St. Louis Rams

debaliviere · PostMay 20, 2008#12008-05-20T16:17+00:00

Sources: Rams up for sale

By Michael Silver, Yahoo! Sports

May 20, 2008

Though it hasn't been publicized in the wake of longtime owner Georgia Frontiere's death earlier this year, the St. Louis Rams are on the market, according to several NFL sources.

The possible sale of the franchise could have major ramifications, with a potential return of the team to Southern California hanging over any transaction. Adding intrigue to the situation: One of the prospective buyers who has had preliminary discussions with an intermediary about buying the Rams is Eddie DeBartolo, who owned the rival San Francisco 49ers from 1977 to '98.

"I know that they are definitely in play," DeBartolo told Yahoo! Sports last week. "Georgia's kids (son Chip Rosenbloom and daughter Lucia Rodriguez) have decided to sell the team. I've talked to some people who are brokering things, and they've told me about the price and what the deal might entail."

Rams president John Shaw, who has been the de facto leader of the franchise since Frontiere moved the Rams from Anaheim to St. Louis in 1995, declined to comment on the team's potential sale.

Link

dweebe · PostMay 20, 2008#22008-05-20T16:37+00:00

As long as LA sits open, lots of teams are going to use the threat to move.

-Minnesota Vikings: the Twins are getting a new $600 million baseball stadium paid for 100% by the taxpayers. Why can't they get a football stadium?

-Oakland: Al Davis is just crazy

-49ers: Candlestick sucks

-San Diego: they'd like a new stadium

-New Orleans: not enough corporations and money to support a football team in that city

debaliviere · PostMay 20, 2008#32008-05-20T16:44+00:00

dweebe wrote:As long as LA sits open, lots of teams are going to use the threat to move.

-Minnesota Vikings: the Twins are getting a new $600 million baseball stadium paid for 100% by the taxpayers. Why can't they get a football stadium?

-Oakland: Al Davis is just crazy

-49ers: Candlestick sucks

-San Diego: they'd like a new stadium

-New Orleans: not enough corporations and money to support a football team in that city

I wish the NFL would just give L.A. an expansion team. I'm kind of surprised they haven't.

dweebe · PostMay 20, 2008#42008-05-20T16:53+00:00

DeBaliviere wrote:
dweebe wrote:As long as LA sits open, lots of teams are going to use the threat to move.

-Minnesota Vikings: the Twins are getting a new $600 million baseball stadium paid for 100% by the taxpayers. Why can't they get a football stadium?

-Oakland: Al Davis is just crazy

-49ers: Candlestick sucks

-San Diego: they'd like a new stadium

-New Orleans: not enough corporations and money to support a football team in that city

I wish the NFL would just give L.A. an expansion team. I'm kind of surprised they haven't.

The 32 team setup is just easy to schedule.

Plus there's rumblings about the Buffalo Bills moving to Toronto. The NFL has already ok'd them to play a home game or two up there.

rbb · PostMay 20, 2008#52008-05-20T17:52+00:00

ramifications

I SEE WHUT THEY DID THERE

Honestly, it wouldn't suprise me to see them sell the team. I'd be shocked, however, if they sold to an owner with an intention of moving the team. It's more likely to be like the sale of the Cardinals in '95 or the Blues a couple of years ago.

-RBB

dweebe · PostMay 20, 2008#62008-05-20T18:00+00:00

According to Randy Karaker of 1380AM the Rams are locked into the dome until 2015. DeBartolo is wrong with the 2012 option.

My guess is one of the teams already in California (49ers, Raiders, Chargers) would end up in LA.

the central scrutinizer · PostMay 20, 2008#72008-05-20T18:17+00:00

The Chargers started out there.

dweebe · PostMay 20, 2008#82008-05-20T18:33+00:00

The Central Scrutinizer wrote:The Chargers started out there.

Yep. The Chargers could easily move to Orange County and retain fans from both markets.

PostMay 20, 2008#92008-05-20T21:13+00:00

The kids are shooting the story down.

http://www.ksdk.com/news/news_article.a ... yid=146561

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports ... enDocument

matguy70 · PostMay 21, 2008#102008-05-21T00:32+00:00

Yahoo Sports/News changes stance and releases new article. Guess the three "good" sources were not all that "good".

