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Missouri's governor-elect: St. Louis MLS stadium plan is 'welfare for millionaires'
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Missouri Gov.-elect Eric Greitens said Monday he opposes taxpayer money to help build a new soccer stadium in St. Louis, calling the project "nothing more than welfare for millionaires."
Greitens' comments, in an email statement, were made a day before the Missouri Development Finance Board is expected to vote Tuesday on a request to approve $40 million in state tax credits for the stadium.
Plans for the new $200 million downtown stadium proposed by the group SC STL were unveiled in November as part of an effort to attract a Major League Soccer expansion team to St. Louis. In addition to state tax credits, the stadium is contingent on St. Louis voters approving $80 million in public funding in an April vote. The city would own the stadium and lease it to the MLS team in a 30-year agreement.
MLS sets timetable for expansion to 28 teams, $150M fee for teams No. 25, 26
"I'm opposed to spending taxpayer money to build a soccer stadium in St. Louis," Greitens, a Republican, said in his statement. "This project is nothing more than welfare for millionaires. Right now, because of reckless spending by career politicians, we can't even afford the core functions of government, let alone spend millions on soccer stadiums. This back-room wheeling and dealing is exactly what frustrates Missourians. This type of politics as usual is coming to an end."
Greitens, who defeated Democratic Attorney General Chris Koster in the November election, doesn't take office until Jan. 9. It wasn't immediately clear what action he could take once in office to remove tax credits if they are approved by the finance board. Messages left with a Greitens spokesman were not returned.
GALLERY: Potential, future soccer stadiums in America
Potential, future soccer stadiums in America
North Carolina FC
The Raleigh bid for an MLS expansion team unveiled a stadium plan for a downtown venue within the boundaries of Peace St., Salisbury St., Lane St. and the N.C. Railroad easement.
Miami
David Beckham's ownership group in Miami has released a rendering for a stadium in the Overtown neighborhood, the latest desired site for an MLS expansion bid that kicked off in 2014.
FC Cincinnati
FC Cincinnati doesn't yet have a nailed-down location for an MLS stadium, but the expansion hopeful has released renderings for a 25,000-seat stadium inspired by Bayern Munich's Allianz Arena.
FC Cincinnati
FC Cincinnati doesn't yet have a nailed-down location for an MLS stadium, but the expansion hopeful has released renderings for a 25,000-seat stadium inspired by Bayern Munich's Allianz Arena.
FC Cincinnati
FC Cincinnati doesn't yet have a nailed-down location for an MLS stadium, but the expansion hopeful has released renderings for a 25,000-seat stadium inspired by Bayern Munich's Allianz Arena.
FC Cincinnati
FC Cincinnati doesn't yet have a nailed-down location for an MLS stadium, but the expansion hopeful has released renderings for a 25,000-seat stadium inspired by Bayern Munich's Allianz Arena.
Portland Timbers
The Timbers are adding 4,000 seats as part of a $50 million renovation to Providence Park.
Portland Timbers
The Timbers are adding 4,000 seats as part of a $50 million renovation to Providence Park.
Atlanta United FC
Atlanta United will share Mercedes-Benz Stadium along with the Atlanta Falcons in a state-of-the-art venue.
Minnesota United
2017 MLS expansion team Minnesota will eventually move to its new soccer-specific venue in St. Paul.
Minnesota United
2017 MLS expansion team Minnesota will eventually move to its new soccer-specific venue in St. Paul.
Minnesota United
2017 MLS expansion team Minnesota will eventually move to its new soccer-specific venue in St. Paul.
Minnesota United
2017 MLS expansion team Minnesota will eventually move to its new soccer-specific venue in St. Paul.
Minnesota United
2017 MLS expansion team Minnesota will eventually move to its new soccer-specific venue in St. Paul.
Minnesota United
2017 MLS expansion team Minnesota will eventually move to its new soccer-specific venue in St. Paul.
Sacramento Republic FC
Sacramento Republic has been pushing hard for an MLS team, with Don Garber acknowledging the USL side is one of the leaders of the pack for when the league expands to 28 teams.
Sacramento Republic FC
Sacramento Republic has been pushing hard for an MLS team, with Don Garber acknowledging the USL side is one of the leaders of the pack for when the league expands to 28 teams.
Sacramento Republic FC
Sacramento Republic has been pushing hard for an MLS team, with Don Garber acknowledging the USL side is one of the leaders of the pack for when the league expands to 28 teams.
Los Angeles FC
LAFC has broken ground on Banc of California Stadium at the site of the L.A. Memorial Sports Arena.
Los Angeles FC
LAFC has broken ground on Banc of California Stadium at the site of the L.A. Memorial Sports Arena.
