NFL Merry-Go-Round: Relocation Roundelay

[rams80]

Sounds like they think they may be able to circumvent those public referendums, so long as someone like Lindecke doesn't sue.

*casts "summon tea party"*

[STL FANATIC]

By the way, I believe Sunday (today for some of us) marks the 60 days that Governor Nixon gave his stadium task force. Others have reported as much anyways, but presumably they will be making some sort of public announcement soon.

[Gothamite]

I don't remember - was "60 days" ever held out as important?

[STL FANATIC]

It was just part of the Governor's announcement of the task force. Said they'd work over a 60 day time period to put together a plan. This 60 days meant they have something before the set date of January 28th for the Rams decision on whether to go year-to-year on the lease.

But I never viewed the January 28th date as too important because that part was a foregone conclusion.

That said, I never put that much stock in the 60 days either. We know Dave Peacock was working on the deal long before those 60 days, and obviously they're not announcing anything on the 60th day (which would be today), so I think it was sort of a number just to be a number. But I do think we'll hear something soon.

[Gothamite]

Okay, gotcha.

There's also been a change on the ground; the NFL has since indicated no moves before 2016, so there's no reason for St. Louis to rush out their proposal.

[Still MIGHTY]

Well well well

LA Times: Owner of St. Louis Rams plans to build NFL stadium in Inglewood

The owner of the St. Louis Rams plans to build an NFL stadium in Inglewood, which could pave the way for the league's return to Los Angeles.

Rams owner Stan Kroenke, who bought 60 acres adjacent to the Forum a year ago, has joined forces with the owners of the 238-acre Hollywood Park site, Stockbridge Capital Group. They plan to add an 80,000-seat NFL stadium and 6,000-seat performance venue to the already-massive development of retail, office, hotel and residential space, Stockbridge and the Kroenke Group told The Times.

The announcement is the latest in more than a dozen stadium proposals that have come and gone in the meandering, two-decade effort to bring an NFL franchise back to the nation's second-largest media market. But Kroenke's move marks the first time an existing team owner has controlled a local site large enough for a stadium and parking.

---

The Inglewood site Kroenke bought last year is too small for a stadium and parking, but the deal with Stockbridge, the neighboring developer, provides ample space.

"We are excited to unveil an expanded plan that will bring a world-class sports and entertainment district to Hollywood Park," Terry Fancher, founder of Stockbridge, said in a statement. "We are committed to working with [the Kroenke Group] to build a project that will put Inglewood back on the map as home of the truly great sports and entertainment venues."

The developers said no tax dollars would be used for the construction project, including the stadium. The group plans to begin gathering signatures soon for an initiative that would place the entire project on the Inglewood municipal ballot in 2015.

Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts Jr. said he was "extremely supportive" of the ballot initiative that would add the sports and entertainment complex to the already-approved Hollywood Park development and speed construction. The stadium could be completed by 2018, the developers said.

"This will hasten the time for the citizens of Inglewood to get the project they deserve," Butts said. "This is something they have waited for for a long time."

The owners are calling the combined Kroenke and Hollywood Park projects the City of Champions Revitalization Project. Wilson Meany, a San Francisco firm, is heading development of the site. Wilson Meany is also developing Bay Meadows, a former horse racing track in San Mateo.

LINK

[Rockstar Matt]

Well well well

LA Times: Owner of St. Louis Rams plans to build NFL stadium in Inglewood

The owner of the St. Louis Rams plans to build an NFL stadium in Inglewood, which could pave the way for the league's return to Los Angeles.

Rams owner Stan Kroenke, who bought 60 acres adjacent to the Forum a year ago, has joined forces with the owners of the 238-acre Hollywood Park site, Stockbridge Capital Group. They plan to add an 80,000-seat NFL stadium and 6,000-seat performance venue to the already-massive development of retail, office, hotel and residential space, Stockbridge and the Kroenke Group told The Times.

The announcement is the latest in more than a dozen stadium proposals that have come and gone in the meandering, two-decade effort to bring an NFL franchise back to the nation's second-largest media market. But Kroenke's move marks the first time an existing team owner has controlled a local site large enough for a stadium and parking.

---

The Inglewood site Kroenke bought last year is too small for a stadium and parking, but the deal with Stockbridge, the neighboring developer, provides ample space.

"We are excited to unveil an expanded plan that will bring a world-class sports and entertainment district to Hollywood Park," Terry Fancher, founder of Stockbridge, said in a statement. "We are committed to working with [the Kroenke Group] to build a project that will put Inglewood back on the map as home of the truly great sports and entertainment venues."

The developers said no tax dollars would be used for the construction project, including the stadium. The group plans to begin gathering signatures soon for an initiative that would place the entire project on the Inglewood municipal ballot in 2015.

Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts Jr. said he was "extremely supportive" of the ballot initiative that would add the sports and entertainment complex to the already-approved Hollywood Park development and speed construction. The stadium could be completed by 2018, the developers said.

"This will hasten the time for the citizens of Inglewood to get the project they deserve," Butts said. "This is something they have waited for for a long time."

The owners are calling the combined Kroenke and Hollywood Park projects the City of Champions Revitalization Project. Wilson Meany, a San Francisco firm, is heading development of the site. Wilson Meany is also developing Bay Meadows, a former horse racing track in San Mateo.

LINK

F*** YES! This is now the greatest day of football in my life.

[Still MIGHTY]

I'm not jumping too too far ahead. It does just say "plans to build" not "has built" yet, and we've been victims of "plans" too many times.

However, this is the man with the keys to the car, so it makes it a bit more promising.

C'mon. Let's do this.

---

Also, Mayor Butts.

[Tigers6884]

Can we relocate the Dallas Cowboys and the NFL refs to hell after yesterday' s game?

[Tigers6884]

(By the way: I don't get why everyone' s so excited at the possibility of having a third NFL team when there are no other teams to replace St. Louis in their state/city if they move. C'mon, do you want someone to develop plans to have a Brooklyn, New York team agian as well? Two is a crowd, but three is company.)

[Gothamite]

What third NFL team?

[STL FANATIC]

While I don't think this is the end of the story, there's not many ways to spin it. I think there's ways the Rams still wind up staying in St. Louis, but Kroenke's priorities are now clear. And doing things that benefit the city of St. Louis are not on the list.

[rams80]

While I don't think this is the end of the story, there's not many ways to spin it. I think there's ways the Rams still wind up staying in St. Louis, but Kroenke's priorities are now clear. And doing things that benefit the city of St. Louis are not on the list.

The Rams' priority should be to do things that are beneficial to them. The city of St. Louis is irrelevant and pointless, especially as the fans have never been there except in the really good times.

[CubsFanBudMan]

Adding the rest of the land is huge, as Kroenke's slice alone was not big enough to build the stadium the NFL wants in L.A.

I guess he finally put his name on something... sort of.

Side note: I hate the use of brackets in quotes like this:

"We are excited to unveil an expanded plan that will bring a world-class sports and entertainment district to Hollywood Park," Terry Fancher, founder of Stockbridge, said in a statement. "We are committed to working with [the Kroenke Group] to build a project that will put Inglewood back on the map as home of the truly great sports and entertainment venues."

Let the quote be what it is. If he said "him" or "them" or "Kroenke," fine. The writer can clarify the reference later, as if the story didn't already make it abundantly clear. This looks like an "insert name here" choice made by [the reporter].

All that said, let's see how far this stadium gets. Nice to see Farmers Field and City of Industry get shoutouts as "ready to go." I doubt future articles will even bother to mention them now that there's a new, clear, NFL-owner-backed frontrunner.

Things will get interesting once the NFL's mouthpieces start leaking info.

[Gothamite]

Wow. Not only do we get clarification of Kroenke's intent, but this one tidbit is key:

Rams owner Stan Kroenke, who bought 60 acres adjacent to the Forum a year ago, has joined forces with the owners of the 238-acre Hollywood Park site, Stockbridge Capital Group. They plan to add an 80,000-seat NFL stadium and 6,000-seat performance venue to the already-massive development of retail, office, hotel and residential space, Stockbridge and the Kroenke Group told The Times.

For anyone still insisting that Kroenke's prior land purchase is too small for an NFL stadium, that argument just went right out the window.

[Tigers6884]

(By the way: I don't get why everyone' s so excited at the possibility of having a third NFL team in California when there are no other teams to replace St. Louis in their state/city if they move. C'mon, do you want someone to develop plans to have a Brooklyn, New York team agian as well? Two is a crowd, but three is company.)

Fixed

[patsox]

Still needs fixing. There's already three teams in California. The Rams would be the fourth.

[Tigers6884]

(By the way: I don't get why everyone' s so excited at the possibility of having a fourth NFL team in California when there are no other teams to replace St. Louis in their state/city if they move. C'mon, do you want someone to develop plans to have a Brooklyn, New York team agian as well? Two is a crowd, but three is company.)

Fixed

Still needs fixing. There's already three teams in California. The Rams would be the fourth.

There.

[IceCap]

You're trying to compare the metro area of New York City to the entire state of California.

There are three teams in California, but none in the Los Angeles metro area.

[Gothamite]

Heck, if you're going to go for geographical dispersion, you'll have to argue for a team in Alaska. They don't have one within thousands of miles!

California is the second-largest state in the contiguous 48, and has half again as many people as the second-most populous state. I think they can muster up the support somewhere.