The End of the Road

Here’s a look at Ram history in Anaheim:

1978

Rams announce move from Coliseum to Anaheim Stadium, beginning in 1980 season.

1980

Team signs a 35-year lease to use Anaheim Stadium. It also leases former Juliette Low Middle School and converts it into practice and office facility.

1990

Escape clause added to stadium lease, allowing team to break it by giving 15 months’ notice and $30 million to settle a stadium improvement debt. Clause added in exchange for Rams agreeing to Anaheim Arena construction.

1993

Oct. 31: After 40-17 loss at San Francisco, reports surface that Rams, unhappy with lease and dwindling crowds, are considering invoking escape clause and moving, possibly to Baltimore.

Dec. 16: Rams’ top executive, John Shaw, confirms team has been contacted by groups in Baltimore, St. Louis and Memphis, but says it isn’t ready to enter serious negotiations.

Dec. 23: In a rare interview, owner Georgia Frontiere says she has no interest in selling team but is exploring option of moving it.

1994

Jan. 6: Rams notify Anaheim of intention to break stadium lease and give formal 15-month notice on May 3.

Jan. 20: Shaw meets for first time with Maryland Stadium Authority to discuss possible move.

March 31: After two-month dispute with city over practice facility, Rams refuse to sign lease agreement, face eviction.

April 8: Eviction lawsuit filed. Team given five days to respond before court date is set.

April 15: Team signs 10-year practice facility lease, which includes six-month escape clause.

May 3: Rams give formal notice to terminate Anaheim Stadium lease, effective Aug. 3, 1995, and make required $2-million payment. Move opens way for team to explore options elsewhere.

May 8: Frontiere says she is being forced to consider relocation because of financial concerns and adds for first time that she might consider selling a minority interest in team to facilitate a move. She adds that local officials must make a substantially improved offer to keep team.

May 12: Baltimore Oriole owner Peter Angelos makes first of several trips to Los Angeles to discuss moving Rams to Baltimore.

June 6: A Times Orange County poll shows only three in 10 county voters believe that keeping Rams is important to them personally. Three in four voters oppose government financial assistance to team.

June 17: Newport Beach-based agent Leigh Steinberg says he is primed to lead fight to keep Rams in Orange County. He says fledgling “Save the Rams” task force must be expanded and intends to join forces with group. Rams announce season ticket sales are off 30% and project loss of more than $5 million for season.

June 26: Missouri contingent, headed by House Majority Leader Richard Gephardt (D-Mo.) and St. Louis Mayor Freeman Bosley Jr., meets with Shaw.

July 8: Save the Rams leaders including Steinberg and former Disneyland President Jack Lindquist meet with Shaw and learn a package designed to keep team must include a new or refurbished stadium, improved luxury boxes, increased ticket sales and an improved stadium lease.

July 20: Shaw says he is “disappointed” about reports Save the Rams has shelved plans to pursue a new stadium and will concentrate instead on a $50-million to $70-million renovation of Anaheim Stadium. Steinberg says extensive improvements would create a football-only facility that would be as good as a new one.

July 30: About 300 fans show up at Rams UC Irvine practice facility for a Save the Rams pep rally.

Aug. 5: Anaheim city officials say they will formally begin plans to refurbish Anaheim Stadium and revitalize its surrounding area.

Aug. 9: Rams have sent St. Louis officials an ambitious “wish list” that includes all revenue from games to be played in new stadium plus a payment of $30 million that team would still owe Anaheim if it moved. Officials there say it’s unlikely all demands could be met.

Aug. 10: Shaw says team has decided to hold off on negotiations until St. Louis resolves ongoing dispute over stadium lease.

Aug. 24: Save the Rams makes a pitch that includes $50-million infusion of cash through purchase of minority interest in team and refurbished stadium. As meeting is held, Frontiere says she remains open to keeping team here but holds little hope that it can be done if a new stadium isn’t built. Shaw remains noncommittal on proposal.

Sept. 9: Shaw says Save the Rams proposal fails to measure up to deals being offered by other cities. Although he feels for Ram fans, Shaw says hometown loyalty will have little to do with what will be a business decision.

Sept. 16: Save the Rams sweetens proposal with a plan members say would guarantee team revenue of $15-20 million per year through season-ticket and luxury box guarantees.

Sept. 22: Maryland Gov. William Shaefer says recent meeting with Rams leaves him pessimistic team will wind up in Baltimore.

Oct. 2: NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue says league has been mulling possibility of forming a partnership with investors and governments in Southern California to build an 80,000-seat football-only stadium for Rams, Raiders and regular Super Bowls. No specifics are disclosed.

Oct. 11: St. Louis officials again meet with Shaw and respond to his demands with a 25-page proposal that includes a plan to raise at least $60 million for team through a seat-licensing proposal.

Nov. 15: Save the Rams officials say they will rethink strategy and consider ways to finance a new, football-only stadium.

Dec. 8: For first time, Frontiere meets with representatives of Ram boosters to discuss situation. But afterward, club officials are pessimistic team will stay.

Dec. 13: Shaw denies published report of agreement on partial sale of team to St. Louis businessman Stan Kroenke and says no deal is imminent.

1995

Jan. 14: Frontiere tells The Times she has no choice but to move the team to St. Louis.

Jan. 17: Rams announce they have accepted a lucrative deal to begin play in St. Louis beginning with 1995 season.

Feb. 16: NFL owners receive details of the Rams’ deal with St. Louis in a special meeting in Dallas.

March 8: It is learned that Tagliabue will urge a “no” vote on the team’s move. Fox TV network has written a letter expressing concern over the loss of a team in the L.A. market.

March 13: Missouri Atty. Gen. Jay Nixon says he will file an antitrust suit against the league if it blocks the move and also seek a restraining offer “to stop any unlawful restraint of trade.”

March 15: By a 21-3 vote, with six abstentions, owners vote against the proposed move.

April 12: Offered more concessions by the Rams, the owners reverse themselves and approve the move to St. Louis by a vote of 23-6, with one abstention.

Source: Times reports

Researched by MIKE REILLEY, Times Staff Writer