Last August, Mike Jones became one of the most powerful people in the state of Missouri.
His role as senior policy advisor to St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley was expanded to include the county’s departments of health, human services, planning, and economic development. He also oversees the children's service fund and the housing authority.
If that's not enough, Jones has been the point man for the county during the negotiations between the Convention and Visitors Commission and the St. Louis Rams in regard to Edward Jones Dome improvements.
When the three-member arbitration panel ruled in favor—and that is a tremendous understatement—of the Rams’ proposal for a $700 million upgrade to the dome, it “did us a favor,” Jones says. As friendly and straightforward as they come in St. Louis politics, Jones called the CVC’s participation in the entire lease process an “unnatural involvement. I never could figure out the rationale. But that’s over now; the CVC can now figure out the best ways of marketing St. Louis for major tourism and conventions.”
Jones also said it is “a reasonable assumption that the county would not support the CVC if it tried to meet the Rams’ plan for dome improvements.” An almost certain “no,” is coming from the CVC.
What about a new stadium, Mike?
“The conversation will now move to a different room with a different group of people. Where does the conversation go and where that room is have yet to be determined," he says. "The real question” that the region must ask is, “What are the Rams worth to the public?
“I can’t play [owner] Stan Kroenke’s hand," Jones continues, "but I guarantee you that the Rams are deciding what the region is worth to them.”
Let the record show—once again—that I have stated publicly for years that the Rams would seek a new stadium once the current Edward Jones Dome lease expired. I also highlighted the Chrysler plant site as a possible stadium location, even when there was still a Chrysler plant operating there.
What I can’t understand is why so many sports media folks feel as though they now have to work for the Rams. The declarations that the Rams aren’t going any place; Kroenke wants to stay in St. Louis; and Commissioner Roger Goodell wants the team in St. Louis are laughable.
It’s not an embarrassment to admit you don’t know how this will play out. It’s downright irresponsible to state that there is no threat of the Rams leaving St. Louis.
Ultimately, says Jones, the people are going to decide the fate of the Rams. “Of the [recent] new stadiums, I have not seen one yet that did not have some aspect of public funding," he says. (And he's nearly right. Only MetLife Stadium, shared by the Giants and Jets, was built without public funds.) "That’s what a vote would decide. It will decide how much the region values the Rams—nothing more, nothing less.”
Gov. Jay Nixon made a puzzling statement on Monday in regard to the Rams and the dome. “Right now we’re paying 50 percent of the cost of the building they’re in. I mean, having a team there makes that investment a lot better investment,” he said. I wonder if the governor realizes that the conversation has moved on.
Mayor Slay’s chief of staff, Jeff Rainford, said Friday, “The Rams will hopefully let everyone know what they really want, and we’ll see what we can do to help.” Let me translate: We’ll do what we can as long as it doesn’t cost us anything.
Meanwhile, Jones directs the county’s economic development efforts—and a new stadium would certainly be a prize for the county. “The parameters of discussion for the future of the Rams have not been formalized," he says. "It’s too early to speculate on where a stadium might be."
That might be, but I guarantee you that Jones will be one of those new, powerful people in the room discussing just what the region can do for the franchise.
My guess is that the county will ultimately seek the big prize—the Rams. Whether a new stadium is constructed will depend on the ballot box.
