Peacock: Region controls NFL destiny in St. Louis
• By David Hunn
http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/...cle_71708725-37ca-5ace-897e-708a2a8b3a98.html
ST. LOUIS • A leader of the local effort to build a new riverfront stadium insisted on Wednesday that the region is in charge of its own destiny and can keep a National Football League team in St. Louis regardless of Rams owner Stan Kroenke's efforts to move to Los Angeles.
"The only thing that can get in our way is ourselves, as a region," said Dave Peacock, co-leader of Gov. Jay Nixon's stadium task force. "If we can come together, we can get this done."
Peacock spoke in response to this week's NFL meeting, during which Kroenke captivated team owners with his plan to build a new home for the Rams in Inglewood, Calif.
Owners also heard from a competing effort, by the San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders, to build a stadium in Carson, Calif., just a few miles south of Inglewood. The NFL hasn't had a team in Los Angeles since the Raiders and Rams left two decades ago. The league is not considering three teams in L.A.
Kroenke's presentation, however, seemed a step ahead of Carson's, said several league owners, observers and executives. Kroenke had detailed stadium drawings, and wowed owners with a polished presentation. One owner called it "exciting" and "sexy."
But Peacock told the Post-Dispatch on Wednesday morning that NFL owners and executives have repeatedly reiterated that St. Louis is still largely in control of its own future — a point they reinforced in Chicago this week.
He said the task force was making consistent progress on plans for a $998 million open-air riverfront stadium.
Land acquisition is ongoing. There are no holdouts who aren't in ongoing discussions with the task force, Peacock said. The team has submitted tax credit applications to the state, and will soon send another, requesting money to help clean up site pollution, perhaps this week.
Both Peacock and Mayor Francis Slay have said they hope to have a financing package to the city's Board of Aldermen when the legislators return from summer break in about a month. They both also committed to giving the board a vote on the package.
The architecture firm HOK continues to develop site plans, Peacock said.
And he does not anticipate trouble securing funding from the state. The state currently pays $12 million a year to debt and upkeep at the Edward Jones Dome, where the Rams now play. Nixon has committed to continuing those payments in support of the new stadium. Several lawmakers have sued Nixon in Cole County, alleging Nixon does not have that authority without a Legislative vote.
Peacock said the task force is waiting for that ruling, but doesn't now believe Nixon needs Legislative action to fund the new stadium.
"These can all be done now," he said. "Nothing is really hindering us on financing from the state."
Moreover, Peacock said, he has been meeting with NFL owners, coast to coast, to ensure they understand St. Louis's stadium plan.
With that news, however, came a warning. "Unnecessary lawsuits" could slow progress, he said. He begged the Legislature to better understand stadium economics. And corporations, he said, must put their money behind their words.
Given all that, Peacock said, "we should have football here long-term."
"Those are things over which we, as a region, have influence and control," he said.
Peacock said he was recently talking with former Rams star Aeneas Williams, now a pastor who has worked recently to ease unrest in Ferguson. Williams said to him, "There are so many things that divide our community," Peacock remembered. "I don't know why we'd let an asset go that we cheer for together."
Owners and executives said this week they expect a final vote on team relocation in January.
Peacock said the St. Louis project will be ready to turn dirt shortly thereafter.
