St. Louis City's opening MLS game is February 25, 2023.
This Is Our CITY captures the long-awaited (and mysterious) buildup to this debut.
For those new to St. Louis soccer, it's the original capitol of soccer in America.
FUN FACTS
SLU: 10 NCAA Championships (#1 All Time)
1950 World Cup, US vs. England: 1-0 (5 starters from St. Louis)
1958: Kutis SC plays as proxy for the USMNT!
1968-77: St. Louis Stars pioneer US soccer in NASL
1972: Pat McBride becomes an NASL First Team All-Star
1973: All College titles won by SLU, UMSL, Florissant Valley
1979: SIUE NCAA Champions
1980: “Bronze Boot” game, SLU vs. SIUE, attendance is 22,512
1981: St. Louis Steamers erupt with “legendary” high attendance
1980-84: St. Louis Steamers earn 2nd-place three times
1985: U.S. Soccer Player of the Year, Perry Van der Beck
1995: St. Louis Ambush wins indoor Championship
Club State, Regional & National titles: Dominated by St. Louis
High School State Championships: Ditto!
The Missouri HS top 2 coaches for State titles: Vince Drake (10),* Terry Michler (9)**
The Illinois HS top coach for State titles: Gene Baker (9)***
Home of the Hermann Trophy (5 winners from St. Louis)
U.S. Open Cup Championships: 10
NASL Rookie of the Year: Jim Leeker (1970)
NASL Rookie of the Year: Steve Pecher (1976)
MLS MVP: Taylor Twellman (2005)
MLS All-Time Assists: #2 Steve Ralston, #3 Brad Davis
USMNT: St. Louis captains & members, get your calculator
USMNT: A player, captain & eventual coach? Bob Kehoe
USMNT: St. Louis players represented at the FIFA World Cup, 12
U.S. Soccer CEO: Dan Flynn (2000-19)
TV broadcasters: Bill McDermott, Ty Keough, Taylor Twellman
August Busch IV oversaw Anheuser-Busch from Soccer Park
The original location idea for St. Louis's MLS stadium? Collinsville, Illinois****
Players listed in This Is Our CITY: A select Gazillion
2023: St. Louis City SC debuts in MLS!
…more at This Is Our CITY
* St. Thomas Aquinas-Mercy.
** CBC.
*** Granite City, king of the Metro East. Princes of the Metro East? Collinsville HS & Edwardsville HS. (Once upon a time, Granite City regularly hosted the "Tournament of Champions" at its notorious field "the Gauntlet" in which top brass from St. Louis-proper, such as St. Thomas Aquinas-Mercy, CBC, Vianney, and others, were invited. With industrial smokestacks nearby, and a town crazed for soccer, "the Gauntlet" was an intimidating venue. How serious was Granite City about soccer? Under Baker a tradition began. To start the season, for the opening training session, it began promptly at 12 midnight and local fans would buy tickets to watch, and the place would sell out.)
**** It wasn't in Collinsville's downtown, but it was off the Interstate near the Raceway, Cahokia Mounds and a very large trash dump obscured by a massive hill. Also, in the surrounding area are cities (more like dwellings) known for industrial pollution, strip clubs and abandoned tires. In other words: John Waters' dream come true. Luckily everyone moved the stadium idea to the present location of Downtown West. The overall consensus for CITYPARK: thumbs up! It's an immaculate place for a game with a plentitude of bars and restaurants near by. One such town, Clayton, one of the top cities in the area, has everything tourists need for a relaxing time. Mayor Harris has done a great job there and fans of the games should have a great time. Also, of course, are Ladue, Brentwood, Webster Groves, Town & Country, along with areas around Soulard that people will flock to. Don't forget historic Laclede's Landing, right on the river by the Arch. This area is where, among other things, Mississippi Nights once flourished with many bands stopping by, such as Nirvana and Red Hot Chili Peppers. As Mayor Roach, of O'Fallon, IL, told me, his town (centrally located for tourists) will be a major hub for hundreds of people staying for games; there are many hotels, places to eat, and access to downtown St. Louis is very 'user-friendly'; in fact, most Illinois suburbs are closer to downtown St. Louis than many Missouri suburbs of St. Louis. Go figure. Enjoy the opening game!
