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7.19.2007

Where will the MLS be expanding next?

The MLS had just awarded San Jose an expansion franchise. So what do you think about where the next MLS franchise(s) will be? We want your answers.
Here are my answers: STL and Seattle are the next cities in line for an expansion.
After that, it would be Charlotte, Orlando, Montreal, and Philadelphia, thus making it 20. Now, I think the cap should be 24 teams, as the final 4 are: Atlanta, Detroit, Portland (OR), and OK City.

The MLS could be an interesting league to watch in the next 5-30 years. Bring the MLS to St. Louis!!!!!!!

If St. Louis gets an MLS franchise, I have a feeling it will be on the Illinois side of the Mississippi River.

My possible sites for the stadium are:
Illinois:
Madison County:--
1. Alton: North of Homer Adams Parkway.
Pros: Close to Alton Sq. Mall, Clark Bridge.
Cons: Too far out for JeffCo, SSTL Co., Franklin, and St. Clair, Monroe, Randolph counties fans to go to.
Areas of interest: Alton, Madison County, Macoupin County, Jersey County, Greene County, Montgomery County, NSTL Co., and St. Charles County.
2. Bethalto: East of Moreland Rd.
Pros: New IL 255 Expansion completed to Fosterburg Road.
Cons: Same as 1, but farmland is issue.
AOI: Bethalto, Moro, otherwise same as 1.
3. Hamel: W of I-55/IL 157.
Pros: I-55 traffic, Easy Access to IL 157, IL 140.
Cons: Same as 1/2.
AOI: Hamel, Madison County, Montgomery County, Macoupin County, Bond County.
4. South Roxana: Off IL 111, North of Cahokia Canal and south of South Roxana corporate limits.
Pros: Close to Hartford, S. Roxana, Roxana, and Wood River, Easy access to IL 3, IL 255, and IL 143, refinery.
Cons: Pollution levels.
AOI: Roxana, S. Roxana, Hartford, E. Alton, Wood River, Madison County.
5. Granite City: On IL 3, just north of St. Thomas Rd.
Pros: IL 3 traffic, Easy access to I-270, McKinley Bridge.
Cons: Trains, pollution from plants north.
AOI: Granite City, Mitchell, Hartford, Madison County, NSTL County.
6. Pontoon Beach, South of I-270 between IL 111 and I-255/IL 255.
Pros: Pontoon Beach population growing, Easy Access to IL 111, I-270, and I-255/IL 255,
TIF District, helps Mitchell's case to be an independent city.
Cons: none.
AOI: Pontoon Beach, Mitchell, GC, Glen Carbon, Edwardsville, Collinsville, Madison County, St. Clair County, NSTL County.
7. Marine: IL 143, Between IL 4 and Duncan St.
Pros: Helps Marine, Grantfork, St. Jacob, and Highland's economies out, Increase of Marine business, Easy Access to I-70 and I-55.
Cons: Disrupts farming community.
8. Collinsville/Pontoon Beach: On Horseshoe Lake Road, east of I-255 and West of McDonough Lake Road.
Pros: Soccer fields nearby, I-255, US 40/I-55/I-70, and IL 157 convienient access ways, tons of business just to the south.
Cons: none.
AOI: Collinsville, Caseyville, Pontoon Beach, Madison County, St. Clair County.

St. Clair County:
1. East St. Louis: Off IL 3
Pros: Much-Needed money-maker for ESTL (other than Strip-Clubs), Close to US 40/I-55/I-64/I-70 and IL 3, Close to Downtown STL, Helps out surrounding towns, 98.0+% Black population, and centralized.
Cons: Leads to tie-ups on 64/55/70 in Illinois.
AOI: STL, ESTL, Brooklyn, Venice, National City, Madison, Fairmont City, St. Clair County, Madison County, Rest of Metro Area.
2. Washington Park, off Forest Blvd., between I-255 and IL 111.
Pros: No development, Near IL 111, I-255, and I-64, supports the Hispanic majority in Fairmont City.
Cons: Too many Strip Joints.
AOI: Washington Park, ESTL, Fairmont City, St. Clair County.
3. Caseyville: Off W. Lincoln Blvd.
Pros: Caseyville's economics rising, Near I-64, IL 157, and I-255.
Cons: Too Far out for St. Charles County commuters.
4. O'Fallon: Off Salem Dr., West of Venita Dr. and North of BR US 50/I-64/US 50.
Pros: O'Fallon/Fairview Heights/Shiloh's populations growing, I-64/US 50 improvements to 4 lanes each way (8 total).
Cons: Too far out for WSTL County, Franklin County, and St. Charles County commuters.
AOI: O'Fallon, Scott AFB, Shiloh, Fairview Heights, Caseyville, St. Clair County, Clinton County, Washington County.
5. East Carondelet/Dupo: Off Schmid Road between Adams Road and Kellings Farm Road.
Pros: Helps out Dupo, E. Carondelet, Cahokia, Sauget, and Columbia's economies out, near I-255, JB Bridge, IL 3, and of course, West St. Clair County.
Cons: Too Far for Alton residents.
AOI: Dupo, Cahokia, Sauget, East Carondelet, Columbia, St. Clair County, Monroe County, SSTL County, Jefferson County, and Madison County.
6. Belleville: Off IL 158, just west of Belleville City Limits.
Pros: Near Belleville, growth south for city.
Cons: Same as 4.
AOI: Belleville, Millstadt, Swansea, Freeburg, St. Clair County, Monroe County, Randolph County, Washington County.

Monroe County:
1. Columbia: South of IL 255, off of Ramsey Road.
Pros: Easy Access to IL 3 and I-255, within 20 minutes of Most of St. Clair, Monroe, NE Jefferson, and SSTL Counties, and Monroe County's growth.
Cons: Same as 4/5.

Missouri:
St. Charles:
1. MO 94 in Boschertown.
Pros: Easy Access from I-270, MO 370, I-70, MO 94, and MO 364, North St. Charles County growing fast.
Cons: Prone to Flooding, too far for most Illinois commuters.
AOI: St. Charles, Boschertown, St. Peters, O'Fallon, Bridgeton, Hazelwood, Florissant, St. Charles County, NSTL County, Madison County

St. Louis:
1. Missouri Bottom Road/Aubuchon Road, north of St. Louis Mills Mall
Pros: Near St. Louis Mills Mall, St. Charles, and Hazelwood, Easy Access to I-270, MO 370, US 67, Downtown Florissant, Earth City, and more.
Cons: Prone to Flooding, Too far for most Illinois commuters, More rush-hour gridlock on I-70 between MM 210 and Lambert Aiport.
AOI: Hazelwood, Bridgeton, Florissant, Black Jack, Berkeley, St. Charles, Earth City, Champ, St. Charles County, NSTL County, Madison County
2. Kirkwood: Off Lindbergh at the Corner of Manchester Road.
Pros: In Central St. Louis Co., Near I-44 and I-270.
Cons: Tons of houses will have to go.
AOI: Kirkwood, Des Peres, Sunset Hills, Webster Groves, Oakland, Crestwood, St. Louis County, Franklin County, STL Metro Area.

Franklin County:
none

Jefferson County:
1. Arnold: MO 141 west of I-55.
Pros: Near booming towns such as Arnold, Fenton, and Concord.
Cons: Too Far out for North STL Metro Area commuters.
AOI: Arnold, Murphy, Mehlville, Oakville, Jefferson County, SSTL County, St. Clair County, Monroe County.

The best place for a stadium will be Pontoon Beach, Illinois.

That's it for now!

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