Collinsville Soccer Complex
Encyclopedia
Collinsville Soccer Complex, also known as The Fields was a planned soccer-centered development to be located in Collinsville, Illinois
, United States
. The centerpiece of the complex was a 18,500-seat soccer-specific stadium
that would have been the home stadium for professional soccer clubs in MLS
and WPS
based in the St. Louis area. The plan also included eight FIFA
-approved artificial turf
fields, as well as mixed-use development, which included retail, office, entertainment, educational, and residential areas. The entire development was valued at almost $600 million.
The proposed stadium location was roughly ten minutes away from downtown St. Louis
, by the I-255/I-70/I-55 interchange.
All plans to begin construction had been in place, and the city of Collinsville had approved the project. Construction never began because MLS never awarded a franchise to St. Louis Soccer United (AC St. Louis), the ownership group that had spearheaded the professional soccer effort in St. Louis; although the city of Collinsville had approved of the plans, construction was not approved until a MLS team was guaranteed. Also, there were several homeowners who had not yet sold their property. As such, Saint Louis Athletica, the area's WPS team, began the league's first season in 2009
at Ralph Korte Stadium
in Edwardsville, Illinois
, but moved across the Mississippi River
during the season to the Anheuser-Busch Center
in Fenton, Missouri
.
Collinsville, Illinois
Collinsville is a city located mainly in Madison County, and partially in St. Clair County, both in Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 26,016. Collinsville is approximately 12 miles from St. Louis, Missouri and is considered part of that city's Metro-East area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The centerpiece of the complex was a 18,500-seat soccer-specific stadium
Soccer-specific stadium
Soccer-specific stadium is a term used mainly in the United States, Canada, Australia and South Korea coined by Lamar Hunt, to refer to a sports stadium either purpose built or fundamentally redesigned for soccer and whose primary function is to host soccer matches, as opposed to a multipurpose...
that would have been the home stadium for professional soccer clubs in MLS
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
and WPS
Women's Professional Soccer
Women's Professional Soccer is the top level professional women's soccer league in the United States. It began play on March 29, 2009. The league was composed of seven teams for its first two seasons and fielded 6 teams for the 2011 season, with continued plans for future expansion...
based in the St. Louis area. The plan also included eight FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
-approved artificial turf
Artificial turf
Artificial turf is a surface manufactured from synthetic fibers made to look like natural grass. It is most often used in arenas for sports that were originally or are normally played on grass. However, it is now being used on residential lawns and commercial applications as well...
fields, as well as mixed-use development, which included retail, office, entertainment, educational, and residential areas. The entire development was valued at almost $600 million.
The proposed stadium location was roughly ten minutes away from downtown St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, by the I-255/I-70/I-55 interchange.
All plans to begin construction had been in place, and the city of Collinsville had approved the project. Construction never began because MLS never awarded a franchise to St. Louis Soccer United (AC St. Louis), the ownership group that had spearheaded the professional soccer effort in St. Louis; although the city of Collinsville had approved of the plans, construction was not approved until a MLS team was guaranteed. Also, there were several homeowners who had not yet sold their property. As such, Saint Louis Athletica, the area's WPS team, began the league's first season in 2009
2009 Women's Professional Soccer season
The 2009 Women's Professional Soccer season served as the inaugural season for WPS, the top level professional women's soccer league in the United States...
at Ralph Korte Stadium
Ralph Korte Stadium
Ralph Korte Stadium, otherwise known as "The Ralph", is a 3,000-capacity stadium located in Edwardsville, Illinois. It has an athletics track, and is also used for soccer...
in Edwardsville, Illinois
Edwardsville, Illinois
Edwardsville is a city in Madison County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 24,293. It is the county seat of Madison County and is the third oldest city in the State of Illinois. The city was named in honor of Ninian Edwards, then Governor of the Illinois...
, but moved across the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
during the season to the Anheuser-Busch Center
Anheuser-Busch Center
The Anheuser-Busch Center, also known as Soccer Park, is located in Fenton, Missouri, a suburb southwest of downtown St. Louis. It was the home field of A.C. St. Louis. Opening in 1982 as the St. Louis Soccer Park, the Anheuser-Busch Center has been the home to regional sporting events at the...
in Fenton, Missouri
Fenton, Missouri
Fenton is a city in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States, and a suburb of St. Louis. The population was 4,022 at the 2010 census.-History:Due to its proximity to fertile land and the Meramec River, the Fenton area has been inhabited for over 1,000 years...
.
See also
- List of Women's Professional Soccer stadiums
- List of American soccer stadia by capacity