New: Latest on Kroenke, Rams and NFL in STL

[RamFan503]

Stadium Discussion

 

[mr.stlouis]

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/...5170-a93d-fd7c52e4f431.html?mobile_touch=true

2 large St. Louis business councils wrote a letter to the NFL to let them know they were in the market for seats and suites.

The Regional Business Council, a group of 100 area chief executives
Civic Progress, made up of the region's largest employers.

*tried to copy the story here, but it wouldn't let me copy it...I guess Stltoday is going hard on the money grab looking for clicks.

That sounds incredibly positive. Chalk another one up for STL. They've been on a positive trend lately. Seems like only blatant greed can take our Rams away. Not sure the NFL can tarnish its image to that degree. STL will be like a massive NFL grave site if they move with this much interests. Oh the hypocracy of big money...

 

[Goose]

 

[Goose]

Civic Progress, Regional Business Council weigh in on new NFL stadium
David Hunn
ST. LOUIS • The region’s two largest and most influential business associations are throwing their weight behind the proposal to build a new football stadium downtown.

The Regional Business Council, a group of 100 area chief executives, and Civic Progress, made up of executives from the region’s largest employers, wrote separate letters to National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell in recent days — and hinted they were in the market for seats and suites.

The Business Council’s letter praised Gov. Jay Nixon’s two-man task force for its “impressive work in a very short period of time” on the $985 million open-air Mississippi riverfront proposal.


“In short, St. Louis loves the Rams and the NFL and the St. Louis Regional Business Council is committed to keeping the Rams and NFL forever a part of the rich fabric of our city and region,” the council representatives wrote. The letter was signed by Ascension President Tony Tersigni, chairman of the council, among others.

Civic Progress threw the group’s “strongest and unqualified support” behind the stadium task force. “Our best years as an NFL city and the home of the Rams are ahead of us,” its letter said, signed by Executive Director Tom Irwin.

And both groups made certain to mention their members’ current suites, seats and sponsorships.

A spokesman for the NFL said a representative was not available to comment this week.

Former Anheuser-Busch executive and current stadium task force member Dave Peacock said the letters were just one sign of support he expected in coming weeks.

“It’s progress,” he said. “Business guys aren’t going to get excited about something unless they think it’s going to happen. Unless it has real traction.”

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/...cle_f17b17d7-51e3-5170-a93d-fd7c52e4f431.html

 

[RamFan503]

Already posted but thanks. I wonder if they'll publish that list. It might be good to for the local citizens to see the companies supporting the project.

 

[ChrisW]

Already posted but thanks. I wonder if they'll publish that list. It might be good to for the local citizens to see the companies supporting the project.

It looks like Kroenke and Demoff both belong to one of those list of businesses. Kinda ironic, don't ya think?

 

[RamFan503]

It looks like Kroenke and Demoff both belong to one of those list of businesses. Kinda ironic, don't ya think?

Maybe not. We still may all be discounting the idea that this is still more a leverage play and also helping the NFL get things moving on a couple of stagnant stadium issues. If the NFL can get a deal worked out to have new stadiums for the Raiduhs and Chargers AND the Rams, it sounds like a pretty sweet play for the NFL. In all this, the entity that probably can't really lose is the NFL and its owners. We're talking about billionaires working in cahoots to get the best deals they can get for billionaires - right?

 

[bluecoconuts]

Already posted but thanks. I wonder if they'll publish that list. It might be good to for the local citizens to see the companies supporting the project.

I would imagine so. I wonder how many seats and suites they would get though? Also I wonder how much stock the NFL puts in "hinting" and suites vs saying they'd put money down. Either way, can't imagine it hurts St Louis with convincing the NFL of their viability.

 

[RamFan503]

I would imagine so. I wonder how many seats and suites they would get though? Also I wonder how much stock the NFL puts in "hinting" and suites vs saying they'd put money down. Either way, can't imagine it hurts St Louis with convincing the NFL of their viability.

Besides, I don't really know why large companies in the St Louis area that purchased suites and seats last year would not do it the following year or years after if they knew the Rams or at least another NFL team would be there in the new stadium. My guess is that there would be even more. Maybe if some were on the way out of business but that would likely be pretty few for large businesses unless they were internet start ups.

 

[LazyWinker]

Yeah Michael was the best shooting guard that ever played but Magic was the best all around basketball player that ever played. We saw that Phil could win without MJ. Too bad MJ never showed he could win without Phil. Meanwhile, Magic proved it wasn't about coaching and did whatever the TEAM needed. No wonder he didn't win so many popularity contests when some games he would have only a few points to go with his 20 assists and 10 boards. Add to that, beating AIDS and making millions of dollars by being a smart businessman ( not a degenerate gambler ) while putting together a group that bought the Dodgers and returned them to the top draw in the MLB. Michael was a top notch one trick pony.

Also... Magic was and is a Laker. Consider it topped.

Deduct points for the Magic Hour!!!!!!!

I'm not a big NBA fan but the next superstar is starting to blossom, Anthony Davis!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He's fun to watch. He blocks shots, shoots baskets, rebounds, hustles, and he wears a unibrow proudly.

Heck, maybe they can move the Nuggets to St Louis to help avoid the cross ownership issue

I do like Kenneth Faried. He was a joy to watch in college. I believe he holds the NCAA record for rebounds.

 

[Hacksaw]

Sounds like their are many local executives willing to back the deal. This has the sound of a possible stadium which would be great for StL (team or no team) just from the clean up alone.

I get the position about getting it funded and making it difficult/impossible for Stan to do his LA thing. I still can't get how this is going to work where a multi-billionaire owner is being forced to pay and go against his will. His presumed will that is. I get the " billionaire club" aspect but this is the real world of big business too.

