Comments on: Rams win stadium arbitration

By: drew1969

drew1969 — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 15:19:00 +0000

I see the LA market as a catch 22;they wont build a stadium until some team commits to moving there,and goodell already has said that the nfl conrols what team will move there(if any).Its way too soon to be talking about the rams,or any other team,going to LA.

By: lafan101

lafan101 — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 00:25:34 +0000

The Rams have a 50 year history in Los Angeles and a rivalry with the 49ers in the NFC West when they were both in California. Stan Kroenke lives in Malibu. It’s going to happen! Maybe later on the league will give up on Jacksonville and move the Jags to St. Louis. Los Angeles Rams return in 2015.

By: harleyforme

harleyforme — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 00:22:24 +0000

Wrong Thermalito. Kroenke lives in Columbia, Missouri (accordng to Forbes magaazine, among other sources) and has places in Denver, Malibu, Montana, Canada and probably more.

Wrong again, he still has controlling interest in the Avalanche and Nuggets. He doesn’t have to sell until 2014 to appease the NFL and you would have to be a tool if you don’t think he isn’t going to “sell” to his son who has control of both franchises.

Your rational is he has money, so what’s he waiting for? “Obviously, you aren’t familiar with the economics of sports”. What’s he waiting for? The best possible deal he can get in St. Louis. He’s a businessman who bought into the team ON THE CONDITION they move out of LA and to STL.

As much as you LA people hate Georgia, you are really going to hate Stan when he builds in St. Louis!

Always the bridesmaid, never the bride!

By: couldntthinkofaname

couldntthinkofaname — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 23:48:34 +0000

When they were the greatest show on turf fans showed up and I guarantee as of last year their revenue showed a significant increase compar ed to years prior.
_____________________

The Chargers and Jaguars easily outdrew the Rams this past season, and I’d suspect for several of the previous seasons as well. St. Louis, on the other hand, couldn’t sell out for a Thursday night game against Arizona by offering ten dollar tickets.

The Rams have been at or near the bottom of attendance for over five years. Fans starting ignoring them the second year into that tailspin after the GSOT years.

St. Louis agreed to this top-tier arrangement when the signed the contract with the Rams. Too bad.

And Florio didn’t mention that the CVC was ordered to pay the Rams’ legal fees for arbitration: three million bucks.

Truth is, attendance is a red herring. It’s about stadiums and revenue streams. Kroenke isn’t going to sink a billion of his own dollars into the 21st biggest market.

So…..you got 700 million (plus overruns…) ready, St. Louis?

By: rmfp1978

rmfp1978 — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 21:57:44 +0000

Your making the Rams look as bad as the bucaneers or jaguars and chargers. I agree with your first comment but you cant blame fans for the product they was putting out. When they were the greatest show on turf fans showed up and I guarantee as of last year their revenue showed a significant increase compar ed to years prior. Its not like they were bad for a couple of years that wasnt the case. They were ran bu arrogant pr. Year after year you cant blame fans for not wanting to support that

By: thermalito

thermalito — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 21:01:43 +0000

What will they do if a team actually moves there? Probably rejoice while they watch their revenue sharing pie increase by eliminating a failed market like St. Louis and adding the nation’s second largest media market.

By: johnnytarr

johnnytarr — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 20:45:46 +0000

The NFL loves the threat of L.A. What will they do if a team actually moves there?

By: thermalito

thermalito — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 20:39:31 +0000

Too bad those “fans” in St. Louis rarely find their way to the stadium on sundays. The Rams belong in Los Angeles. St. Louis is just as bad a football market today as it was when the Cardinals left town.

By: rmfp1978

rmfp1978 — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 20:35:27 +0000

Comes down to what the better business decision is. All im saying is I hope the RAMS stay in st.louis and I know there are more fans that feel the same

By: moseszd

moseszd — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 20:23:09 +0000

$700 million… Screw the Rams.

Getting the Rams didn’t help St. Louis and losing the Rams isn’t going to hurt St. Louis. What St. Louis needs is a lot of work and throwing that money away on the Rams, who’ve done nothing to help revitalize the city, just isn’t worth it.

