The Post Dispatch has a Sunday story laying out what the writer believes is the value of the Rams to St. Louis, economically in relation to Jones Dome improvements/renovations. The conclusion is what the Rams bring to St. Louis is hard to balance with the cost of the stadium work.
Well, it might just be that it won't matter. Friday the Los Angeles city council voted 12-0 to approve plans for a downtown football stadium. It doesn't take much thinking to read the tea leaves there.
The Rams may need to hurry. The Chargers are demanding a new stadium, and they have a clause in the lease that would allow them to move. It's long been thought that it's all a ploy to allow the Chargers to move back to Los Angeles.
Posted by: Rand | September 30, 2012 at 10:59 AM
Then Maybe San Diego will get the Rams. I'd bet someone will
Posted by: Diane Meyer | September 30, 2012 at 11:18 AM
Whatever city and it's taxpayers are ready to pony up big bucks. That won't be San Diego. Any expenditure of more than $50M must be approved by the voters and that won't happen here. And ANY tax increase must be approved by 2/3 of the voters. Can't even get that done for schools here.
Posted by: Rand | September 30, 2012 at 06:57 PM
The stadium demands by pro owners are interesting if you look at it from the point of view of various cities. Some will do nothing others do everything. Only one franchise I can think of built a new stadium without public money and that was San Francisco. In St. Louis it is hard to believe that Kroenke can't afford to do whatever he wants and not even notice a drop off in funds.
Posted by: Diane Meyer | September 30, 2012 at 08:30 PM
Read up on the LA proposal today. Looks like it will largely be privately funded by one company (AEG) including all infrastructure needs. But it's not a done deal. Seems they are depending on NFL granting them a team by March, and there is another proposed stadium in nearby Industry, CA.
Maybe LA will get the Rams and the Chargers!
Posted by: Rand | September 30, 2012 at 11:08 PM