Rams are NOT for sale

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/photo?slug= ... 7&prov=afp

Rosenbloom: Rams aren’t leaving St. Louis

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=a ... &type=lgns

On the Rams NFL Official Site:

Rams Not for Sale

http://www.stlouisrams.com/article/67759/

USA Today:

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football ... arks_N.htm

DogtownBnR · PostMay 21, 2008#112008-05-21T17:30+00:00

It all comes down to one thing, the DOME. If they can't keep it up to par with the top 8 stadiums in the league or build a new one, it is likely the Rams will look into moving in 2015. I think the Dome, as it is today is a bad place to watch football. I would love to see a new outdoor facility built somewhere on the river, but I highly doubt that will ever happen. If we get a new stadium, it will be in the county, in my opinion, which I would only be for, if the team would otherwise leave. I think the Dome could be fine, with a retractable roof, but why do that if the costs exceed or rival that of a new stadium? I know it is early in the process, but I am very worried. St. Louis always manages to screw things up. Lets hope they don't allow the Rams to leave in the future. If they leave, the NFL will never come back. Losing two teams in 25 years will all but end the chances of us getting another franchise. See the past thread I started. I was worried about the Dome before all of these rumors surfaced.

http://www.urbanstlouis.com/urbanstl/vi ... ht=dungeon

contractorkitchens · PostMay 21, 2008#122008-05-21T18:08+00:00

I don't WANT the Lambs to leave, but tearing down the dome would greatly improve my view.

dweebe · PostMay 21, 2008#132008-05-21T20:00+00:00

Someone is going to have to pay a ton of money to build a new stadium so the Rams stay in the top 25% of NFL facilities.

~The Cowboys are building a $1 billion New Texas Stadium that could hold as many as 100,000 for a Super Bowl.

~The New York Jets and Giants are moving into a new stadium that will cost between $1 billion and $1.3 billion when done.

~Kansas City is unloading as much as $450 milion to renovate Arrowhead

But I'm still saying that if someone moves to LA: it's not the Rams.

While I'd like to see little or no public money for a new stadium: if we HAD to build a new place, Seattle's Qwest Field is cool. Open air, but 90%+ of the seats covered.

phoaddict · PostMay 21, 2008#142008-05-21T20:03+00:00

"St. Louis always manages to screw things up."

EXACTLY.

msu south sider · PostMay 21, 2008#152008-05-21T21:40+00:00

phoaddict wrote:"St. Louis always manages to screw things up."

EXACTLY.

IMO...St. Louis already has screwed things up with the Rams when they built the dome in the first place. Just about the time teams were starting to do away with domes and move to natural surfaces, we build an antiquated facility that is about 20 years past its' time (a day late, a dollar short). Dome football is a boring, painful experience. The worst part is the dome has such a bad reputation: thinnest turf in the NFL, dark upper deck, no natural light...it is really painful. I understand the attraction of having a dome for conventions, Final Four, the Pope, Mylie Cyrus...who ever. But if your anchor tenant and the organization that is a member of (the NFL)disprove of the facility (and not to mention the fan base...), you have a problem on your hand. St. Louis does not need another vacant building, especially of that size. The organization and the city need to really work something out on this...there is plenty of room in the "Bottle District" to build a stadium. I will happily tailgate somewhere else to have an out door stadium. Besides, if you have to watch your team loose...I would rather do it outside

midcoaststl · PostMay 21, 2008#162008-05-21T23:26+00:00

Is there room to build it north of Lumiere, on the water with a overlook of the river and a nice downtown view out of the endzone? Then maybe we can renovate those old wharehouses into Rams Village!

goat314 · PostMay 22, 2008#172008-05-22T00:08+00:00

Who actually thinks they will build the Rams a new stadium with tax payer dollars? The Cards had to threaten to move across the river, before a wonderful Ballpark Village was built...oh wait, never happened! If the Rams don't get a new stadium built on the Missouri side in a couple of years, they'll either leave town or go across the river.

gone corporate · PostMay 22, 2008#182008-05-22T03:13+00:00

The Rams are not leaving. End. Done.

Unless someone emerges with cash in hand to pay for a new stadium to replace the current one, which management wants to build, and which does not trash the perceptions of America's Center, it isn't going to happen. And, I'd much rather have the Jones Dome than the nightmare abomination that has been made of Soldier Field.

st. louis texan · PostMay 22, 2008#192008-05-22T03:54+00:00

Does California really NEED another sports team?

They already have like 4 or 5 basketball teams, 3 football teams, and 5 baseball teams. Come on , that state is set with plenty of fun things to root for.

debaliviere · PostMay 22, 2008#202008-05-22T13:27+00:00

Gone Corporate wrote:The Rams are not leaving. End. Done.