Plus St. Louis just isn’t a football town. It didn’t work for the (football) Cardinals when they were winning. It barely worked for the Rams when they won. It sure doesn’t work now that the Rams are in the basement.

Now, the Cardinals (baseball) hit .500… The town is red. It’s amazing how much support the baseball team has.

But the Rams… No… They have to buy their own ticket to avoid black-outs. Even against good teams and long-term division rivals, like the 2011 game against the 49ers.

We’re talking a rivalry that goes back to the 1950s and they can’t sell out. Even when the 49ers were awful, the Rams games sold out.

By: thermalito

thermalito — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 20:20:10 +0000

For those of you who obviously aren’t familiar with the economics of sports, NFL owners bargain with minority shares of their teams all the time. If Stan Kroenke moves the Rams into a brand new facility in downtown Los Angeles the team will be worth triple what they are now and one of the most valuable franchises in sports. If you think Stan Kroenke would not be willing to turn the Rams into a 2 billion dollar franchise with the huge jump in annual revenue they would generate in exchange for a minority share of the team then you are frighteningly misinformed on this subject.

By: thermalito

thermalito — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 20:13:40 +0000

iced107: Stan Kroenke buying real estate in St. Louis means absolutely nothing. You do realize he also owns real estate and currently lives in LA right? If he planned on spending his own money there then whats he waiting for? He would not have gone through the arbitration process if he planned on throwing money at a new stadium in one of the league’s worst revenue and attendance markets. If thats the case he’d be using his money to build a stadium in LA where the team would be worth triple what they are now. There is no upside to remaining in St. Louis. Kroenke doesn’t share equity in his businesses? You’re clueless. He currently has shared ownership with Arsenal and he sold his majority share in the Avalanche when he bought the nuggets. He also already has business dealings with AEG. Stan Kroenke would have no problem selling a minority share of the Rams to move into a new stadium and triple the value of the franchise. There is no financial benefit to the Rams remaining in St. Louis and you are simply in denial if you think otherwise.

By: nflfanassociation

nflfanassociation — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 20:02:56 +0000

LA Rams, CA Chargers. I’ve been saying it for years and I’ll say again. Farmers field will only work with two teams. One from the AFC and one from the NFC, just like they have in New Jersey. The Rams & Chargers are the original LA teams and that’s where they belong. It’s what the league wants and it’s what the Rams & Chargers want.

By: middy8484

middy8484 — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 19:29:03 +0000

The Rams belong in Los Angeles. Like everyone said earlier, if they build it we will come!!! St Louis is not a football city anyway!!

By: purpleguy

purpleguy — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 19:06:50 +0000

Man is it refreshing to read these articles and not have to see the words: “LA Vikings”.

By: iced107

iced107 — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 19:02:55 +0000

“the Rams will be allowed as of 2014 and every year thereafter to break their lease.”

—————————————————-

Get your facts right – they don’t go year to year until the end of the 2014 league year, beginning of 2015. or another words, march 2015…

but i’m sure we’re going to have to hear about the Rams moving to LA for this stadium that doesn’t exist.. Never mind the fact that Kroenke just bought the team and is quietly buying properties along the outskirts of St.Louis (which btw is a great location for a stadium). He also didn’t become a billionaire by acquiring businesses and then sharing equity (he owns nuggets and a soccer team), which is what roski wants if they get a team to move there.

By: granadafan

granadafan — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 18:32:54 +0000

Look. The NFL isn’t going to want to hold the Super Bowl in St. Louis. I lived there for 8 months. While it’s a nice city and the Laclaide’s Landing is a fun area, that’s about all the city has going for it. It would give Jacksonville a run for it’s money for most boring place to hold a major event.

Oh, and just say no to welfare for multibillion dollar companies with multibillionaires. It’s amazing that a certain segment of the population is so adamantly against social welfare for the needy, yet is OK with cities raising taxes for billionaires.

