SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) – On Monday night, Springfield City Council will meet for the second reading of Special Ordinance 28083, which would terminate the current Cost-Share Agreement the city has with the United Soccer League (USL) and extend the Letter of Intent to bring professional men’s and women’s soccer to the Queen City.
In 2024, the city of Springfield announced a “feasibility study” with the USL to bring professional teams to the city. After two years, the city needs more time to ensure the plan works.
In the original plan, city council voted yes on the feasibility study, splitting the $150,000 with the USL through a cost-share agreement, each paying $75,000. However, this new agreement will extend that study period through the end of 2027, with the option to extend it for six months twice.
The council has already allocated funds for the study, but under the new agreement, any amount over the original $75,000 will be paid from the city manager’s contingency fund.
“With this opportunity, we’ll really continue to look at how we can support sports tourism, how we can have more venues that help us to attract people to want to live, work and play here in Springfield,” said Amanda Ohlensehlen, the Director of Economic Vitality for the City of Springfield. “We’ll continue to look at market studies and overall feasibility so we can have a viable plan that can hopefully move forward.”
The city and the USL have a site in mind for this stadium, on a city-owned piece of property on East Traffic Way Street; however, once plans are finalized and construction is ongoing, the teams could play on the Missouri State field.
While the “feasibility study” is underway, the city would aim to have the men’s and women’s teams play at Robert W. Plaster Stadium on Missouri State’s campus.
“The United Soccer League will look at where they could play, so looking at other potential options for how to roll out those leagues here in Springfield,” said Ohlensehlen. “The United Soccer League has continued to grow across the country, and Springfield remains a high priority location for them.”
In the agreement, the stadium must have 5,000 seats, with the ability to expand to 10,000.
City Council will meet Monday at 6:30 p.m.
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