St. Louis Will Resume Its Pursuit of Rams : Pro football: Stadium-lease issue is resolved, clearing way for city to resume talks with NFL team.
The sticky stadium-lease issue that has hindered St. Louis’ efforts to land an NFL team was finally resolved Thursday, clearing the way for the city to resume negotiations with the Rams.
Ram President John Shaw had broken off talks with St. Louis on Aug. 10, when it became apparent the city might not be able to secure use of the $258-million, 70,000-seat domed stadium, currently under construction in St. Louis, for the 1995 football season.
But Thursday’s announcement that St. Louis beer distributor Jerry Clinton had conveyed his 30% share of the lease to FANS Inc. (Football At the New Stadium), the nonprofit group trying to secure a team, pushed St. Louis right back into the hunt for the Rams.
“We’re prepared to talk to the Rams, and I think we can put together a very competitive offer,” St. Louis County Executive George (Buzz) Westfall said at a St. Louis news conference. “I think we’re going to get the Rams here. I’m more confident than ever. The lease was the big obstacle, and now that’s behind us.”
Shaw could not be reached Thursday night, but Heidi Sinclair of the Los Angeles Burson-Marsteller public relations firm, which has been hired to handle questions regarding a possible move, indicated that the news bodes well for St. Louis, one of three cities--Baltimore and Hartford, Conn., are the others--aggressively pursuing the Rams.
“We’re not going to say anything until we have a chance to take a look and see what has really gone on,” Sinclair said. “Then we’ll issue a statement (today) about starting up negotiations again.”
St. Louis may have to take a number outside Shaw’s office, though. Shaw is scheduled to meet today with members of the Orange County-based Save the Rams Task Force. And Maryland Governor William Donald Schaefer and Baltimore Oriole owner Peter Angelos, who is heading Baltimore’s efforts, are scheduled to meet with Shaw in Los Angeles next week.
Newport Beach sports agent Leigh Steinberg, Save the Rams co-chairman, said he will unveil an enhanced package to the Rams that includes guarantees for the purchase of season tickets and luxury suites in a refurbished Anaheim Stadium and an offer, backed by several investors, to buy the Rams for between $150 million and $200 million.
Ram owner Georgia Frontiere said she would consider selling a minority interest in the team but has said repeatedly that a controlling share is not for sale.
A previous Save the Rams offer included a $50-million to $70-million renovation of Anaheim Stadium, construction of a new office and practice facility near the stadium, and a $50 million infusion of cash through the purchase of a minority interest in the team.
St. Louis has guaranteed huge profits for the Rams--the new stadium lease calls for an NFL team to receive all concession, in-house advertising, luxury suite and club seat revenue--but until Clinton relented Thursday, all the city could offer was 54,000-seat Busch Stadium, which has no luxury suites or club seats.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
