St. Louis Likely To Play The Tortoise Role Over NFL

((HT: Fox2Now))

With all the talk of St. Louis Rams owner Stan Kroenke buying his land in Inglewood, California and wanting to build a stadium near Hollywood Park and The Forum, the city who currently hosts the Rams doesn't seem to be in a whole lot of a hurry to talk to the Rams any more.

The city claims that they have been up front and have wanted to negotiate with the Kroenkes, but the family doesn't seem to be interested.

Here's the talk from St. Louis about their confidence of having a tenant for the Edward Jones Dome- even if it isn't the Rams long-term.


This approach has been consistent with the city's approach the whole time- patience and prudence in the face of impending financial doom at the loss of of a primary tenant of their signature building. The city still feels that they may need that new building instead of continued renovation of the "Ed."

Which might be their downfall...

Rams Owner Buying Up Inglewood Property in a Hurry

((ht: utsandiego.com))

While those of us not in Los Angeles or in St. Louis are watching other things, the preparations for a potential relocation of the St. Louis Rams is growing by the day.

Rams owner Stan Kroenke has been quietly (no longer) gobbling up chunks of property in Inglewood, California around the old Hollywood Park Horse Track. He now owns the 60 acres around it...and according to reports, is trying to buy the 300 occupied by the former track.

Which not-so-coincidentally would be more than enough property to, say, build a football stadium.

The Rams are in still in somewhat contentious negotiations over getting either a new stadium or major renovations to their current home, the "Edward Jones Dome". But that lease expires...at the end of the season. And despite Missouri Governor Jay Nixon stepping in to help, the negotiations are not going well.

Here's a summary report from the San Diego Union-Times

Granted, this could be a leverage move by Kroenke, owners are known to do such things. And he could easily redevelop or flip the Inglewood property if he so chose. But nobody really thinks he is bluffing here.

The NFL has been adamant about getting a team back in Los Angeles despite the fact two teams have come and gone over the past 15 years. And the issue was support. Much like other mega-cities with little or no lengthy history of an NFL team and lots to do, getting people to come to games was a challenge. And it will be if a team comes too.

But the NFL is persistent and Stan Kroenke has the pockets to make it happen. And while there have been discussions that the Raiders "Might" be the team coming and the Chargers "could" come, it's likely the Rams that would be first. And they'd be back where they started.

We would not be surprised to see the Raiders follow.

Any team, including the Rams have a short window to announce their intentions right after the Super Bowl in 2015. That would allow them to potentially make the move and play in, say the Rose Bowl or the L.A Coliseum in the interim while their new park gets built.

Time is getting short, the February window will be here before you know it. Let's see if or who will be the first one's to flinch.

KSDK-TV in St. Louis has more on the Governors attempt to help keep the Rams in StL:

Is This The First Step Back For The LA Rams...???

((HT: LA Times/Farmer))

Sam Farmer has come across the news that current St. Louis Rams-everything Colorado short of the Broncos-Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke has bought a 60-acre parking lot in between The Forum and Hollywood Park. Wal-Mart originally owned the parcel, and Madison Square Garden Corp. was interested but they were too late in their purchase notion.

The Rams won an arbitration case against the city of St. Louis almost a year ago over the price each side thinks that was needed to renovate the Edward Jones Dome. The city thought it would take a little over $130-million while the Kroenke family said it would be more in the neighborhood of $700-million.

Here was an interview Charles Jaco had with the head of the Convention and Visitors Bureau, Kitty Ratcliffe, after the judgment talking about her concerns about NOT hearing from the Rams about their thoughts- on any level-after the decision...
((HT: Fox2 St Louis))


There is an adjacent 238-acre site, according to Farmer, that is the old Hollywood Park site that is set to be a mixed-use development right now...

Right...now...

Kroenke is too smart and too private to do this without telling some Shield folks in New York City. If he wants to relocate the Rams back to LA, he's not going to do anything and step on league toes at the same time...

Here's a sample of people who were asked about the idea...like Al Michaels...
((HT: Eric Geller))


Eric Dickerson...
((HT: Eric Geller))


And the debate goes on...