By: rmfp1978

rmfp1978 — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 18:28:45 +0000

It is st.louis fault for signing that lease and true kroenke does have franchises in other places. Im not saying it isnt a possibility that kroenke will move elsewhere but I just dont see L.A. being a possibility. He dont want to do business with CVC and correct me if im wrong im pretty sure whoever goes to L.A. will have to give up a percentage of their ownership, atleast thats what Bernie Mikolauze said on that Fastlane. I dont see Kroenke doing that. While st.louis is a baseball town first, hockey second I definitely see that order changing in the near future. Blues are looking tough and I love the direction the Rams are headed. I just hope its in st.louis. I dont want to hear attendance prob because the fans had a right to be mad with the way they were being run and while I didnt give up on them everytime Billy Devany opened his mouth the closer I was to giving up. Thats in the past and if you couldnt see the change the franchise is headed in your not a true football fan or your ignorant to the sport. RAMS NATION

By: clownsfan

clownsfan — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 18:26:38 +0000

NFL owners aren’t gonna let any current team move to LA. Period. They will expand. 2 teams at $1 billion each. They want that new money. That $$$$ will immediately cover any loss r/t any of these BS concussion related lawsuits. LA & Toronto get a franchise. Watch.

By: chrisdavidgarcia

chrisdavidgarcia — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 18:18:31 +0000

That was a stupid agreement the city of St. Louis signed. They must have thought the world was going to end with the Mayan Calendar. Welcome home to L.A boys.

By: sportsnut101

sportsnut101 — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 17:55:33 +0000

If u need a new stadium every 20 yrs just make sure u have 5 superbowls to show for it in that timeframe.

Look I will do the upgrades for 500 mill ok contact me anything under 500 mill I can’t feed my family on aka spreewell lol

By: giantssb42champs

giantssb42champs — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 17:55:25 +0000

California here we come!

By: jimmysee

jimmysee — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 17:54:56 +0000

Um — home for the Rams is Cleveland.

Home for the Cardinals is Chicago.

Thank you.

By: sportsnut101

sportsnut101 — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 17:51:06 +0000

So dam tired of sports teams saying my building is not tops well how bout u win some more cuz 3 seasons of winning 10 yrs ago is not enough. If the city has to give u 700 mill to upgrade a stadium. Isn’t it cheaper to build a brand new stadium I mean it’s st Louis not ny the cost is not as high to build. What a joke I would let them walk after they pay a lease buyout of 125 mill n get another team in there

By: autumnritual

autumnritual — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 17:25:47 +0000

fballguy says: Feb 2, 2013 9:56 AM

Time to come back where you belong.

——————————————————

You mean, Cleveland?

By: dannymac17

dannymac17 — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 17:25:16 +0000

Will you clowns stop acting like they left LA because of attendance.

That wasnt even the case.

It was stadium related, which like the Raiders, surprise again.

Want another stadium after St Louis built them one.

Its all greed.

Don’t blame an entire area of people cause we havent had a football stadium built in 70+ years

By: htowntexansred

htowntexansred — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 17:21:53 +0000

All of this talk about team(s) moving to L.A. Why? L.A. is a very nice city to visit. I’ve been there numerous occasions. But, to live there? Oh no! California have one of the highest taxes in the nation over 13%! Those football tickets going to be ridiculous when a team do decide to move in L.A.

By: lennydpocketqb

lennydpocketqb — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 16:58:27 +0000

I was hoping for the Buffalo Bills to move to L.A.

By: jikkle49

jikkle49 — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 16:34:39 +0000

Don’t blame Stan blame the stupid lease the city signed in the first place.

It’s in the lease that the stadium would be in the top 25 percent of the league by 2015 so don’t be surprised when Stan expects that to happen. And he has leverage because arbitration sides with his plan and not the city’s.

I agree that this owners should chip in more a lot more money then they when it comes to stadiums but in this case St. Louis shouldn’t complain if the Rams bail and go to LA.

By: thermalito

thermalito — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 16:33:50 +0000

The City of St. Louis has nobody but themselves to blame. They are the ones who agreed to an awful lease agreement that gives the team free rent, stipulates the City is responsible for all upgrades and gives the team an easy out clause of the lease every 10 years. Is anyone really surprised at whats happening? The Rams moving back to LA will be the least surprising football story in recent history.