urbanSTL

^Also, I believe the NFL actually encourages players to live in the suburbs, to keep them away from the temptations of city living.

Per former tight end Nate Jackson:

That’s the norm in the NFL: buy a place out in the burbs where rich people live. Players are encouraged to live in these areas and discouraged from living downtown with their peers. Too many distractions.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/natejackson/why ... they-could

Looks like the Rams are moving to LA!



I am working with a friend and we are looking at shooting some sketches that spoof STL issues.

Hope you enjoy!

Bernie Miklasz has an interesting take on the Ram's arbitration process...

Bernie writes:
• If I had to make a prediction — TODAY — it’s this: the Rams agree to keep the team housed in the Dome for several more seasons beyond 2014 with the assurance that a new open-air stadium will be constructed in time for the 2020 or 2021 season.

As of now, that stadium would be built in the city at the so-called Bottle District, north of the current stadium. And the cost, as I have explained several times, will be a shared venture that includes considerable money from Kroenke and the NFL. For all of the talk about potential sites in Fenton and other spots, the emphasis, for now, will be getting the stadium built in the city.

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/ ... 2e560.html

I'd still like to see the numbers. How much does the city gain from a measly 10 games? Then compare than money to increased convention and hotel revenue for all those blacked out weeks.

Alex Ihnen wrote:Can anyone offer a "why" on the issue of the stadium being in the city. Several items I've read about teams profiting from controlling parking/tailgating have been very convincing. Is the NFL pushing urban stadiums?

The success of Indy's Super Bowl for one. Rams brass loves that stadium, and rumor has it Kroenke loves Patriot-Place. Robert Kraft makes a killing in revenue. Its possible Kroenke, if given the land to develop could bring in some retail that residents would love to see Downtown but at the expense of ample parking tailgaters would love.

http://www.patriot-place.com/directory.aspx What would this look like downtown?

My dream site is right across the River, rip out the mosquito incubator and put in an open-air stadium. There's room enough for parking and I'd love to see a boardwalk lined with retail as well. That is, if retail could work in that location anchored by a stadium used 10 times a year. Maybe an Ikea?

I'd also like to ask, do politicians score more points by keeping the stadium in Missouri or by showing they can work with Illinois to keep the Rams in St, Louis?

There more I think it through, if a new stadium is built, it'll probably be in Fenton. And all I wanted was an iconic stadium with the skyline in site, a better version of soldier field.

arch_genesis wrote:

Alex Ihnen wrote:Can anyone offer a "why" on the issue of the stadium being in the city. Several items I've read about teams profiting from controlling parking/tailgating have been very convincing. Is the NFL pushing urban stadiums?

The success of Indy's Super Bowl for one. Rams brass loves that stadium, and rumor has it Kroenke loves Patriot-Place. Robert Kraft makes a killing in revenue. Its possible Kroenke, if given the land to develop could bring in some retail that residents would love to see Downtown but at the expense of ample parking tailgaters would love.

http://www.patriot-place.com/directory.aspx What would this look like downtown?

My dream site is right across the River, rip out the mosquito incubator and put in an open-air stadium. There's room enough for parking and I'd love to see a boardwalk lined with retail as well. That is, if retail could work in that location anchored by a stadium used 10 times a year. Maybe an Ikea?

I'd also like to ask, do politicians score more points by keeping the stadium in Missouri or by showing they can work with Illinois to keep the Rams in St, Louis?

There more I think it through, if a new stadium is built, it'll probably be in Fenton. And all I wanted was an iconic stadium with the skyline in site, a better version of soldier field.

I always thought the east side, speciifcally the area around the giant fountain designated as the east portion of the JNEM would make a great stadium site. Metro access, river access, areas for tailgating, view of the arch through a bowl opening to the west.

As anyone who has attended a game at the soccer park can attest, the Fenton site just can not handle the traffic, - think all of Riverports exiting problems and add an additional 40,000 people trying to leave at once.

arch_genesis wrote:http://www.patriot-place.com/directory.aspx What would this look like downtown?

If I had a dime for every time I've found myself thinking "Now. All we need here is a Bass Pro Shop and we've 'arrived'" while walking around downtown...

Don't mind me, just being silly...

A Patriot Place styled Downtown TOD would be awesome for a new Rams Stadium.

^^^ beer city, my thoughts exactly, "Edward Jones Field at the JNEM" always sounded cool to me. However if it turns out that Kroenke wants a retail component as well, how feasible does an eastside stadium become? What effect would a Rams-Place across the river have on retail downtown?

I can't imagine downtown residents would find it convenient to have to trek across the bridge on a tuesday to go to bed bath and beyond. So how well would retail be supported the other 355 days of the year?

Personally I don't want the stadium downtown - I want it to replace the geyser, where I can have that cool football experience. And I don't want any retail on the eastside that would hurt downtown.

