#MLS4TheLou Press Kit
For Media Inquiries:
MLS4THELOUMedia@webershandwick.com
314-552-6764
#MLS4TheLou Fact Sheet
Ownership Group
Led by Carolyn Kindle Betz and six other female, multi-generational members of the Taylor family, a new St. Louis MLS team would be the first female majority owned club in the league’s history and one of the few in all professional sports
100-percent St. Louis-based ownership group consisting of the Taylor and Kavanaugh families, including:
o Carolyn Kindle Betz
o Andy Taylor
o Jim Kavanaugh
o Jo Ann Taylor Kindle
o Christine B. Taylor
o Alison Kindle Hogan
o Kelly C Taylor
o Patricia A Taylor
o Barbara Taylor
The ownership group is using the slogan #MLS4THELOU
Commitment to St. Louis
The 100-percent St. Louis-based, majority female-led ownership group has deep ties to the St. Louis community in business and philanthropy
The Taylor family’s long-standing commitment to the revitalization of St. Louis is proven through the number of philanthropic and infrastructure initiatives the family is actively involved and personally invested in throughout the region
As part of the ownership group’s commitment to be an exceptional club and neighbor, they will maintain open lines of communication with key civic, community and business leaders to help build a more equitable and vibrant St. Louis
Overwhelming Privately Funded
The ownership group’s proposal is overwhelmingly privately financed and the ownership group has no intention of requesting citywide tax revenues or tax increment financing (TIF)
Both city and state officials are involved in the discussions which could include incentives such as abatement of the city amusement tax or “user taxes” that allows for the collection of some tax revenue from only those who attend events
Overall, this proposal will request significantly less from the city and, based upon current information, will allow the city to receive new revenue
The financing package relies on certain tax credits from the state, which we are currently discussing
This proposal is structured differently in several ways:
o This is a different ownership group that is 100% St. Louis based ownership group with deep roots in St. Louis business, philanthropy and soccer
o The proposal is privately funded at a much higher percentage
o This group does not intend on requesting Tax Increment Financing (TIF) or any direct citywide tax
o Based on the information currently available; more revenue will be generated for St. Louis
Ideal Stadium Site
Currently owned by the state, the preferred stadium site is adjacent to Union Station in the western part of downtown St. Louis
This location is preferred because it sits within an area currently undergoing an $8 billion redevelopment resurgence downtown
The ownership group is still in discussions with the state to ensure the location will be a clean, buildable site for the stadium
St. Louis’ Rich Soccer Heritage
The city’s rich history and love for the game dates back to the 1950 World Cup team where five of the 11 U.S. players were immigrants from St. Louis’ “The Hill” neighborhood
St. Louis’ youth club programs are strong and growing, with over 50,000 youth players in the St. Louis market and more than 4,000 youth teams in the metro area
The St. Louis region has raised and nurtured thousands of soccer players, many of which have competed and are competing in the highest professional leagues around the world
Under Jim Kavanaugh’s leadership, the new MLS team would be integrated with the already strong, Saint Louis FC and St. Louis Scott Gallagher club structure
For media inquiries, please email us at MLS4THELOUMedia@webershandwick.com or call us at 314-552-6764.
#MLS4TheLou Press Release
New St. Louis Ownership Group Announces Bid for Major League Soccer
The Taylor and Kavanaugh families unite in an effort to bring soccer home to St. Louis
Proposal is heavily privately financed with no request for citywide tax revenues or
tax increment financing
ST. LOUIS (October 9, 2018) – Today marks a new chapter for the local sports community and beyond as a 100-percent St. Louis-based ownership group formally announced its mission to bring a Major League Soccer (MLS) club to St. Louis. The new ownership group – using the slogan #MLS4THELOU – is composed of multi-generational members of the Taylor and Kavanaugh families with deep ties to the community.
Led by Carolyn Kindle Betz, Senior Vice President of Enterprise Holdings and Executive Director of the Enterprise Holdings Foundation, and six other female members of the Taylor family, a new St. Louis MLS team would be the first female majority owned club in the league’s history and one of the few in all professional sports. Andy Taylor, Executive Chairman of Enterprise Holdings and Jim Kavanaugh, CEO of World Wide Technology, complete the #MLS4THELOU ownership group.
"We recently met with the Taylor Family and Jim Kavanaugh regarding their new vision for Major League Soccer in St. Louis and are impressed by their commitment to the MLS effort,” said Dan Courtemanche, Major League Soccer Executive Vice President of Communications, “We look forward to spending time with them during the coming months to learn more about their plan.”
