Rams’ Shaw Isn’t Budging--Again

John Shaw, the mastermind behind the Rams’ financially successful move to St. Louis, is effectively holding Rams Park hostage by keeping the Seattle Seahawks from using the practice facility.

The dispute between the Rams and the city of Anaheim, acting on behalf of the Magnolia School District, could present serious problems for Seahawks owner Ken Behring. The Seahawks already have begun painting within the facility, ordered new carpet and moved six truckloads of equipment into Rams Park, formerly Juliette Low Elementary School.

James D. Ruth, Anaheim city manager, told the Seahawks late Friday his objective will be to recommend to the City Council Tuesday night in closed session that an agreement be struck between the city and the school district, leaving the Rams out at this time.

“The Rams are being difficult again. Why change now after 15 years?” Ruth said. “It’s like giving birth to a porcupine . . . we’re at an impasse with John Shaw, but I’m prepared to make a recommendation to the City Council to help resolve this situation that will assure the Seahawks of using that property after March 1.”

In early February, it appeared to be a foregone conclusion that the Seahawks would move into Rams Park. But behind the scenes, the school district’s disagreement with Shaw has prevented the Seahawks from getting a signed agreement. The Seahawks had counted on being in the facility by March 1, and intend to conduct training sessions there with their players March 15.

Barring an understanding between the school district and city or legal action against the Rams, the Seahawks might have to look elsewhere for a practice site, or return to Seattle.

Seahawks owner Ken Behring could not be reached for comment, and his representatives said they would prefer the city of Anaheim officials do the talking for them.

Representatives from the school district, the Rams and Anaheim met Friday to discuss closing out the Rams’ old lease but failed to reach an agreement, City Atty. Jack White said.

“I did not come away from the meeting encouraged,” White said. “It is unresolved and in my opinion we are a long way apart from having a resolution between all three parties. I don’t know if it’s resolvable or not.”

The Seahawks have an understanding with the city calling for one-year rent of $275,000 escalating to $287,500 and $300,000 if they elect to exercise options in the following two years. The lease is subject to approval by the Magnolia district school board, and the board is not expected to grant such approval until its squabble with the Rams has been resolved.

The Rams’ lease, which allowed them to buy an early release to leave for St. Louis for $280,000, also called for them to convert the football facility back into a school. The school district estimated such repairs to cost $1.3 million. The Rams figured the cost at $900,000.

After a series of talks, the school district reached an agreement with the Rams in December calling for the team to pay $1 million. But Shaw said he didn’t receive paperwork from the school district at the time to seal the deal.

“I was reading in the newspapers where the Seahawks were hoping to come to Anaheim and then all of a sudden they were rushing me the agreement to sign,” Shaw said.

District Supt. Paul Mercier said there was no agreement until after the Seahawks announced their move, by which time the Rams balked.

Shaw said he did not sign the agreement after its late arrival, and would not be surprised if the school district seeks to solve the issue by filing a lawsuit.

“That would be fine,” Shaw said. “We’re willing to do what the lease called for. We’re ready to start immediately converting the facility back into a school.”

Shaw said, however, if the school district intends to rent the facility to a football team, he contends the Rams will be entitled to some of the money the school district will receive in rent.

Shaw said the school district wants the Rams to agree to convert the facility back into a school after the Seahawks’ departure to a permanent practice facility in the next few years. But Shaw contends the Rams will have no obligation to return the facility to a school if the Seahawks move in.

“For months they have been telling us that we wore the place down and it has no use as a football facility or anything else,” Shaw said. “But now all of a sudden the Seahawks want to come and it’s a great facility. Which is it?

“If it has value as a football facility, then we put several million dollars into making it such, and we would expect to reap some of the benefits. There should be some consideration for using our improvements to collect money. One would argue if you use our improvements to make money it absolves our obligation of converting the facility back to a school.

“The Seahawks have nothing to do with this. We would like them to use it as a football facility.”

White said the city would not be willing to provide financial incentive to the Seahawks in any way, particularly since it is still unclear if they will be allowed to leave Seattle. And even if they do, there are no guarantees they would relocate to Anaheim.

“It would be nice to have the site available to the Seahawks on an interim basis but the city can’t subsidize that or negotiate with Seattle because they are tied up in litigation in Washington,” White said. “We’re somewhat at a point where we have to stand back and catch our breath.”

Staff writer Greg Hernandez contributed to this story.