Kroenke Messing with St Louis?

[Selassie I]

Hedging his bet / debt.

 

[Rambitious1]

You're saying it all so matter of fact...This would be huge dissention if the Rams move back....Dealt with it once, it's not fun.

That's just the way I see it. I dealt with it once too...I've been a Rams fan since 1970.
I'm not saying I want the Rams to move. Not at all.
Just saying that Stan wants a nice or new stadium for his team to play in.
Whether that's in St. Louis, Los Angeles or somewhere else is a question of geography.
I don't think Stan is "messing" with St. Louis, I just think he's trying to get the best deal he can.

 

[Rambitious1]

I agree, no doubt. However the recent article by Sam Farmer and the Commissioner's comments earlier aren't just directed at St Louis, but also San Diego and Oakland to get their act together, and for leverage for the Bills that there is an LA presence looming for potential buyers.

Stalter brought up a good point - this situation is a win-win for Kroenke. He will either get a new stadium in St Louis or LA. I still believe that the future is in St Louis, however for once, I would like to hear some positive news for any momentum towards a stadium solution in St Louis. We are constantly bombarded with the threat of the LA market, just like Minnesota, Indianapolis, and a host of other cities before us. I do remember one thing that Demoff said in a recent interview that the stadium situation could hit "rock bottom" before there is a solution, but still believes that the future of the franchise is in St Louis. I am just curious what "rock bottom" means.

Stay tuned, this could get a lot more dicey before it is all said and done.

I agree.

 

[RhodyRams]

ESK is one of the top 10 land owners in the country...lets not lose sight of the fact that he is a business man also

 

[mr.stlouis]

All Wal-Marts need parking space...

 

[RK3]

ESK is one of the top 10 land owners in the country...lets not lose sight of the fact that he is a business man also

Yep. A business man whose business is real estate. For those that are only familiar with his sports team ownership:
http://www.thfrealty.com/our-team/thf-management-team?phpMyAdmin=763eeb501a695a609003a72b2b6f8c36

 

[moklerman]

The problem with your last paragraph is that his real estate company specializes in suburban development. So I doubt he would hold onto the land to sell to another owner. The land was slated to become a residential neighborhood in the first place, so maybe he's just going to continue with that plan.

We won't know until shovels break ground.

I think that particular land was slated to be a Wal-Mart supercenter but the citizens of the area voted it down. It's been in a holding pattern so to speak and Wal-Mart finally got tired of fighting that battle and sold the land.

What's interesting to me is that Stan didn't get a family discount and just pick it up because he had the inside track. His company had to outbid Goldman-Sachs I think who wanted to acquire the land and further develop the Forum site or add a parking lot or something. The point being, Stan had to pony up some dough to get that land and win it. It isn't going to be a Wal-Mart so is he thinking of putting a residential neighborhood there?

 

[ramsince62]

You're saying it all so matter of fact...This would be huge dissention if the Rams move back....Dealt with it once, it's not fun.

Dissension, where? In St. Louis....probably. At the same time, LA is a huge market and with a new stadium, in an accessible area, it becomes an attractive alternative to the present situation.

 

[Robocop]

i live in Skins country so I dont have much to say on the matter but im sure the Missouri fans here arent thrilled. Either way since Kroenke entered the picture it seems like things have only been getting better. New strong front office and new head coach etc. Im sure (or at least hoping) he has good intentions. At least no doubt the Rams would finally get their fair share of media coverage if they did go back to LA. idk what kind of disruption team wise or negative effect it would have on the teams progress but as long as the Rams keep heading down the right path im pretty neutral on the matter.

 

[den-the-coach]

I love Stan and all his billions and he's not Georgia, however, all of a sudden I feel like I'm in the Twilight Zone...Willoughby next stop....Willoughby!

 

[OldRock]

Just seems to me that Stan knows a thing or two about playing poker. What successful gambler is going to show his cards until the bidding is over with. Until then, just a lot of speculation going on.

 

[Thordaddy]

Nothing new to say.

 

[moklerman]

Nothing new to say.

Kroenke trying to buy up more land in Hollywood Park was news to me.

 

[Thordaddy]

Kroenke trying to buy up more land in Hollywood Park was news to me.

Shouldn't have been, it's what he does,he would like to own twice what he has now everywhere,not just LA , but the "Rams are/aren't moving to LA" has no new things to say" so your response wasn't in dispute of what I said so no need to quote it.

 

[moklerman]

Shouldn't have been, it's what he does,he would like to own twice what he has now everywhere,not just LA , but the "Rams are/aren't moving to LA" has no new things to say" so your response wasn't in dispute of what I said so no need to quote it.

