The potential-divorce square dance between the Rams and St. Louis will intensify today, as the Convention and Visitors Commission prepares to make a proposal to the team regarding an extension of the lease that the team can escape after the 2014 season, if the venue isn’t among the top 25 percent in the league.
According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the CVC will make a proposal today, which happens to be the deadline for doing so. The Rams may accept or reject by March 1. If they pass, the Rams have until May 1 to make counter offer. If an agreement isn’t struck by June 15, the issue would be submitted, per the Post-Dispatch, to arbitration.
But the arbitration apparently wouldn’t be binding, since the absence of an agreement between the two sides would permit relocation after March 1, 2015.
These various deadlines make it a foregone conclusion that the stadium won’t be among the top fourth of the entire NFL by 2014. The question is whether the Rams and St. Louis can work something out.
In this regard, the Rams haven’t tipped their hand. And by keeping all options (including L.A. and London) open, the Rams could end up with a sweeter-than-sweetheart deal to stay in St. Louis. Or an equally sweet deal to move.