Ben Frederickson
Sports columnist
The COVID-19 pandemic has scrambled another sports calendar, and this change is a significant one.
The start date of 最新杏吧原创鈥 Major League Soccer expansion team has been pushed back a year, from 2022 to 2023, the team's MLS4TheLou ownership group and MLS announced Friday.
最新杏吧原创 has company, as MLS also announced a new timeline for the inaugural season for two other expansion teams. Charlotte鈥檚 expansion team, scheduled for a 2021 launch, will move to 2022. Sacramento鈥檚 expansion team, scheduled to debut alongside 最新杏吧原创 in 2022, will also shift to 2023. Austin鈥檚 expansion team is still scheduled to launch in 2021 as initially planned.
鈥淲e鈥檝e been working closely with the league and collectively agreed that the adjusted timeline was the best decision to position our club for a historic launch and long-term success,鈥 MLS4TheLou CEO Carolyn Kindle Betz said in a news release. 鈥淲e can鈥檛 wait to get on the pitch in 2023 and are still moving full steam ahead to build a world-class club and stadium district that will invigorate Downtown West and be a meaningful part of our current downtown renaissance.鈥
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The new timetable was decided by MLS commissioner Don Garber and the league's expansion committee. A league news release cited "the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the commencement of business operations and stadium development of these clubs" and said the delay "will give the clubs an appropriate timeline for a successful launch." Austin's expansion team will continue to move forward on its pre-pandemic timeline, the league said, because its January 2019 announcement put that team in position to be ahead of the other expansion teams in terms of sporting, business and stadium objectives.
鈥淲e have always taken a thoughtful and strategic approach to our expansion planning and have delivered successful launches for every new club,鈥 said Garber in a release from the league. "It is important for each club to take the necessary time to launch their inaugural MLS seasons the way their fans and communities deserve. With the extra year to make up for what has been a challenging 2020, these teams will be well-positioned for their debuts and for long-term success.鈥
Site preparation and construction at the 30-acre, 22,500-seat open-air stadium at Market and 20th streets will continue to move forward, a team spokesman confirmed Friday. Construction partners have been practicing health guidelines put in place since the beginning of the pandemic. The primarily privately owned project, estimated in March to cost between $350 and $400 million, was previously targeting a March 2022 completion that would have been critical if the team was going to be able to play its first home game in the venue. The pandemic complicated that timeline, along with ongoing conversations with potential sponsors.
The ownership group has not yet announced team name and colors.
Garber and Betz could not be reached for interviews Friday.
The MLS4TheLou group secured the league鈥檚 28th team in August 2019, a finish line of sorts for a city that had pursued an expansion franchise in fits and starts since the league launched in 1996. The wait just got a year longer.
Photos: Construction on Major League Soccer stadium in 最新杏吧原创
Early stages of Major League Soccer stadium construction in 最新杏吧原创
Land preparation work continues on the future site of the Major League Soccer stadium that is being built in 最新杏吧原创 as seen on Thursday, June 18, 2020. Stadium construction is anticipated to be completed in early 2022. The team is still attempting to finalize negotiations with the owners of a parking lot, pictured in the center of the frame, that is a "crucial piece of land" for the stadium project. If the team and the land owner can't come to terms on a deal to purchase the land it is possible eminent domain will be used to take the land for the project. At this point the future MLS team is still unnamed and there has been no announcement about a possible name for the square shaped stadium. The project is expected to cost $350-400 million to build the 22,500 seat stadium, practice facilities and team offices. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
Early stages of Major League Soccer stadium construction in 最新杏吧原创
Land preparation work continues on Friday, June 19, 2020 on the future site of the Major League Soccer stadium that is being built in 最新杏吧原创. Stadium construction is anticipated to be completed in early 2022. The project is expected to cost $350-400 million to build the 22,500 seat stadium, practice facilities and team offices. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
Early stages of Major League Soccer stadium construction in 最新杏吧原创
Land preparation work continues on Friday, June 19, 2020 on the future site of the practice fields and team offices for the Major League Soccer stadium that is being built in 最新杏吧原创. Stadium construction is anticipated to be completed in early 2022. The land, located to the west of Union Station, was previously used as a highway on ramp and exit ramp. The project is expected to cost $350-400 million to build the 22,500 seat stadium, practice facilities and team offices. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
Watch now: Major League Soccer stadium construction in 最新杏吧原创
Soccer stadium construction in 最新杏吧原创
Land preparation work continues on Friday, June 19, 2020 on the future site of the Major League Soccer stadium that is being built in 最新杏吧原创. Stadium construction is anticipated to be completed in early 2022. The project is expected to cost $350-400 million to build the 22,500 seat stadium, practice facilities and team offices. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
Early stages of Major League Soccer stadium construction in 最新杏吧原创
Land preparation work continues on Friday, June 19, 2020 on the future site of the practice fields and team offices for the Major League Soccer stadium that is being built in 最新杏吧原创. Stadium construction is anticipated to be completed in early 2022. The land, located to the west of Union Station, was previously used as a highway on ramp and exit ramp. The large mound of dirt is only temporarily being stored on site until it is needed as fill during construction. The project is expected to cost $350-400 million to build the 22,500 seat stadium, practice facilities and team offices. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
Early stages of Major League Soccer stadium construction in 最新杏吧原创
Land preparation work continues on Friday, June 19, 2020 on the future site of the practice fields and team offices for the Major League Soccer stadium that is being built in 最新杏吧原创. Stadium construction is anticipated to be completed in early 2022. The land, located to the west of Union Station, was previously used as a highway on ramp and exit ramp. The project is expected to cost $350-400 million to build the 22,500 seat stadium, practice facilities and team offices. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
Early stages of Major League Soccer stadium construction in 最新杏吧原创
Land preparation work continues on the future site of the Major League Soccer stadium that is being built in 最新杏吧原创 as seen on Thursday, June 18, 2020. Stadium construction is anticipated to be completed in early 2022. The team is still attempting to finalize negotiations with the owners of a parking lot, pictured in the center of the frame, that is a "crucial piece of land" for the stadium project. If the team and the land owner can't come to terms on a deal to purchase the land it is possible eminent domain will be used to take the land for the project. At this point the future MLS team is still unnamed and there has been no announcement about a possible name for the square shaped stadium. The project is expected to cost $350-400 million to build the 22,500 seat stadium, practice facilities and team offices. The area for the practice fields can be seen to the right of the photo south of Market Street. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
