DES MOINES, Iowa - An effort to bring a United Soccer League (USL) team to Des Moines is getting strong verbal support from the city. "There's some big cities that have USL teams," said Deputy City Manager Matt Anderson. "We're really punching above our weight class in trying to lure a USL team here, but we think that there's certainly the support in Des Moines and Central Iowa to support it."

Anderson thinks a higher level soccer team would appeal to a wide range of age groups. The USL is one notch below the MLS (Major League Soccer) in American soccer, while the existing Des Moines Menace plays in the country's fourth level of the sport.

Krause Group, which is headed by the owners of Kum & Go convenience stores, would own the team. It's now trying to arrange financing for a $95 million stadium complex. It recently purchased land to house the complex on the south-side of Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway and 14th Street near downtown. Krause paid Minneapolis developer George Sherman $7.98 million for the tract.

The city's Anderson notes the site will fill an important requirement of the USL. "One of their requirements of the franchise is that you have a soccer specific stadium," Anderson said. "And obviously to have a soccer specific stadium, you need a site. That's why the importance of this land sale. It clears a very big hurdle in their franchise application of now having a sight."

Krause Group has until April to satisfy the soccer league that there's sufficient support and financing for the USL franchise in Des Moines.

Anderson thinks Krause is smart to propose a complex that includes a multi-use development. "I know that they want to create some public plaza space," said Anderson. "They want to have a real inviting neighborhood, and be a catalyst for that area, and not just have a stadium."

Krause is looking to include restaurants and either housing or a hotel in the complex, which will include a 150,000 square foot building.

The city has no plans to enter into financing of the project.