Developer Ties Mix Of Uses Into Stadium Plans

"The Collinsville City Council will hear a presentation from East Alton attorney Jeff Cooper about a 400-acre development project that would include an 18,900-seat stadium, a hotel, at least two restaurants, about 1,000 single-family homes, several youth soccer fields and nearly 500,000 square feet of office and retail space."

"When I saw it,' said Collinsville Mayor Stan Schaeffer, 'I was expecting a stadium - and I got a suburb.'"

"If the stadium plan is approved, St. Louis soon could be granted an MLS expansion franchise that would begin play in 2009. Cooper has negotiated extensively with the league about securing a team and is confident that once a stadium deal is done, a team would soon follow."