So if he buys the White House it isn't newsworthy because that's just what he does? Gimme a break. It isn't just "that" he's buying land, it's "what" he plans to do with it. In this case, it's very topical considering the NFL is considering the site for potential stadiums and that the site has already rejected as a Wal-Mart super center.

 

[LazyWinker]

Maybe he's part of the new ownership of the MLS club Chivas USA. They recently were bought out by MLS because of seriously poor ownership. Maybe this has been already discussed and I'm late to the party, but it makes about as much sense as the Rams moving at this point.

The new ownership is supposedly "a Mexican businessman, and a wealthy American executive."

http://www.thegoatparade.com/2014/4...nounced-after-world-cup-san-cadilla-la-aztecs

Edit: just remembered he already owns an MLS club, so this seems doubtful.

Like others have said, Kroenke is a business man, it's not like the Rams are the only venture he owns, he's got multiple teams and businesses all in the business of needing land.

Perhaps he's decided the Nuggets need a new home?

I remember reading somewhere, when Stan first picked up that land, that it could be used to build a home for a farm team for the Arsenal. I don't think Stan ever says anything really so he just inspires a lot of speculating.

 

[candyman4881]

I remember reading somewhere, when Stan first picked up that land, that it could be used to build a home for a farm team for the Arsenal. I don't think Stan ever says anything really so he just inspires a lot of speculating.

Correct, and for those that want Stan to come out and say SOMETHING (myself included), realistically, he isn't going to until he has to.

He has St Louis, LA, and the entire NFL speculating and worrying about what he is actually going to do, and what has he done exactly? Bought 90 acres of land that has been in Wal-Mart's hands for the last 10 years, and instead of letting that property go, he purchased it through one of his holding companies. He has also looked into buying the land next to it, and now speculation has run wild. There are a number of things he could do with that site, building a NFL and/or MLS stadium on that property could be one of those, flipping the land to someone else is another, building another huge retail center (like one his company THF built in Brighton, Colorado on 396 acres - http://www.thfrealty.com/our-properties/colorado), or another reason as he seems fit.

I have my reasons why I believe the Rams will stay here, a number of which I have gone through multiple times so I wont bore you again, however at some point, the stadium solution will be resolved one way or another.

 

[TexRamFan]

Correct, and for those that want Stan to come out and say SOMETHING (myself included), realistically, he isn't going to until he has to.

He has St Louis, LA, and the entire NFL speculating and worrying about what he is actually going to do, and what has he done exactly? Bought 90 acres of land that has been in Wal-Mart's hands for the last 10 years, and instead of letting that property go, he purchased it through one of his holding companies. He has also looked into buying the land next to it, and now speculation has run wild. There are a number of things he could do with that site, building a NFL and/or MLS stadium on that property could be one of those, flipping the land to someone else is another, building another huge retail center (like one his company THF built in Brighton, Colorado on 396 acres - http://www.thfrealty.com/our-properties/colorado), or another reason as he seems fit.

I have my reasons why I believe the Rams will stay here, a number of which I have gone through multiple times so I wont bore you again, however at some point, the stadium solution will be resolved one way or another.

I agree Candy. The THF website is interesting and in my opinion speaks loudly of all their (and Stan's) intentions. They are not "flippers". They buy to own, hold and develop. They even state under the "THF Way" that "We're a long-term player. We seek out the best projects, execute flawlessly, and create projects that ultimately enhance the communities where we live, work and play. THF still owns and manages the first property we built. And the second one. And virtually all the others."



I too believe they will stay in STL although things will get interesting. But honestly no-one knows for sure as so many turns and twists could develop. This speculated purchase IMO fits the mold and model of THF and is very similar to the Colorado project Candy mentions. This is a no-brainer move in my opinion not only because it can be used for development (like his company does) and it has the added benefit of making everyone in St. Louis nervous and everyone in LA excited.

We all have our opinions and unfortunately I don't think any of us will find out for a few years.

 

[ZigZagRam]

The whole situation is very transparent.

Kroenke wants a new stadium here. If Kroenke gets what he wants, then the Rams aren't going anywhere. If our civic leaders in St. Louis don't see enough value in an NFL franchise to build a new stadium, then the Rams will go back to Los Angeles.

 

[mr.stlouis]

The whole situation is very transparent.

Kroenke wants a new stadium here. If Kroenke gets what he wants, then the Rams aren't going anywhere. If our civic leaders in St. Louis don't see enough value in an NFL franchise to build a new stadium, then the Rams will go back to Los Angeles.

I don't think that cut and dry. If tax money is what he's after, who's to say California would give him any more than us? It's a real crap fest.