The marriage between the Rams and the St. Louis region is officially on the rocks. Maybe some counseling would help—but it might be time to contact a good divorce attorney. This once-grand couple has enjoyed the heights of success and the lows of continuous losing. Yet neither partner threatened to move out of the house and end the relationship.
On Wednesday, the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission faces its deadline to present the Rams with a plan to keep the Edward Jones Dome within the top 25 percent of all NFL stadiums. That means it would have to be among the top eight facilities in the league.
That’s obviously not going to happen.
So the CVC plan must either include a new stadium or find some way to make the lease so sweet that owner Stan Kroenke gives it his OK and doesn’t bust up the wedded bliss.
As if this were not enough strain on the troubled marriage, Kroenke and the Rams didn’t bother to tell their significant other that three home games would be played in London over the next three years. The CVC apparently learned of this at the same time most of us did—when the Rams issued a press release.
Not to be outdone, the CVC sent out a press release late Friday afternoon and let the world know that they weren’t going to sit back and let their partner step out on them without a fight. After an awkward comparison to the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra’s upcoming European tour, the CVC statement got to the point: “Our lease with the Rams requires that the Rams play all their home games in the Edward Jones Dome. We immediately brought this to the Rams' attention and are awaiting their reply.”
The Rams replied later Friday via its own press statement: “We think that playing in London is great for the Rams and great for St. Louis. [Games in London will] elevate an awareness of St. Louis on the global stage. We look forward to having amicable and meaningful dialogue with the CVC on many issues and believe those conversations should remain between the parties.”
I commend the CVC for finally speaking up and letting the people of the region—who helped finance the Edward Jones Dome—know the organization is aware of the dire set of circumstances that it faces. Yet I can't excuse the fact that CVC President Kitty Ratcliffe was conveniently out of the office when the press release was sent out on Friday afternoon, and CVC Board of Commissioners chair Robert O'Loughlin was nowhere to be found Friday. How weak is that?
As the give-and-take of the lease negotiation unfolds over the next two months, it will most likely become clear that Kroenke and the Rams want an open marriage—so open that the team can play elsewhere.
That’s why St. Louis needs a good divorce attorney. If the marriage can’t be saved, it might be time to start thinking about taking the cheating partner for everything it's worth.
Commentary by Alvin Reid
