St. Lous Rejects Rams Proposal for Renovation Gives Team Out Opportunity

((ht: stltoday.com))

Yes, there already is lots of buzz about this in Los Angeles. While the Lakers may have lost Dwight Howard, the city may have the opportunity to regain their Rams.

That's because of the renewed impasse between the St. Louis Rams and the organization operating the Edward Jones Dome.

The team and the Convention and Visitors Commission have been haggling for two years now over renovations to the dome. A clause in the contract between the two parties stipulates the stadium needs to be a top facility among NFL stadiums.

It apparently isn't.

The Rams submitted a proposal, that would've cost the city some $700 million that they don't have, the city countered with a $200 million proposal that was a bit more doable.

The case went to arbitration, and the Rams won.

The new part of this ongoing battle is the CVC telling the Rams this week we're willing to negotiate but won't and can't do a $700 million renovation.

Read more from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch RIGHT HERE

The Hollywood Reporter has a Los Angeles perspective RIGHT HERE

Here's what this means to you:

If you live in St. Louis, there's a really good chance your team could leave. The impasse gives the Rams an out. The lease on the stadium becomes a year-to-year deal beginning in 2014. And the Rams can decided whether or not they want to stay.

And it makes sense. Why should the people of cash strapped St. Louis pony up all the money for this? Why can't gazillionaire Stan Kroenke at least pay for a good portion of the $700 million? It's not like he couldn't afford it if he wanted to. 

But, if you live in LA, this means you could have a new/old team. With all the talk over the past couple of seasons about a stadium being built in town to accommodate the NFL, this makes that a possibility.

Don't get too excited.

The league, as much as they want a team in Los Angeles, hasn't been overly excited about relocation. That's not to say it won't happen, it could, but we think something will get worked out.

Either way, it's something to watch, it could be a west-coasters dream come true, a real, golden opportunity for the NFL to return to the country's #2 TV market.

Here's the look from Fox2 in the current home of the team
((HT: Fox2Now.com))