Professional soccer teams and a stadium could be in Springfield’s future. But the property the soccer organization has its eyes on — the site of a former quarry and landfill — could complicate development.
Springfield City Council reviewed a feasibility study Tuesday as it explores bringing men’s and a women’s soccer teams to town. A public hearing will be carried over to council’s next meeting, Dec. 16, when council is also expected to vote on a cost-share agreement with United Soccer League to conduct further research on the Queen City’s suitability as a home to professional soccer. The agreement could cost the city up to $75,000, with the research project expected to last at least a year with the potential of extending it twice for six-month terms.
According to its website, USL is the largest professional soccer organization in North America and includes teams such as Phoenix Rising SC and Carolina Ascent FC. The USL is seen as the second-tier league compared to Major League Soccer.
Director of Workforce & Economic Vitality Amanda Ohlensehlen told council the city has been in discussions with USL for a couple of years, though in recent months those conversations were more detailed and also now include a letter of intent. She said the feasibility study would include such topics as market analysis, financial feasibility, site conditions and necessary changes for development. At Tuesday’s meeting, most council members expressed support for the feasibility study and excitement for a potential new draw for the city.
In particular, the feasibility study, and the property that USL is interested in, is focused on possibly building a stadium next to Hammons Field at the corner of National Avenue and Trafficway Street. The property at 1109 E. Trafficway St., is the site of a former quarry that has been the subject a number of other unrealized plans.
The quarry dates back to 1884, according to News-Leader archives, and is estimated to have provided more than billion pounds of rock for area construction. After the quarry was abandoned in 1963, it was opened as a landfill for trade wastes a year later. It did not operate as a landfill long, as it was ordered to stop taking waste in mid-1972. A year later, an underground fire broke out and burned for several weeks, smoldering until 1976 due to the large amount of combustible materials that had been buried there.
Archived News-Leader stories describe murky green water remaining at the quarry for years. The city drained the quarry to assess conditions in 2000 before the city purchased the property along with other surrounding lots to develop Jordan Valley Park in mid-2001.
The city soon filled the quarry in and set off to redevelop the site. The property contains remains from the Colonial Hotel after its demolition in 1997 and material excavated from Great Southern Bank Arena, originally JQH Arena. Initially, ideas were considered for a boathouse with a pond, play areas with water features, or a mixed development with retail and residential, according to past reporting. Ultimately, the city landed on an initial plan for a greenspace park that remains on the spot now — known as The Commons at Jordan Valley — with a gateway plaza and large steel poles. Concept plan recommendations on the city’s website for a second phase still include a condo development, creation of a water feature and inclusion of a carousel.
The quarry continues to exude methane gas from decaying diseased elm trees that were buried there in the 1970s and monitoring wells and collection system remain in place, as they did when the park was constructed in 2010. Throughout the decision-making process, News-Leader reporting points to both a lack of funding and the rapid settling of the land on the former quarry site as reasons the city opted for less ambitious plans for the property.
At Tuesday’s meeting, Councilman Derek Lee questioned the use of the former quarry site and the challenges that may arise from the landscape. Ohlensehlen noted that this would be a part of the feasibility study and highlighted that the city has also completed a more recent geotechnical analysis of the site.
She said the former quarry site is the primary option initially being considered, particularly due to its proximity to the Springfield Cardinals ballpark.
Terracon, a consulting engineering firm, completed a preliminary geotechnical engineering report of the former quarry in July. According to the report provided to the News-Leader, the site can be considered for Seismic Site Class D design and development. This class determines what designs and limits may be required for a structure to comply with the International Building Code.
Seismic Site Class D is assigned to buildings and structures in areas expected to experience severe and destructive ground shaking but not located close to a major fault, which often includes sites with poor soil, according to the ISAT Total Support, a provider of subcontractor services.
The report notes that while building over undocumented fill could be unpredictable and include a larger than normal amount of settling, there are options to provide more support for new structures. Those include:
The engineers recommend either an installation of a ground improvement system or replacement of a portion of the existing fill. The report notes that some of the possible options have been used at other stadiums, including Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Colorado and Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.
The groundwater levels on the site are relatively shallow, meaning the excavation approach would also require permanent dewatering and monitoring. The geotechnical analysis did not include environmental considerations like potential effects of vapor accumulation and disposal requirements for materials removed during construction.
Ohlensehlen said the feasibility study up for council’s consideration will go into further detail and bring more clarifications for what a building footprint could look like or types of structures the land could support.
In its letter of intent, the USL includes some parameters for exploring the pursuit of “a real estate development project that would result in a multi-purpose sports and entertainment district in Springfield anchored by the Stadium.” The letter notes that the stadium would have a minimum of 5,000 seats with the ability to expand to 10,000 seats.
Under the agreement, the stadium would be home to a men’s soccer team in USL’s League One, the second tier for professional soccer in the U.S., and the women’s team to compete within the second tier of the USL women’s professional competition structure. The USL would have sole discretion on such decisions.
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The agreement also notes that while the stadium is being “assessed, remediated, and/or developed,” the city would make its best effort to negotiate a lease agreement with Missouri State University so the USL could use Plaster Stadium, commencing with the 2026 USL League One season until the stadium is complete. This year’s League One regular season ran from March through November.
This move to bring more professional sports to Springfield comes after the inaugural season of the Ozark Lunkers, Springfield’s indoor football team competing within The Arena League. Interest in professional soccer teams is growing among American sports fans. According to a 2023-2024 report by For Soccer, marketing, media and experiences company, those who have been fans for five years or fewer have grown by 57% and the number of completely new fans grew by 400% year-over-year.
Marta Mieze covers local government at the News-Leader. Have feedback, tips or story ideas? Contact her at mmieze@news-leader.com.

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