Shaw Says Rams, St. Louis Still Face Obstacles

Negotiations between the Rams and St. Louis have reached a point where “somebody is going to have to give,” Ram President John Shaw said Thursday.

Shaw said a list of 16 major differences has been whittled to three, but contrary to reports that a completed deal with St. Louis is imminent, there isn’t even a guarantee that one can be reached.

“I’ve been hearing from the media that an announcement will come in a week or Monday or whatever,” Shaw said. “Apparently I have no credibility, because I’ve been saying we’re still negotiating.

“We haven’t even gotten to the point where it can be presented to ownership for approval. There are still three large issues unresolved. . . . We’re also talking to other people about minority ownership.”

The Rams tried to sell 40% of the team to businessman Stan Kroenke of Columbia, Mo., but for his $80 million, Kroenke also demanded the opportunity to buy out team owner Georgia Frontiere at some point. Frontiere wouldn’t agree to that.

Shaw said Kroenke remains the Rams’ first preference for minority ownership but that there have been no recent talks.

Shaw said the three unresolved issues with St. Louis are guarantees on permanent-seat license sales, guarantees on club seats and luxury-box sales, and the location of the proposed practice facility.

The permanent-seat licensing program, in which fans pay a one-time fee for the right to buy season tickets, is critical to the deal because St. Louis hopes to raise at least $60 million from it to cover major costs associated with the move--$30 million the Rams would owe the city of Anaheim for stadium improvements completed in 1980, $15 million for a new practice facility and $15 million in anticipated NFL relocation fees.

The 101 luxury suites and 6,550 club seats in St. Louis’ new 70,000-seat domed stadium have the potential to generate about $12 million annually for an NFL tenant--if they are all leased and sold.

On a recent visit to St. Louis, two Ram officials toured six potential practice facility sites. FANS, Inc., the St. Louis group negotiating with the Rams, has proposed a 400-acre complex currently owned by the county’s pipe fitters’ union.

But Shaw reportedly was not happy with that site because it is at least a 50-minute drive from where he expects most players to live.

“We both know where we are, and somebody is going to have to give,” said Shaw.

“We’re running out of time. Even if we were to make some progress, though, I know there is no way we will have an announcement in the next week. I would say somewhere within the next 30 days, or otherwise we won’t get it done.”

Under NFL bylaws, any team wishing to move for the 1995 season must notify the league and submit a proposal for transfer at least 30 days before the annual owners’ meetings, which will be March 12-17 in Phoenix.

Also remaining to be dealt with is the future of Coach Chuck Knox and his staff and the possible hiring of a general manager.

“I will be meeting with Chuck in the next couple of weeks,” Shaw said. “(His future) is something we’re going to discuss with ownership. There will be a lot of football decisions made in the next month.”

* Times staff writer Mike DiGiovanna contributed to this story.