St. Louis Officials Offer Rams Very Lucrative Deal

St. Louis officials spent 4 1/2 hours with Ram President John Shaw on Wednesday, attempting to woo the executive with a lucrative relocation offer that would make the Rams one of the NFL’s most profitable franchises.

Thomas Eagleton, the former U.S. Senator who headed the four-man St. Louis delegation, said the discussion focused primarily on the big-ticket items of a wish list the Rams sent the city in August. St. Louis responded with a 25-page proposal outlining a plan to raise at least $60 million, through a permanent-seat licensing program, to cover costs associated with a move.

Eagleton said the Rams seemed “more and more interested” in the St Louis offer.

“Our proposal responded directly to the wish list,” he said.

St. Louis, which has promised the Rams virtually all revenues from the $258-million, 70,000-seat domed stadium currently under construction in the city, is attempting to raise enough money to cover some $30 million the Rams still owe for Anaheim Stadium improvements made in 1980, about $15 million for a new practice facility and an estimated $15 million in NFL relocation fees.

In addition, it is believed St. Louis has offered to spend another $6 million to speed construction of the domed stadium so it can be ready for the beginning of the 1995 season. It has been scheduled to be completed in late October, 1995.

“We answered various questions about stadium size, the shape it’s in, could it be completed by the open of the season, and how many other luxury boxes could be put on top,” Eagleton said.

Shaw declined comment on the meeting, other than to say, “They made an offer to us, and we hope to review it and get back to them.”