With a robust practice at Thompson Coburn, Jason Thein was involved with the project to launch St. Louis CITY SC. “I had been involved with the project from inception and it became apparent that I had to give up one or the other,” said Thein. “The ability to work on the sports project, with its community-based mission and vision, was a once-in a lifetime opportunity I could not pass up.”
He now serves as the chief operating officer and general counsel. St. Louis CITY SC is Major League Soccer’s 28th team whose inaugural season was in 2023.
Thein played a critical role in helping the Taylor and Kavanaugh families secure and launch a major league soccer team for St. Louis and was integral in working with the city and state to help the club’s ownership build a $458 million soccer-specific stadium in downtown St. Louis which is part of a 32+ acre campus that houses the team’s training facility, corporate headquarters, team store and three practice fields.
The new home of St. Louis CITY SC is CITYPARK, which is designed to be a gathering place to celebrate the best of St. Louis. “It will reflect many of the region’s most amazing attributes, including its diverse neighborhoods, growing culinary scene, innovative technology, inviting landscape and renewed spirt,” said Thein.
Thein was also an integral part of building the team from the six people that he started in January 2020 to the more than 150 employees the team now has. From the start, Thein was involved in unveiling the club’s crest, logo and branding in 2020 while creating a 24/7/365 fan experience that is furthering St. Louis’ continued growth and revitalization. The organization set the Major League’s Soccer expansion team record with 17 wins and regular season Western Conference title while capturing the heart of an entire region through its fan-friendly and purpose approach to sports.
“We are a very collaborative organization,” said Thein. “Many people throughout the organization, formally and informally, have input into solutions and the various perspectives generally lead to better decision making and outcomes.”
As a leader, Thein combines his background and success that includes named as one of The Best Lawyers in America for Trusts and Estates and his work as a board member of Forest Park Forever at the organization. “My legal training and background give me solid analytical tools to assess problems quickly and provide solutions all while remaining calm under difficult circumstances,” he said.
For his collaboration and contributions to the organization and the city of St. Louis, Thein has been named a Titan 100.