Los Angeles FC
LAFC has broken ground on Banc of California Stadium at the site of the L.A. Memorial Sports Arena.
Los Angeles FC
LAFC has broken ground on Banc of California Stadium at the site of the L.A. Memorial Sports Arena.
Los Angeles FC
LAFC has broken ground on Banc of California Stadium at the site of the L.A. Memorial Sports Arena.
D.C. United
D.C. United is aiming to put an end to a seemingly never-ending quest to move out of RFK Stadium to its own venue and it claims it will begin play at Audi Field at D.C.'s Buzzard Point in 2018.
D.C. United
D.C. United is aiming to put an end to a seemingly never-ending quest to move out of RFK Stadium to its own venue and it claims it will begin play at Audi Field at D.C.'s Buzzard Point in 2018.
Potential St. Louis expansion team
St. Louis's MLS expansion bid has picked up considerable steam, with Don Garber confirming it's one of two, along with Sacramento, in the lead for spots 24-28.
Potential St. Louis expansion team
St. Louis's MLS expansion bid has picked up considerable steam, with Don Garber confirming it's one of two, along with Sacramento, in the lead for spots 24-28.
Potential St. Louis expansion team
St. Louis's MLS expansion bid has picked up considerable steam, with Don Garber confirming it's one of two, along with Sacramento, in the lead for spots 24-28.
Potential Detroit expansion team
A group led by NBA owners Dan Gilbert and Tom Gores is aiming to bring MLS to Detroit with this downtown venue.
Potential Detroit expansion team
A group led by NBA owners Dan Gilbert and Tom Gores is aiming to bring MLS to Detroit with this downtown venue.
Potential Detroit expansion team
A group led by NBA owners Dan Gilbert and Tom Gores is aiming to bring MLS to Detroit with this downtown venue.
Tampa Bay Rowdies
The Tampa Bay Rowdies announced their plans to launch an aggressive bid for an MLS expansion spot, full with these renovations to the existing Al Lang Stadium.
Tampa Bay Rowdies
The Tampa Bay Rowdies announced their plans to launch an aggressive bid for an MLS expansion spot, full with these renovations to the existing Al Lang Stadium.
Tampa Bay Rowdies
The Tampa Bay Rowdies announced their plans to launch an aggressive bid for an MLS expansion spot, full with these renovations to the existing Al Lang Stadium.
Tampa Bay Rowdies
The Tampa Bay Rowdies announced their plans to launch an aggressive bid for an MLS expansion spot, full with these renovations to the existing Al Lang Stadium.
Tampa Bay Rowdies
The Tampa Bay Rowdies announced their plans to launch an aggressive bid for an MLS expansion spot, full with these renovations to the existing Al Lang Stadium.
Potential San Diego expansion team
The group behind San Diego's push for an MLS expansion team revealed its plans for a shared, 30,000-seat stadium with the San Diego State University football team on the site where Qualcomm Stadium currently stands.
Potential San Diego expansion team
The group behind San Diego's push for an MLS expansion team revealed its plans for a shared, 30,000-seat stadium with the San Diego State University football team on the site where Qualcomm Stadium currently stands.
Indy Eleven
The NASL's Indy Eleven emerged as a late contender for MLS expansion, becoming the 12th bid to be submitted to the league.
Phoenix Rising FC
USL's Phoenix Rising FC aims to snag one of MLS's four expansion berths with this stadium and training field complex.
Potential Charlotte expansion team
Charlotte's MLS bid includes this downtown soccer-specific venue.
Outgoing Gov. Jay Nixon, a Democrat, has expressed support for state funding. MLS Commissioner Don Garber met with Nixon and potential investors during a visit to St. Louis last year. MLS has expressed interest in St. Louis as a site for future expansion, though no timetable has been established.
A spokesman for SC STL said the group had just learned of Greitens' statement and declined immediate comment.
The current proposal would mean that taxpayers pay 60% of the stadium cost. SC STL has said it would pay the remaining 40%, along with league fees expected to be at least $150 million, any construction overrun costs and maintenance fees over the life of the lease. The group has estimated the combined cost of building a stadium and acquiring a team at $405 million.
Time ticking on Beckham's Miami MLS team amid deadline, Las Vegas speculation
Critics of public funding for stadiums point to the dome that housed the St. Louis Rams during their two-decade stay before returning to Los Angeles this season. The dome, now empty except for occasional convention and sports uses, was paid for entirely with public money, a debt that won't be paid off for several years.
A competing group also interested in building a soccer stadium has offered to join forces to eliminate the need for public financing, but SC STL has declined comment on the joint venture proposed by Foundry St. Louis.
The open-air stadium would have 20,000 seats with the ability to expand to 28,500. It would sit next to St. Louis Union Station on land currently owned by the Missouri Department of Transportation.
