levels.
MLS > USL Championship > NISA & USL1 > NPSL & USL2 > UPSL & USASA Elite Amateur Leagues > US Club Soccer & USASA
Please do a video on this topic
I think they should do pro/rel between all the USL leagues (championship, one, and two) to see how it does for them. I think it would be really successful and it might make them implement it sooner in the MLS.
"At least they wouldnt have to change the logo" 😂😂
if you already have a team in St. Louis with a strong following y not just promote that team. This makes no sense!
In Canada pro/rel it’s gonna happen with the CPL but not in MLS
i just heard about this and i, as an skc fan, is excited to have a rival 4 hours away
> Miami FC has entered the chat
If we ever could get to promo/reg would be the sign the soccer has truly taken roots. Hopefully in my lifetime
Promotion relegation would make it way more enterntaining for someone like me who lives in Ireland to watch
STEAMERS!!! - The healthiest soccer culture in the U.S. would be include USL and MLS being on equal footing with 22 or 24 teams in each. Regular season would be all inter league but tourniments would have teams from both leagues on both sides of the bracket. 24 teams is good because it is a number Mexico will reach in the next couple decades as their economy rises and Canada can reach in the next couple decade as the popularity of soccer rises in N. America. And having the leagues close to the same size i think is more important than everything.
The St. Louis MLS Team should just buy St. Louis FC
Do you think San Diego will get an expansion?
Futbol Galaxy I don’t know. I think that it would be a decent market, but they already have so many Californian teams that it might not work.
Tough to say on SD. They were in the running a while back but i haven’t heard anything significant in a while. Assuming Sacramento gets the next team, it looks like Carolinas, or possibly Vegas are the front runners for next expansion.
I’m going to keep an eye on the NISA team, SD1904. If they pull some numbers, MLS might have to reconsider San Diego
@@dannytradio Can you do a video explaining how there's no MLS video game besides MLS fantasy. I know there's Fifa but I'm talking about a MLS game by itself. Like how's there NFL Madden or NBA Live.
Aldo Herrada and apparently they are playing in 2020
Futbol Galaxy licensing rights most likely. Also why would they need their own game when they can just tag into an already popular FIFA franchise?
I've been in and around soccer in the US for the better part of 45 years ever since I saw my first Portland Timbers match in 1975 and I understand the reluctance to place a team in St Louis. People see some of the attendance figures from specific games and figure it's a no-brainer. However, while the City of the Arch has been a huge supporter of the USMNT, international friendlies and even indoor soccer over the years, their support of the domestic outdoor product has been dismal at best. In the original NASL, when other clubs were putting 15-20k in the stands St Louis never averaged more than 8,000 until the league's final year of existence. In 1975, their indoor team averaged almost as much (5060) as their outdoor team that won their division did (6071). There have been several tries at the domestic product in St Louis over the years and all of them have died due to lack of support. While I truly think the city will embrace their MLS squad, history suggests it is not a done deal.
I know this would go back to a proreg argument but I hope these teams stick around so that we can have intracity derbies. The St Louis Derby would be awesome! Lower attendance in the USL to me to due to the fact that MLS is seen by some as the only thing to watch. Why be a USL STLouis FC fan when St Louis is getting an MLS team? There’s no way to be the better team in the city. Yeah there’s gonna be the die hard fans that will stick with it, but for newer fans that may not appreciate the tiered structure of soccer they probably won’t become fans of a lower tier team.
I wouldn't be surprised if MLS Saint Louis purchases Saint Louis FC to repurpose as a reserve team. Depending on the costs to turn the lights on in the new stadium, Saint Louis II could still very well play in Fenton.
The bigger question mark may be Austin Bold. Their survival seems less certain alongside the Fighting Precourts.
thank you for putting the video out but to be honest with you i think that st louis fc will join mls
No on the MLS4THELOU website it has confirmed that they won't be promoted to MLS.
USL is a great league. An mls team in the city should not affect the team. In many ways the USL is a better system. This is especially true at the youth level.