What concerns me, as others have mentioned, is the "top 25%" clause in the Rams' lease. If the current or future owners are willing to waive that clause, I'd feel a lot more comfortable about the team's long-term prospects in St. Louis. If not, it's an easy way out.

the central scrutinizer · PostMay 22, 2008#212008-05-22T13:42+00:00

DeBaliviere wrote:
Gone Corporate wrote:The Rams are not leaving. End. Done.

What concerns me, as others have mentioned, is the "top 25%" clause in the Rams' lease. If the current or future owners are willing to waive that clause, I'd feel a lot more comfortable about the team's long-term prospects in St. Louis. If not, it's an easy way out.

I would also be curious how that is measured. Are there any metrics in place, or is it just someone's opinion?

msu south sider · PostMay 22, 2008#222008-05-22T15:53+00:00

^Not sure how it is measured but Bernie made a good point today that it will be pretty hard to attain the top 25% status by 2010 because by that time there will have been 20 new stadiums that will have been built in the NFL since the dome was built.

Bernie also hit the nail on the head that we do not have any local business leaders or area wealth that are concerned with our sports teams, so pushing the St. Louis aspect is hard...when all of the owners live out of town.

I wish this guy would step up and by the team...he seems to have some money laying around

http://www.forbes.com/lists/2007/54/ric ... _Q8FL.html

Jack Taylor - Net Worth $14B

dweebe · PostMay 22, 2008#232008-05-22T16:29+00:00

Gone Corporate wrote:...And, I'd much rather have the Jones Dome than the nightmare abomination that has been made of Soldier Field.

Yes, Soldier Field totally sucks from the outside but is actually a great place once you get inside.

The Central Scrutinizer wrote:
DeBaliviere wrote:
Gone Corporate wrote:The Rams are not leaving. End. Done.

What concerns me, as others have mentioned, is the "top 25%" clause in the Rams' lease. If the current or future owners are willing to waive that clause, I'd feel a lot more comfortable about the team's long-term prospects in St. Louis. If not, it's an easy way out.

Exactly. How do you quantify an opinion?

I would also be curious how that is measured. Are there any metrics in place, or is it just someone's opinion?

Exactly.

DogtownBnR · PostMay 22, 2008#242008-05-22T17:24+00:00

The simple fact is....NO FAN WILL EVER BE SATISFIED WITH A STADIUM... I used to attend games with my mom as a child. My parents used to have season tickets when the Big Red were here. Everyone b*tched and moaned about how cold it was and how we needed a dome. Then we get a dome and everyone wants an outdoor stadium.

There will never be a perfect stadium. Fans will always complain, owners will always want more revenue.

The only option is to build a great stadium in the perfect spot and leave room for A LOT of expansion or

add- ons in the future. I would love to have a new open air facility on the river. It would allow St. Louis to build a KC like tradition with REAL tail-gating and atmosphere. I doubt that will ever happen. Our only hope is to put a retractable roof on that dungeon of a dome. I hope it happens. Sports franchises are great for a city and it's identity, not to mention the revenue generated. I can't see how the businesses, casinos and officials would allow the Rams to leave, WITHOUT A FIGHT, that is. I am worried, but optimistic that something can be worked out in the next 7 years.

dweebe · PostMay 22, 2008#252008-05-22T18:51+00:00

DOGTOWNB&R wrote:The simple fact is....NO FAN WILL EVER BE SATISFIED WITH A STADIUM... I used to attend games with my mom as a child. My parents used to have season tickets when the Big Red were here. Everyone b*tched and moaned about how cold it was and how we needed a dome. Then we get a dome and everyone wants an outdoor stadium.

There will never be a perfect stadium. Fans will always complain, owners will always want more revenue.

The only option is to build a great stadium in the perfect spot and leave room for A LOT of expansion or

add- ons in the future. I would love to have a new open air facility on the river. It would allow St. Louis to build a KC like tradition with REAL tail-gating and atmosphere. I doubt that will ever happen. Our only hope is to put a retractable roof on that dungeon of a dome. I hope it happens. Sports franchises are great for a city and it's identity, not to mention the revenue generated. I can't see how the businesses, casinos and officials would allow the Rams to leave, WITHOUT A FIGHT, that is. I am worried, but optimistic that something can be worked out in the next 7 years.

True: nobody will be happy. The one bad thing about the dome is all the rich and old fans who sit down in the lower bowl doing the following:

-knitting

-reading the newspaper during the game

-eating bagles and creme cheese

-give you dirty looks and tell you to sit down when you cheer

-never applaud or cheer once during the game.

If the games were outside they wouldn't be down there, sitting on their hands. I've sat down in the lower bowl 5 or 6 times and its amazing how dull it is down there.

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