--------------
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/12/reale ... .html?_r=0 some more info on Gillette Stadium. Approx 350 acres. 80 stores, 1.3 million in retail/hotels/14 screen cineplex. You can see why Kroenke would love this.

There's close to 300 acres across the river between Eads and PSB if you cleared everything.

I live closer to Fenton, but I like having the stadium in the city. More options. Tailgating started by necessity in stadiums with giant surrounding parking lots with no concessions in site, for games that started at lunchtime. It's fun, but I don't see that as a reason to build a new stadium with a giant parking lot just to force people into that kind of fun in the parking lot. There is plenty (too much) surface parking downtown -- more than enough for open air tailgate parties. Nobody has to tailgate in a parking garage.

But for those of us who might want to eat at Fridays or the Casino Sports restaurant before or after a game, downtown gives us those options.

WRT a new Open Air stadium downtown -- I would love to see that for games through November. But in December and the playoffs, it is really handy to have that dome. I wonder if it could be maintained as-is for a couple of games per year? If the new stadium has 66K seats, they could just map your seats to the comparable dome seat for the playoffs -- just like they did when they used Busch for the first few games in 1995 before the dome was finished.

gonna have to disagree on that one - Missouri residents have never had a reason to cross the river and I think they'd jump at an opportunity to experience winning football in a cool unique location. Its not a guy commuting to work by himself 5 days a week. Its 10 days out of the year carpooling with 1-3 other people in the early afternoon.

We always underestimate ourselves and then we wind up passing Prop R, or the county passes metro tax.

I think the RAMS will get the nod over CVC in arbitration. I think it will come down to three options at the end of day

1) Rebuild Dome more in line with RAMS proposal.
2) Build Open Air next to EDJ Dome
3) New open air stadium on old Chrysler site.

Honestly, I think RAMS will push for a EDJ rebuild with a land/development deal affiliated with Bottleworks. Remove the raised section of I-70 and you got some real possibilities for a proposed bottleworks/mixed use/retail like you see next to Patriot's stadium but without the sea of parking. Will it be another BPV? who knows.

Otherwise, I see them seeking the Chrysler site over a new stadium next door, the parking and tailgating revenue possibilities in Fenton are too great for the RAMS not to consider it a better option. I really don't see Missouri giving up the RAMS to Illinois. All I have to say about East of the River.

To me, building a new stadium next to the EDJ is the worst option of the bunch. It doesn't do anything for RAMS revenues that can't be accomplished with rebuild of EDJ, leaves CVC with no means to invest in EDJ (funds will go to pay off bonds and new stadium) and simply creates the next underutilized super block in or near downtown.

last thing I'll say on the Rams and Illinois, I really wish a scenario wouldn't be looked at as Missouri giving up the Rams to Illinois but keeping the Rams in St. Louis. 700,000+ of the metro area is across the river. I'd look more favorably at politicians working across state lines to get the best deal for the region, instead of arguing over one mile that separates MO and IL. I'm so sick of the fragmentation, its such a drain.

^The Rams will cease to be part of St. Louis' identity if they move approximately a mile to the East? Your comment makes literally no sense.

Well, apparently one of our Rams wide receivers, Steve Smith, is rooting for the Rams to move to LA. He was a big disappointment this year, so I suspect he won't be with the Rams no matter where they play. He says all the Rams players talk about moving to LA. Kevin Demoff, better get your PR machine going -- the Rams still have to play here for at least 2 more years.

http://www.conquestchronicles.com/2013/ ... -nfl-in-la

rawest1 wrote:

gary kreie wrote:Well, apparently one of our Rams wide receivers, Steve Smith, is rooting for the Rams to move to LA. He was a big disappointment this year, so I suspect he won't be with the Rams no matter where they play. He says all the Rams players talk about moving to LA. Kevin Demoff, better get your PR machine going -- the Rams still have to play here for at least 2 more years.

http://www.conquestchronicles.com/2013/ ... -nfl-in-la

I highly doubt if the ramblings of one (bad) football player create any serious PR noise. Big surprise, a bunch of young guys flush with cash are intrigued by the prospect of living and playing in Los Angeles over St. Louis.

Kevin Demoff PR work has been exceptional for years, now.

OK, but at his link he says more:

Smith was asked if Rams players would be interested in playing in LA. He said with certainty that they would want to.

“Oh I know so,” said Smith. “We talked about it all season long. We would be out literally in practice — during practice — talking about playing in LA. Honestly.”

A candid Smith revealed the types of things teammates would say to each other.

“How nice would it be to be practicing in LA? Just go to the mall after practice in LA. It’s such a beautiful day in LA all the time.”

Early in the panel discussion, Smith spoke in reverential terms about LA when asked what would make the city so attractive to a football player.

http://larrybrownsports.com/football/st ... -la/170839

I realize he is from LA, but I don't feel like rooting for him and paying his salary through season ticket renewal, if he isn't rooting for our city. I suggest he head to LA now and avoid the rush.