Writings

RED CARD

Regarding the morsel on soccer ("Sports," RFT, Dec. 2), just a little correction: MLS is not in Nashville, and though it is in Chicago, I think you meant to say St. Louis is a good spot for the A-League Pro-40 Team because the A-League is already in Nashville and Chicago (if Chicago's D3 team is promoted). Thus Midwestern routing will be easier in the A-League.

This is indeed a great prospect for St. Louis. I and many others have been waiting for quality outdoor soccer to return to St. Louis. The problem, as always, is the facility. You failed to mention the reason St. Louis is "seldom mentioned as a candidate in national circles" -- it's the facility. St. Louis hasn't one. Fenton has something of a soccer field, but St. Louis has nothing. That is the reason for no MLS. They would love to put a franchise here, but there is simply nowhere to play.

The best solution would be a 40,000-seat stadium in the city which MLS and SLU could share. The ideal location would be the Arena's spot. Barring that, renovating any of the many aging high-school facilities in town would be a fine solution. Soccer must be a city thing, and Fenton is the reason we're considered a test market for the A-League and not for MLS. But with a nice, central outdoor stadium we could host professional (outdoor) soccer and make a damn fine Olympic bid -- what with everything else located tightly in downtown.

In the meantime, thank you for your quality coverage of the news.

Tony Brasunas
University City