Rams’ Old Lease Could Lock Out Seahawks

Three trucks loaded with Seattle Seahawks equipment arrived Friday at Rams Park, but new problems in closing out the Rams’ old lease could prevent Seattle from ever settling in.

At issue: the more than $1 million in renovation costs that the Magnolia Elementary School District says the Rams are obligated to pay the district to change Rams Park back into an elementary school.

District Supt. Paul Mercier said Friday the district thought it had reached an agreement but the Rams “have changed their position over the last two days and the issue is now back up in the air,” he said.

Rams officials could not be reached Friday for comment.

The practice site, which the Rams also used as administrative offices for 15 years, is the former Juliette Low Elementary School. The school district leased the facility to the city, which subleased it to the Rams. Anaheim now wants to do the same for the Seahawks.

Sources close to the situation said this week that the Rams do not want to pay for the renovation costs if the site is going to be used by the Seahawks.

But Mercier said the Seahawks would only be operating under a short-term lease and that eventually the school district--which is experiencing growing enrollment--will need the site again for a school.

Anaheim City Atty. Jack White confirmed Friday that there “are still some significant bumps in the road” and that the city will need to settle the matter by March 1.

The city council had anticipated approving a new lease agreement on Tuesday, but that now appears unlikely.

“Without a doubt, there is a legal obligation for the Rams to pay that money,” City Councilman Bob Zemel said. “It’s so typical of their organization to try and find a way out of it. It’s par for the course.”

Mayor Tom Daly said Friday that “these things usually have a way of being resolved.” He said the situation probably will have to be worked out between the Seahawks and the Rams.

Mercier said the school district is allowing the Seahawks to unload their equipment as a courtesy, but the team will not be able to begin operations until a lease is signed.

City spokesman Bret Colson said Friday that at least another 10-14 days of remodeling work needs to be done before anyone can move in.

“We believe there won’t be any problem in reaching agreement for them to use the training facility,” Colson said. “For the time being, everything is being stored in the cafeteria.”