I applauded the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission and the St. Louis Rams last week for making public the CVC’s $124 million proposal to spruce up the Edward Jones Dome and make it among the NFL’s elite facilities.
While I doubt this version of the plan will fly because it asks the Rams to pay for more than half of the suggested improvements, no harm can come from “we, the people” knowing what is on the table.
When the Rams counter the CVC plan on March 1, all cards should again be on the table for the public to review. If the answer is no, the Rams need to tell us why and what can be done to meet the franchise’s approval.
If the Rams think the plan is ridiculous—regardless of who is paying—we need to know that as well.
Both St. Louis City and County have six million reasons (dollars) a year to demand that its citizens know exactly what is going on. This is the amount that the city and county cough up each year to cover the bonds that financed the Edward Jones Dome back in the early 1990s. The state kicks in $12 million annually, so all citizens of Missouri are part of this deal.
Within the next few days, we might find out what caused the CVC to chill on its demand that the Rams play all home games in the dome. In other words, the CVC called the Rams’ bluff as far as playing one home game a year for three years in London, and then changed its tune.
Did the Rams give up anything in regard to the ongoing lease negotiations? Did owner Stan Kroenke tell the CVC the best way to lose the Rams permanently is to press this issue on London games? Did the Rams and Kroenke offer to throw some cash at the problem of St. Louis losing game-day revenues?
We don’t know. We don’t know who the bad guy or good guy is. We don’t know what is happening with our money.
This is no way to sell season tickets. It certainly isn’t a way to win votes if voter approval is needed to fund the CVC’s suggested improvements—or a new stadium.
Kroenke might be a business genius, but secrecy will turn the region against him. Of course, that might be part of the Stan’s plan.
We will see on March 1. Then again, maybe we won’t be allowed to take a look.
Commentary by Alvin Reid
