He said the group would work with local leaders, MLS officials and ownership candidates, “whether they’re here in St. Louis or elsewhere.”

“It’s a signal, to a potential owner or owners, that there’s a group here in St. Louis committed to working with them toward the arrival of an expansion franchise,” he continued.

It’s unclear how the group’s formation will affect possible stadium sites.

Garber has often said that urban MLS stadiums have done well for their teams. This month, he told the Post-Dispatch he was “very excited” by the St. Louis north riverfront site chosen by Peacock and Gov. Jay Nixon’s National Football League stadium task force.

Woodcock acknowledged the league’s interest in downtown sites, and said the north riverfront is certainly on their list. “This is the trend,” he said. “I think the ideal scenario for St. Louis is to be part of that trend.”

Still, he said the group would “conduct a thorough exploration of potential stadium sites. We’re not going to limit our thinking.”

The full group exploring MLS has nine members, according to Woodcock. It also includes Rob Ebert, a partner at Bryan Cave, Vicky Lynch, of Lynch Sports and Events, and Woodcock himself.

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