If he and the league ARE using us LA football fans as leverage pawns again, the NFL will be a bit closer to dead to me. I'm over that. Especially after foolishly getting our hopes up AGAIN! FGF!
And SD / Oak, no matter what, please keep your teams right where they are! Don't come to LA.


MJ vs Magic . A closer comparison would be MJ vs Kobe. They were similar players at the same position.
Magic was a charismatic freak of nature PG at 6' 9" who had average physical skills but possessed an infectious ability to make every other player around him better. THE team guy who along with Larry Bird has been given credit for saving the modern NBA.
MJ was a freak of nature SG with his hops, big hands and killer instinct (see Kobe). Once he developed his 'J' he was unstoppable. Phil put together a good team around his 'Airness" and the rest is history.
Different players who brought W's in different ways.
Still, as a huge Magic fan, in a game of 1 on 1, my money is on MJ.

 

[ChrisW]

I still can't get how this is going to work where a multi-billionaire owner is being forced to pay and go against his will.

Can you tell me without a doubt what Stan's will is?

Also, they can't make him pay into a new stadium in STL, but the league can make him stay (with monetary penalties if he moves without yes votes) in the dome until he wants to put up some money for a new stadium in STL.

 

[Hacksaw]

Can you tell me without a doubt what Stan's will is?
Also, they can't make him pay into a new stadium in STL, but the league can make him stay (with monetary penalties if he moves without yes votes) in the dome until he wants to put up some money for a new stadium in STL.

I still can't get how this is going to work where a multi-billionaire owner is being forced to pay and go against his will. His presumed will that is. I get the " billionaire club" aspect but this is the real world of big business too.

I get that ChrisW. ^

The second part of your post you're saying, "they can't make him pay into a new stadium in STL" but then you go on to say " but the league can make him stay (with monetary penalties if he moves without yes votes) in the dome until he wants to put up some money for a new stadium in STL."
So basically they aren't forcing him to, they just aren't giving him any other choice.
This is exactly what I find hard to grasp.

 

[ChrisW]

This is exactly what I find hard to grasp.

Ok. So you think that he'll be able to move just because of the stadium in LA? Or he'll be able to do whatever he wants?

I'm just trying to understand your angle.

 

[BigRamFan]

I think it's worth noting that the Bulls came within a whisker of going to the Finals without MJ while he was playing baseball and most likely would have won the title too.

If I could select any 5 guys to fill the 5 spots on a team as starters they'd both be on the team but I would consider Magic more important.

Then you'd be wrong @LesBaker !

 

[RamFan503]

Still, as a huge Magic fan, in a game of 1 on 1, my money is on MJ.

Too bad for MJ fans (Craig) that 1 on 1 is not a professional sport.

 

[dieterbrock]

Ok. So you think that he'll be able to move just because of the stadium in LA? Or he'll be able to do whatever he wants?

I'm just trying to understand your angle.

Am I reading you correctly? That your assumption is that if Kroenke doesn't agree to put in his 200+ mill, (therefore nullifying the 200 mill G4), and the project cant be built without that 400-450 mill owner supplied funding, that he'd be stuck playing in the dome?

If so, I think that might be Kroenke's end game. If the stadium cant be built without his financial support, then he can argue that it's his right to go where he wants to invest?

I think it's check mate if Peacock plan doesn't need any funding from SK. Cant see how any owner would vote for a move to LA if St Louis is ready to build without a penny of his money.
Then he's beat, because without investing any $$, he certainly cant earn any residual.

 

[ChrisW]

Am I reading you correctly? That your assumption is that if Kroenke doesn't agree to put in his 200+ mill, (therefore nullifying the 200 mill G4), and the project cant be built without that 400-450 mill owner supplied funding, that he'd be stuck playing in the dome?

If so, I think that might be Kroenke's end game. If the stadium cant be built without his financial support, then he can argue that it's his right to go where he wants to invest?

I think it's check mate if Peacock plan doesn't need any funding from SK. Cant see how any owner would vote for a move to LA if St Louis is ready to build without a penny of his money.
Then he's beat, because without investing any $$, he certainly cant earn any residual.

That's not the way it works. Kroenke has shown that he's willing to shell out plenty of capital to build a stadium in LA. He can't just turn down a half funded stadium in St. Louis because he wants LA.

If the NFL sees STL's plan as viable, then Kroenke will have to stay put in the dome until he puts up the money to help the city. That is, of course, if he doesn't get the yes votes to move.

 

[rams2050]

dieterbrock wrote: Cant see how any owner would vote for a move to LA if St Louis is ready to build without a penny of his money.
Then he's beat, because without investing any $$, he certainly cant earn any residual.

I hope you're right; would that not scenario offer the perfect example of 'poetic justice?'

Of course, I'm still hoping that Stan hasn't really decided to desert the fans and city of St. Louis. I guess we will continue to see this thing being played out in the media until it is resolved, one way or the other.

 

[bluecoconuts]

That's not the way it works. Kroenke has shown that he's willing to shell out plenty of capital to build a stadium in LA. He can't just turn down a half funded stadium in St. Louis because he wants LA.

If the NFL sees STL's plan as viable, then Kroenke will have to stay put in the dome until he puts up the money to help the city. That is, of course, if he doesn't get the yes votes to move.

Sure he can, they can't force him to accept a stadium he doesn't want. The NFL can't really force him to do anything, they can deter him from moving by withholding things, but if he decides to just go anyway, short of a lawsuit, there's really not much they can do. I don't even know if they could force him to pay any fines without a lawsuit. Plus if they forced Stan he could tank the St Louis market out of spite. It's an extreme option of course, I don't think he would or would want to, but they can't make him put money into the city.