This Is Our CITY captures the long-awaited (and mysterious) buildup to this debut.
For those new to St. Louis soccer, it's the original capitol of soccer in America.
FUN FACTS
SLU: 10 NCAA Championships (#1 All Time)
1950 World Cup, US vs. England: 1-0 (5 starters from St. Louis)
1958: Kutis SC plays as proxy for the USMNT!
1968-77: St. Louis Stars pioneer US soccer in NASL
1972: Pat McBride becomes an NASL First Team All-Star
1973: All College titles won by SLU, UMSL, Florissant Valley
1979: SIUE NCAA Champions
1980: “Bronze Boot” game, SLU vs. SIUE, attendance is 22,512
1981: St. Louis Steamers erupt with “legendary” high attendance
1980-84: St. Louis Steamers earn 2nd-place three times
1985: U.S. Soccer Player of the Year, Perry Van der Beck
1995: St. Louis Ambush wins indoor Championship
Club State, Regional & National titles: Dominated by St. Louis
High School State Championships: Ditto!
The Missouri HS top 2 coaches for State titles: Vince Drake (10),* Terry Michler (9)**
The Illinois HS top coach for State titles: Gene Baker (9)***
Home of the Hermann Trophy (5 winners from St. Louis)
U.S. Open Cup Championships: 10
NASL Rookie of the Year: Jim Leeker (1970)
NASL Rookie of the Year: Steve Pecher (1976)
MLS MVP: Taylor Twellman (2005)
MLS All-Time Assists: #2 Steve Ralston, #3 Brad Davis
USMNT: St. Louis captains & members, get your calculator
USMNT: A player, captain & eventual coach? Bob Kehoe
USMNT: St. Louis players represented at the FIFA World Cup, 12
U.S. Soccer CEO: Dan Flynn (2000-19)
TV broadcasters: Bill McDermott, Ty Keough, Taylor Twellman
August Busch IV oversaw Anheuser-Busch from Soccer Park
The original location idea for St. Louis's MLS stadium? Collinsville, Illinois****
Players listed in This Is Our CITY: A select Gazillion
2023: St. Louis City SC debuts in MLS!
…more at This Is Our CITY
* St. Thomas Aquinas-Mercy.
** CBC.
*** Granite City, king of the Metro East. Princes of the Metro East? Collinsville HS & Edwardsville HS. (Once upon a time, Granite City regularly hosted the "Tournament of Champions" at its notorious field "the Gauntlet" in which top brass from St. Louis-proper, such as St. Thomas Aquinas-Mercy, CBC, Vianney, and others, were invited. With industrial smokestacks nearby, and a town crazed for soccer, "the Gauntlet" was an intimidating venue. How serious was Granite City about soccer? Under Baker a tradition began. To start the season, for the opening training session, it began promptly at 12 midnight and local fans would buy tickets to watch, and the place would sell out.)
**** It wasn't in Collinsville's downtown, but it was off the Interstate near the Raceway, Cahokia Mounds and a very large trash dump obscured by a massive hill. Also, in the surrounding area are cities (more like dwellings) known for industrial pollution, strip clubs and abandoned tires. In other words: John Waters' dream come true. Luckily everyone moved the stadium idea to the present location of Downtown West. The overall consensus for CITYPARK: thumbs up! It's an immaculate place for a game with a plentitude of bars and restaurants near by. One such town, Clayton, one of the top cities in the area, has everything tourists need for a relaxing time. Mayor Harris has done a great job there and fans of the games should have a great time. Also, of course, are Ladue, Brentwood, Webster Groves, Town & Country, along with areas around Soulard that people will flock to. Don't forget historic Laclede's Landing, right on the river by the Arch. This area is where, among other things, Mississippi Nights once flourished with many bands stopping by, such as Nirvana and Red Hot Chili Peppers. As Mayor Roach, of O'Fallon, IL, told me, his town (centrally located for tourists) will be a major hub for hundreds of people staying for games; there are many hotels, places to eat, and access to downtown St. Louis is very 'user-friendly'; in fact, most Illinois suburbs are closer to downtown St. Louis than many Missouri suburbs of St. Louis. Go figure. Enjoy the opening game!
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