ST. LOUIS -- Baseball star Albert Pujols added his name to a group working to bring a new Major League Soccer team to St. Louis.
The announcement on Tuesday came a day after Pujols won his second National League MVP award. Pujols' reputation, plus a significant financial investment that was not disclosed, is expected to boost St. Louis Soccer United's chances of winning a franchise in 2011.
"I am very proud and excited to join the effort to bring Major League Soccer to the St. Louis area," Pujols said in a statement. "This means a lot to me and my family, as we all love football and we believe in MLS."
Seven cities are competing for two new teams with selections expected by the end of March. Also applying were Vancouver, Montreal, Atlanta, Miami, Ottawa and Portland.
The Vancouver group also has star power, including two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash.
The St. Louis group believes that adding Pujols, the highest paid player in St. Louis Cardinals history with two years to go on a seven-year, $100 million contract, will eliminate doubts about its financial footing and encourage area business leaders to become involved.
The team would play in an 18,500-seat stadium yet to be built in Collinsville, Illinois, near St. Louis.
"This is something that will be great for our community, especially our youth," Pujols said. "St. Louis is an unbelievable sports town and we'll be a great city for Major League Soccer."
The St. Louis group submitted a formal bid for a new franchise on Oct. 15. Majority investor Jeff Cooper said other investors will be announced soon.
The stadium plan also calls for 12 synthetic turf fields and a professional grass training field designed to host regional, national and international youth football events.
Collinsville approved a tax increment financing deal in January, and groundbreaking will take place once the city is awarded a franchise.
