Union Station Archives

State lawmaker says St. Louis MLS team will spur economic growth in Missouri

August 20, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

St. Louis is reportedly about to land a Major League Soccer (MLS) expansion team. Some St. Louis-area state lawmakers had urged the league to consider the Gateway City.

Photo: MLS4TheLou.com

An announcement is scheduled for 11:30 Tuesday morning in downtown St. Louis, and multiple reports indicate MLS will award an expansion franchise to St. Louis.

The league says MLS Commissioner Don Garber will be there. Commissioner Garber visited St. Louis this spring.

State Rep. Justin Hill, R-Lake St. Louis, sponsored a House resolution this year, urging MLS to select St. Louis as an expansion team.

During a January speech on the Missouri House floor in Jefferson City, Hill said “St. Louis has a rich tradition and avid fan base,” adding that more than ten percent of St. Louisans participate in soccer, which he says is three percent higher than the national average. He says that offers a large potential fan base to an MLS team.

Hill’s House concurrent resolution 7 sought to affirm Missouri’s and St. Louis’ commitment to sporting excellence. Legislative resolutions are largely symbolic, and Hill’s proposal did not receive a House hearing in 2019.

What it did do, though, was bring attention to the issue, both to lawmakers and to the general public.

“Another major professional team in St. Louis will spur economic growth and development for the region and the state of Missouri,” Hill said in January. “Placing an MLS team in our state, in the Arch City, would be a smart investment for the league, the city and the state.”

Hill notes the success of the St. Louis Football Club (FC). He also points out St. Louis University’s multiple NCAA titles in the 1960’s and the success of the St. Louis Steamers from 1979 to 1988.

KMOV Channel 4 in St. Louis reports the proposed stadium would be constructed just west of Union Station.

Governor Kelly: economic border war between Missouri and Kansas is over

August 2, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

The Kansas governor has signed an executive order that is aimed at ending the economic “border war” between Missouri and Kansas, which involves tax incentives.

Governor Laura Kelly (D) signed it Friday in Topeka, telling reporters her executive order “ends the border war.”

Missouri Governor Mike Parson signs SB 182 into law on June 11, 2019 at Kansas City’s Union Station (file photo courtesy of Governor Parson’s office)

Missouri Governor Mike Parson (R) signed legislation into law in June, aimed at ending the border war. Missouri’s bill restricts incentives to companies moving from Kansas to Missouri’s Cass, Clay, Jackson and Platte counties.

“I think Missouri has spent well over $100 million on this, Kansas has spent well over $100 million,” Parson said during a June bill-signing ceremony. “There’s no reason we can’t be using that money for a lot better purposes than just jumping from one side of the state (line) to the other.”

Parson spokeswoman Kelli Jones issued a statement to Missourinet, about Governor Kelly’s executive order.

“We appreciate Governor Kelly’s partnership and work on ending the Border War. We are thoroughly reviewing Governor Kelly’s executive order but are encouraged by the news of its signing, which will help both states better serve the citizens of Missouri and Kansas through fiscally responsible practices,” Jones’ statement reads.

The Kansas City-based Hall Family Foundation says more than 10,000 jobs moved between Missouri and Kansas during the past decade, with an incentive cost of $330 million. The jobs all moved in the Kansas City region.

After the June bill-signing ceremony at Kansas City’s Union Station, Parson told reporters that incentivizing companies to move a few miles does not result in new jobs for either state.

“We’re spending a lot of taxpayer money to do initiatives for businesses on the border of Kansas and Missouri and sometimes we’re not getting very much gain for that,” Parson said in June.

As for Governor Kelly, she says an event with both governors will happen soon.

“But we have more to do. My administration looks forward to a governor’s summit in the near future where we will celebrate this monumental achievement for both states,” Kelly says.

KMBC’s Mike Mahoney reports Governor Parson says the summit will be later this month in Kansas City. A date has not been set yet.