The #MLS4THELOU group’s vision is to build a club that excels both on the field and within the community. The combination of the Taylor family and Jim Kavanaugh merges a love for St. Louis and soccer, and creates an ownership team with strong business, philanthropy and soccer credentials.
“We believe an MLS team will bring together the many different segments of the St. Louis community, uniting people in their passion for a global sport,” said Carolyn Kindle Betz, “It will be a strong attraction for the city and region as we work to bring young people and new talent for businesses. An MLS team will be an exciting addition to downtown St. Louis and further proof of a renaissance taking shape in the city we love.”
While still early in the process, the #MLS4THELOU ownership group’s proposal addresses a multitude of significant points:
COMMITMENT TO ST. LOUIS
The 100-percent St. Louis-based, majority female-led ownership group has deep ties to the St. Louis community in business and philanthropy. The Taylor family’s long-standing commitment to the revitalization of St. Louis is proven through the number of philanthropic and infrastructure initiatives the family is actively involved and personally invested in throughout the region.
“We envision an MLS team as yet another way to increase the energy and momentum to an already wonderful city that means so much to us,” said Andy Taylor. “The addition of a third major league team speaks to our desirability as a place to work, live and play. St. Louis is a major league city that deserves the many benefits that come with an MLS club.”
As part of the ownership group’s commitment to be an exceptional club and neighbor, they will maintain open lines of communication with key civic, community and business leaders to help build a more equitable and vibrant St. Louis.
“St. Louis is a storied soccer city and has a rich past, present and future in the sport. St. Louis belongs in the MLS,” said Jim Kavanaugh. “Our goal is to ensure St. Louis’ rich soccer tradition not only continues, but flourishes for years to come.”
OVERWHELMINGLY PRIVATELY FINANCED
The ownership group’s proposal is overwhelmingly privately financed and the ownership group has no intention of requesting citywide tax revenues or tax increment financing (TIF). With the end goal of reaching a fair proposal that works for all, both city and state officials are involved in the discussions which could include incentives such as abatement of the city amusement tax or “user taxes” that allows for the collection of some tax revenue from only those who attend events.
Overall, this proposal will request significantly less from the city and, based upon current information, will allow the city to receive new revenue.
IDEAL STADIUM SITE
Currently owned by the state, the preferred stadium site is adjacent to Union Station in the western part of downtown St. Louis. Sitting within an area of downtown that is currently undergoing an $8 billion redevelopment resurgence, this preferred location is between The Gateway Arch and Forest Park, connecting two of St. Louis’ most iconic civic spaces. In addition to the exhibition and regular season MLS home games, the open-air venue stadium also would be available for concerts, high school and collegiate tournaments, soccer camps, family shows and more.
The ownership group is still in discussions with the state to ensure the location will be a clean, buildable site for the stadium.
ST. LOUIS’ RICH SOCCER HERITAGE
St. Louis has an unmatched soccer tradition, diverse population and incredibly passionate fan base. The city’s rich history and love for the game dates back to the 1950 World Cup team where five of the 11 U.S. players were immigrants from St. Louis’ “The Hill” neighborhood. Additionally, St. Louis University has won 10 NCAA Men’s National Soccer Championships and St. Louis’ current USL team, Saint Louis FC, has a strong, spirited following.
"I am thrilled to work with the Taylor and Kavanaugh ownership group to bring an MLS team to St. Louis. The private funding of this effort is an excellent business deal for our community," Mayor Lyda Krewson said. "St. Louis is a great soccer town; we play it, we watch it, now let’s score a team."
St. Louis’ youth club programs are strong and growing, with over 50,000 youth players in the St. Louis market and more than 4,000 youth teams in the metro area. The St. Louis region has raised and nurtured thousands of soccer players, many of which have competed and are competing in the highest professional leagues around the world. This is something owner Jim Kavanaugh can personally attest to as Kavanaugh is not only a successful businessman and World Wide Technology founder, but also played soccer in high school, college and professionally in St. Louis and was a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic Men’s Soccer Team. Additionally, Kavanaugh led the successful effort to bring professional soccer to St. Louis in 2015 with Saint Louis FC of the USL.
Under Jim Kavanaugh’s leadership, the new MLS team would be integrated with the already strong, Saint Louis FC and St. Louis Scott Gallagher club structure.
For more information on #MLS4THELOU, visit our website at MLS4TheLou.com and follow us on