Will the team pay property tax on the land?
We will pursue tax exemptions that are consistent with incentives that are typically offered to any business looking to build in downtown St. Louis (or another major city).
With respect to the land acquired from MoDoT, the Assessor will assess the land as if it was taxable in the prior year, we will pay property tax on that value for 25 years.
Accordingly, the City will receive property tax on land from which it has not received taxes in decades. If there is any other land included in the project, property tax will continue to be paid.
ARE ANY TAX EXEMPTIONS BEING SOUGHT?
We will pursue tax exemptions that are consistent with incentives that are typically offered to any business looking to build in downtown St. Louis (or another major city)
Abatement of property tax and exemption from sales tax on construction materials for the stadium construction.
The team will be exempt from the City amusement tax due to currently existing City ordinances (comparable with the Blues and Cardinals).
WHAT DETAILS ARE INCLUDED IN THE RESOLUTION PASSED BY THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN?
While this effort is overwhelmingly privately financed, the Resolution includes specific proposed items that we are discussing with various city agencies, including:
The creation of three 1-percent user-only, stadium-specific sales taxes that will only be paid by those who attend events at the stadium. By state law, these revenues can ONLY be used within the boundaries of the District for certain statutory specific types of expenditures. The taxes are:
A community improvement sales tax (CID)
A Transportation development sales tax (TDD)
A Port improvement sales tax
IS MLS4THELOU REQUESTING TAX CREDITS FROM THE STATE OF MISSOURI?
While this effort is being overwhelmingly privately financed, we are seeking the same infrastructure tax credits that the state could provide any developer, for any project, to help offset infrastructure costs.
WHO MAKES UP THE OWNERSHIP GROUP?
Our ownership group consists of the Taylor Family (Enterprise) and the Kavanaugh Family (World Wide Technology).
Both Enterprise Holdings and World Wide Technology are St. Louis-based companies with histories of business success and community involvement. (Neither company is involved with this proposal.) The Taylor Family has a long-standing commitment to the revitalization of St. Louis and has donated generously to philanthropic and civic efforts in St. Louis City and the region.
WHAT MAKES THIS OWNERSHIP GROUP DIFFERENT?
Led by Carolyn Kindle Betz and other female members of the Taylor Family, a new St. Louis MLS team would be the first majority female-owned club in league history and one of the few in all of professional sports globally.
Jim Kavanaugh is not only a successful businessman and World Wide Technology founder, but he also played professional soccer and was a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic Men's Soccer Team. Jim led the successful effort to bring professional soccer to St. Louis in 2015 with Saint Louis FC of the USL.
The combination of the Taylor Family and Jim Kavanaugh merges a love for St. Louis and a love for soccer and creates an ownership team with strong business, community and soccer credentials.
WHAT ASSISTANCE IS BEING ASKED FROM THE CITY?
We have not requested any direct City revenue to be spent on the project. As part of our updated plan, we will request:
City cooperation in approving certain special districts which will levy sales tax on stadium patrons buying things at the stadium.
Abatement of property tax and exemption from construction related sales taxes as previously discussed.
WHAT ASSISTANCE IS BEING ASKED FROM THE STATE?
The state currently owns the land chosen as the preferred stadium site. We are asking for the state to sell the property at a price reflective of the condition it is being delivered.
Additionally, the financing package relies on certain tax credits form the state, which we are currently discussing.
HOW DOES THE ASSISTANCE OF THIS PROPOSAL DIFFER FROM THE PREVIOUS PROPOSAL?
A much greater percentage of this proposal will be privately financed. We do not intend on requesting Tax Increment Financing (TIF) or any direct citywide tax investment.
This proposal asks for no citywide tax on residents. Only those purchasing tickets and items at the stadium will be paying the tax.
Based on current information, we believe our proposal will request significantly less from the city- and will allow the city to receive new revenue.
IS ANY ASSISTANCE BEING ASKED FROM ST. LOUIS COUNTY OR THE REST OF THE REGION?
At this time no assistance is being sought.
WHERE WILL THE STADIUM BE LOCATED?
Working closely with City officials and architectural team, we believe the area north of Market between 20th and 22nd Streets will provide better access for fans and allow for a broader vision for the development of the stadium and surrounding Downtown West district.
We are confident this will be an ideal location for St. Louis, the team, fans and allow for economic growth through development of this site and the surrounding district.
WHO WILL OWN THE STADIUM AND LAND IT SITS ON?
As part of the updated proposed stadium plan, we will own the stadium and land. After fully reviewing options and conversations with public officials, especially Board of Aldermen President Lewis Reed, we now feel it is the best interest of both the ownership group and the City for stadium and land to be purchased and owned by the team.
We are taking this step to address questions raised by members of the Board of Aldermen and concerns resulting from the City's previous experience with sports venues.
WHO PAYS FOR STADIUM UPKEEP AND REPAIR?
As the stadium and land will be privately owned, the team will pay for all stadium maintenance, repair and upkeep.
HOW MANY GAMES WILL BE PLAYED AT THE STADIUM EACH SEASON? WHAT OTHER EVENTS WILL BE HOSTED THERE?
Currently, MLS plays 17 regular season home games during the season and 3 exhibition games. The open-air venue may also be used for concerts, high school and collegiate tournaments, soccer camps, religious events, e-sports competitions, family shows, etc.
WILL THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE STADIUM MEET THE CITY'S MBE/WBE GOALS?
We take meeting the city's MBE/WBE and workforce goals very seriously and will make it a priority to include local minority- and women-owned businesses on the project.
WILL THE OWNERS USE UNION LABOR?
WILL CITY RESIDENTS WORK ON THIS PROJECT?
We strongly support hiring city residents and will work with its contractors to meet all workforce goals.
HOW MANY JOBS WILL BE CREATED IF A TEAM IS AWARDED TO ST. LOUIS?
Approximately 500 local construction jobs and 450 permanent jobs, working directly or indirectly with the club, will be created.
WHAT WILL THE TEAM BE NAMED?
The team name will be determined in accordance with MLS protocol.
Is Saint Louis FC going to be the team that is brought into the MLS?
No. Saint Louis FC is not being promoted into MLS.