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Rams Stadium Report: History of Leverage Use to Build Stadiums Runs Deep in NFL (101 ESPN)
Before briefly giving a rundown of how moving threats and the corresponding leverage they invoke have helped get stadiums constructed in several NFL cities over the last 20 years, it’s critical to make one point crystal clear to any of the powers-that-be in St. Louis and the state who are reading this column:
Without a doubt, Rams owner Stan Kroenke – the second-wealthiest owner in the nation’s most prestigious sports league – possesses both the wealth and business acumen to ultimately pull off a move to Los Angeles if necessary steps are not quickly taken by local leadership to ensure the long-term stay of the franchise that brought both a Super Bowl title and the greatest show on turf to the Show-Me State, the St. Louis Rams.
Unlike most of the organizations discussed below, the Rams have a history in L.A. and an owner who is very familiar with the market after sitting on the now-defunct L.A. stadium committee for several years.
Furthermore, Kroenke’s acquisition of 60 acres at long-rumored prospective NFL stadium site Hollywood Park – coupled with his ability to potentially purchase additional acreage there – adds weight to a situation that should have already been taken very, very seriously.
And if all of that isn’t enough to get the full attention of city and state leaders, these individuals need look no further back than 1987 to see absolute proof that a move from the Gateway City really can happen. Leadership should learn from history by studying the sad exodus of the football Cardinals, who departed after failing to secure a new stadium agreement here.
As for the NFL and many of its teams’ astute use of leverage – most often coming from L.A. – even Ice Cube is well aware of how the league has used L.A. to gain stadium deals in other NFL cities over the last 20 years.
The rapper/actor summed up the situation like this, via USA Today Sports:
“Every team has used us (L.A.) to get a new stadium. Every team has , ‘If you don’t build us a new stadium, we’re going to move to L.A.’ Every city gets scared when they hear that and they build that new stadium and the team doesn’t come. I guess until everybody gets a new stadium, that’s just been the story of our lives and then we’ll get a new team.”
But it hasn’t just been L.A. that has been used shrewdly as leverage. San Antonio is another city that has and is (see the Raiders) being used as a threat to spur action in other cities. In the past, Cleveland was used strongly to garner new stadium deals elsewhere.
In “Glory for Sale,” author Jon Morton asserted the following regarding the Browns’ 1996 move to Baltimore: “Directly or indirectly, the Browns’ relocation caused stadiums to be built for the Ravens, the Redskins, the Bengals, the Browns, the Bucs, the Lions and the Seahawks.”
Below, you will find a history of how leverage has assisted a variety of franchises in securing new or revitalized venues since 1995. The following is not necessarily a comprehensive list:
(For details of how a multitude of cities have used L.A. and other cities to help build venues, since 1995, please click here. Hope you enjoy the read, everyone. Thanks for all the support, ROD. I love the interaction in this forum and appreciate you guys):
http://www.101sports.com/2014/09/27/ram ... -deep-nfl/
Before briefly giving a rundown of how moving threats and the corresponding leverage they invoke have helped get stadiums constructed in several NFL cities over the last 20 years, it’s critical to make one point crystal clear to any of the powers-that-be in St. Louis and the state who are reading this column:
Without a doubt, Rams owner Stan Kroenke – the second-wealthiest owner in the nation’s most prestigious sports league – possesses both the wealth and business acumen to ultimately pull off a move to Los Angeles if necessary steps are not quickly taken by local leadership to ensure the long-term stay of the franchise that brought both a Super Bowl title and the greatest show on turf to the Show-Me State, the St. Louis Rams.
Unlike most of the organizations discussed below, the Rams have a history in L.A. and an owner who is very familiar with the market after sitting on the now-defunct L.A. stadium committee for several years.
Furthermore, Kroenke’s acquisition of 60 acres at long-rumored prospective NFL stadium site Hollywood Park – coupled with his ability to potentially purchase additional acreage there – adds weight to a situation that should have already been taken very, very seriously.
And if all of that isn’t enough to get the full attention of city and state leaders, these individuals need look no further back than 1987 to see absolute proof that a move from the Gateway City really can happen. Leadership should learn from history by studying the sad exodus of the football Cardinals, who departed after failing to secure a new stadium agreement here.
As for the NFL and many of its teams’ astute use of leverage – most often coming from L.A. – even Ice Cube is well aware of how the league has used L.A. to gain stadium deals in other NFL cities over the last 20 years.
The rapper/actor summed up the situation like this, via USA Today Sports:
“Every team has used us (L.A.) to get a new stadium. Every team has , ‘If you don’t build us a new stadium, we’re going to move to L.A.’ Every city gets scared when they hear that and they build that new stadium and the team doesn’t come. I guess until everybody gets a new stadium, that’s just been the story of our lives and then we’ll get a new team.”
But it hasn’t just been L.A. that has been used shrewdly as leverage. San Antonio is another city that has and is (see the Raiders) being used as a threat to spur action in other cities. In the past, Cleveland was used strongly to garner new stadium deals elsewhere.
In “Glory for Sale,” author Jon Morton asserted the following regarding the Browns’ 1996 move to Baltimore: “Directly or indirectly, the Browns’ relocation caused stadiums to be built for the Ravens, the Redskins, the Bengals, the Browns, the Bucs, the Lions and the Seahawks.”
Below, you will find a history of how leverage has assisted a variety of franchises in securing new or revitalized venues since 1995. The following is not necessarily a comprehensive list:
(For details of how a multitude of cities have used L.A. and other cities to help build venues, since 1995, please click here. Hope you enjoy the read, everyone. Thanks for all the support, ROD. I love the interaction in this forum and appreciate you guys):
http://www.101sports.com/2014/09/27/ram ... -deep-nfl/
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