Fans packed into The Factory on Sunday afternoon as St. Louis City SC formally kicked off the season with their annual City Live event. The sold out crowd was treated to a program emceed by Apple TV’s Taylor Twellman. That program was highlighted by appearances from Roman Bürki, Marcel Hartel, Eduard Löwen, Célio Pompeu, Tomáš Ostrák and Simon Becher but also featured conversations with owner and CEO Carloyn Kindle, Sporting Director Lutz Pfannenstiel, President and General Manager Diego Gigliani, Head Coach Olof Mellberg, Chief Experience Officer Matt Sebek and St. Louis soccer legends Lori Chalupny, Al Trost and Daryl Doran. Those in attendance were also able to get the first taste of the new chants that will be introduced by the Fleur de Noise and other supporters groups for the upcoming season, grab official club merchandise and some extra items from several of City’s sponsoring partners.
Kindle kicked off the event, laying the foundation for her expectations for the upcoming campaign. “Going into year three, I am beyond pumped,” She said. “it’s going to be an amazing season. With the players, the coaching staff; we are are a team that’s here to win. We want to make you all proud and that’s the commitment that the entire team has made for 2025.” Kindle has said previously, on the City Voice, that the expectation this season is to make the playoffs. The club has a chip on its’ collective shoulder and will be out to prove they were not a one-season wonder after exceeding expectations so much in their inaugural season.
Club President and General Manager Diego Gigliani and Chief Experience Officer Matt Sebek were the next to the stage and wasted no time in expanding on the clubs’ definition of success. “We want to be competing for trophies,” Gigliani said. “That’s what everyone wants. That’s what our ownership group wants and I know that’s what the city expects from its’ sports teams,” he continued. “Competing for trophies obviously means qualifying for playoffs. That is our goal going into the season.”
While success on the pitch is the ultimate goal, the club did take a moment Sunday to acknowledge an award they won off the field of play in 2024. St. Louis claimed the Match Presentation Team of the Year award in December; something that Sebek and others are proud of. But now the challenge is how to make it even better. “We gotta be bigger, bolder and brighter,” he said. “Home field advantage is a real thing in this league, we have it and some people don’t. So for us, it’s to preserve that; to hold on to it,” he continued. “There’s more smoke, more fire; but ultimately it’s up to you to create the noisiest atmosphere in Major League Soccer and bring it every single Saturday.”
The conversation between the trio shifted back onto the pitch as Twellman asked Gigliani for some insight into new manager Olof Mellberg; who was known by many across the globe as a world class defender in the Premier League. “I can tell you he is ultra competitive,” he said. “He has taken that competitiveness, as a center back and as a captain, and now he’s a competitive advantage. That’s what I love to see; someone with fire, with passion, with drive and desire. And I’m sure he’s going to bring that to this amazing set of players,” he said. “We’ve got such a strong team that is now coupled with a very competitive manager with an amazing club and fan base behind it; we hope it’s going to be a great season.”
Following a conversation about St. Louis soccer history and impact made by Lori Chalupny, Al Trost and Daryl Doran fans were given their first chance to greet the new clubs’ new gaffer, Olof Mellberg who was joined on stage by Sporting Director Lutz Pfannenstiel. Together, they gave fans a sense of what style they will see on the pitch this season. “Hard working, organized,” Mellberg said. When asked about the job, the new manager cited hearing about the match day experience at Energizer Park, which Pfannenstiel described as a blessing. “I always call it unconditional support,” he said. “Last year, when things were not that good you came out and supported us unconditionally. When we had that last home game Marcel Hartel and Cedi Teuchert asked ‘did we win something? Or is there something wrong because the people celebrate us like we just won a championship in Germany.’ That can only happen in St. Louis guys” he concluded before the pair were joined by several players from the club.
Team captain, Roman Bürki led Edu Löwen, Célio Pompeu, Marcel Hartel, Tomáš Ostrák and Simon Becher on stage to a raucous ovation from those in attendance. Of course, the City goalkeeper was the first to give his verdict on the preseason and the club heading into the opening match weekend. “[We’re] pretty confident,” he said. “I really like what I see in training. I think the team off the field, on the field is something that i have never experienced,” Bürki continued. “The way we are so close together; how we help each other and be there for each other when its getting tough.”
City’s most progressive on field performer last season was midfielder Edu Löwen. The German maestro was the key to moving the team into the attacking third of the field and feels he’s poised to be even better in this upcoming season after the disappointment of 2024. “I feel like I’m more ambitious than I have been before,’ he said. “We have a new coach who is challenging us every day, we had a really productive and really good preseason. We are growing together as a team and we want to achieve something.”
Ostrák and Pompeu were also bright spots early in the 2024 season before both suffered season ending injuries. As the preseason wrapped up, one of the biggest questions fans were waiting to find an answer for is “when would they be ready?” The answer, is Saturday; and both are fired up for the opener. “100%,” Pompeu said to send the crowd into a frenzy. “I want to say thank you guys,” he continued. “It was a tough moment for when I got injured, but you guys sent me letters and messages that really helped me a lot; so I’m very grateful for that. I’m more hungry; I feel like I’m a dog starving and I’m happy to be back.” Ostrák also fired up the crowd, telling those in attendance “I am ready. It was a tough injury for me, but like Célio, I am 100% back,” he said.
Marcel Hartel and Simon Becher joined the club during the summer transfer window as the first major squad overhaul in City history took shape. The midfielder and striker were immediate impact players for the club as the duo provided a combined 12 goal contributions over the final stretch. Becher believes the club is ready to hit the ground running next weekend. “The team is hungry, we’re starving,” he said. “We can’t wait to get out and give back some of the energy you give us.”
St. Louis closed the preseason with a 2-2-2 record following a 2-1 loss in a closed door friendly with San Jose on Saturday. A mixed bag of results shows there are still some improvements to be made according to Mellberg. “Our defending has been quite good,” he said. “Conceded very few goals during preseason and few chances against. I think improvements; going forward. We want to create more chances and score more goals and we have to. We haven’t created enough during preseason,” he continued. “I think it will come, we have another week now to prepare; so really working on the details.”
City opens the 2025 MLS regular season on Saturday, February 22nd against Colorado Rapids at Energizer Park.
You can find more photos and videos from the 2025 City Live event here.
Taking his passion for soccer and St. Louis to the next level, Jeremy aims to provide analytical coverage of all this St. Louis City SC.
