At a news conference, Garber said the league hoped to award its 16th franchise this year, with two more in the future. On Monday, the league awarded its 15th franchise to a Seattle group.

"St. Louis is considered a front- runner for future MLS expansion," Garber said, adding that he speaks with the prospective franchise owners almost daily. "We are big believers in St. Louis. It has a rich tradition dating back to the 1950 World Cup."

Garber said Philadelphia had a strong ownership group, but lacked sufficient government subsidies.

He said the legislature needs to approve the funds. "If that happens, then Philadelphia has an inside track. If it doesn't happen, then Philadelphia can go way down on the list." He was in Washington for tomorrow's MLS Cup championship game between Houston and New England.

There are fewer than 10 legislative session days left in the calendar year, and MLS says it expects to make a final decision by Jan. 31.

The concept of a stadium in Chester has the support of the governor, Garber said.

"I have never sat in a governor's office like I did with Ed Rendell, where he took out a yellow pad and began sketching out ways to produce state funding," Garber said.

Local investors include Jay Sugarman, chief executive officer of the New York-based iStar Financial; James Nevels, a Swarthmore businessman; Wilmington developers Christopher and Robert Buccini and David Pollin; and lawyer William Doran.

Last month, Delaware County agreed to contribute $30 million toward construction of a $115 million soccer-specific stadium on the Chester waterfront. A Delaware County Sports Authority would be created to own the stadium and lease it to the soccer team.

The proposed development would be set on 12 acres, and would include retail and residential components. The projected cost, including the stadium and franchise fee, tops $600 million.

Discussions with the league and developers are ongoing, said Erik Arneson, a spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, who represents Chester City.

"We know there is stiff competition for a franchise, and hope that the legislature will act swiftly so we can put in a competitive package," Chuck Ardo, the spokesman for Rendell, said yesterday.

In St. Louis, potential MLS owner Jeff Cooper played both high school and college soccer. There has been a St. Louis player on every World Cup roster since 1950, according to Cooper's organization.

Associated with him is Michael Huyghue, a former NFL executive who runs a sports management business. Cooper says he has another potential owner lined up, and will name him if a deal is announced.

For now, 400 acres of horseradish fields occupy the site of the proposed stadium in Collinsville, Ill., about 10 minutes from downtown St. Louis. Cooper says the Gateway Arch can be seen from the fields.

The St. Louis plan includes a 18,500-seat soccer-specific stadium, eight other lit fields, two 120-room hotels, retail space, office space, and 1,200 housing units.

"I'm just a huge soccer fan," Cooper said. "I think it is the greatest game in the world. It never made sense to me that St. Louis didn't have a pro soccer team."