Maybe you can explain why MLS don't make
( for example) a east, a central, and west division...they keep putting teams in East and West Conferences...what do you think
I agree you cannot have promotion and regulation yet as the lower leagues do not have enough fan base.. In time, it may happen but this is up to people driving the lower leagues up to a fan base that will support this.. You cannot have a team with a low fan base and no stadium along with resources to do this.. People need to stop with the well it should be like Europe ok, but they also have a bigger fan base and stadiums to do this.. if you want your lower team in then get a stadium and a fan base and stop crying...
I’m guessing the team will be relocated to another city in Missouri and be an affiliate for MLS St. Louis
Marc Luu I’d say a relocation to Springfield where they would play at Plaster Stadium.
detroit is now the longest screw job. i don't think attendance numbers for DCFC would go down.
@Tim it would. The Northern Guard already had their FCK MLS shirts. I think their would be room for both though. Especially if the MLS dropped it in the suburbs. Then they will have a bit of a different supporters group following them.
Austin has a usl team
Being in MO, I would like to see STLFC stay or maybe even move to possibly SpringField or Columbia. I think one of those cities could support a team and stay in USL
Bridger Pretz that would be cool.
and update st louise fc got in mls along with charlotte nc and sacramento ca
How about a video on Landon Donovon's darkest secret. Or Is Taylor Twellman MLS's Tom Brady?
2:55 St. Louis Steelers
Im thinking about making mls videos too do you want to collaborate soms time?
Akshay Singh absolutely. Send me a dm on Twitter and we can work on something
Pro/rel will never happen. Teams and their fans were not meant for relegation. Say New England or DC United who have been terrible lately get regulated, USL teams can not compete with teams who have 20,000 seat stadiums, money and hard core supporters. USL teams who get into MLS don’t have the infrastructure to support them in MLS. Going from playing on a high school football field to playing Atlanta United or the Seattle Sounders just makes no scense!
The STLFC team has now disbanded and St. Louis City SC is a team
Let's up it this way:
If Greenville, SC population of 70,000
Can have a pro team (Greenville Triumph SC) in ul1 AND a semi pro team (Greenville FC) in npsl
Then yes St. Louis can have 2 teams and co-exist
Just like San Diego waiting and nothing!
Just watch St Louis FC’s identity be transformed like Cincinnati.
The League should be cut to 20 teams. And the rest put in s lower tier league along with teams from USL or with cities that want to be in MLS, and go from there.
Austin bold fc the usl team is not affiliated in anyway with Austin fc
I disagree what the MLS should do next is invite Cruz Azul, Chivas, Pachuca, and Toluca to join the MLS….. Now why, well first it allows those teams to be free from promotion and relegation….. next it allows those teams to get into the American Market (the largest media market in the world). What doest the MLS gain TV view ship…. The MLS has already proved they can fill stadiums and provide a great product…. This would bring millions of new eyes to MLS games immediately. This would be the step to overtake American hockey and make a run and taking down American Baseball. It’s a win win for both the MLS and the Liga MX teams…..
Just my thoughts lol
Sacramento finally got their expansion team
Nope. LOL
@@sdot5389 sad huh the owners bailed on the team but I think it was for the best cuz unless you’re lafc or Atlanta, you’re expansion team is gonna be a bust *cough* Miami *cough*
I will make a prediction, Saint Louis FC franchise will move to Springfield MO.
Indy eleven vs st Louis fc Derby
I know one of Brad Davis’s kid’s
Who cares? More teams doesn't make better soccer and we need that to participate on a global stage. Since '96 we were supposed to get better and not stay stagnant which MLS is.
MLS will never have pro rel. I'm ok with that.
How about stop fucking poaching teams from the lower leagues?! How about either helping to “promote” an already existing team up or even better, actually earn your spot up the divisions on the field. How about not forcing a lower division team to build a huge stadium they might not currently need. Think about the Eibars or Bournemouths of American soccer. And how about, as fans, support your local team no matter the division.
Just saying
St Louis Archers FC
Three teams in California is enough.
#ArmasOut
MLS have to had relegation like England has
I think St Louis uSl team should stick around.. soccer only people need to understand that soccer isn't a top sport in the US. Promotion relegation would probably struggle seriously. AMERICAN sports culture doesnt embrace failure well, and always expect winners
Real Saint Louis....yikes
Stl city sc 2-0 were taking over oh yeah Chicago fire sc and sporting KC were coming for u guys protect your legs #AllforCity #STL #STLCitySC