Rams future as a franchise (edited/updated)

[rams80]

But do you really think the potential buyer could successfully move a franchise when 40% of the ownership group would be totally against it?

Absolutely.

It provides the perfect opportunity for such a prospective owner to bring in new partners to buy the other 40%.

In my own perfect world, DeBartolo (who really needs to be back in this league) would buy and relocate the Rams, and Kroenke can take the proceeds to buy and relocate the Jags. The California rivalry is preserved, balance restored to the NFL.

That may be so, but it strikes me as being wrong on a metaphysical level for DeBartolo to own the Rams.

[AHcreative]

But if the NFL really wants to move a team to LA (which I really think LA needs a team), why not move a team from somewhere like Jacksonville.

One: Jacksonville doesn't sell out their stadium

Two: I don't see why a smaller state such as Florida needs THREE teams.

LA does need a team, but the Rams shouldn't, and won't, be that team.

[rams80]

But if the NFL really wants to move a team to LA (which I really think LA needs a team), why not move a team from somewhere like Jacksonville.

One: Jacksonville doesn't sell out their stadium

Two: I don't see why a smaller state such as Florida needs THREE teams.

LA does need a team, but the Rams shouldn't, and won't, be that team.

1. Neither does St. Louis. And when it does, it is through the charitable kindness of local businesses buying up thousands of tickets, or fans from the opposing team buying up said tickets by the thousands.

2. Florida is the 4th largest state by population, with 18 million. Missouri is the 18th largest, with just under 6 million.

[STL FANATIC]

1. Neither does St. Louis. And when it does, it is through the charitable kindness of local businesses buying up thousands of tickets, or fans from the opposing team buying up said tickets by the thousands.

Much like the stats present for the Blues...

Put a competitive product that is at least on the upswing, something fans have reason to be excited about, and St. Louis fans will buy tickets.

Saint Louis as a whole can't afford to buy up tickets for a product that gives little return.

The Cardinals are the only team that can even come close, and even then, attendance drops.

I don't think that's so horrible though. I don't blame Pittsburgh for not supporting the Pirates, I didn't blame Chicago for not supporting the Blackhawks (well maybe, hating Chicago is a hobby of mine).

I'm blindly loyal, but that shouldn't be a pre-requisite for a city to have a team.

The Rams will be selling out every game again within a couple years if the direction of the team really is what I expect.

[Drew22]

But if the NFL really wants to move a team to LA (which I really think LA needs a team), why not move a team from somewhere like Jacksonville.

One: Jacksonville doesn't sell out their stadium

Two: I don't see why a smaller state such as Florida needs THREE teams.

LA does need a team, but the Rams shouldn't, and won't, be that team.

They have the biggest stadium in the NFL. They block off some of the seats, therefore no sell out.

[ferrousoxide66]

But do you really think the potential buyer could successfully move a franchise when 40% of the ownership group would be totally against it?

Absolutely.

It provides the perfect opportunity for such a prospective owner to bring in new partners to buy the other 40%.

In my own perfect world, DeBartolo (who really needs to be back in this league) would buy and relocate the Rams, and Kroenke can take the proceeds to buy and relocate the Jags. The California rivalry is preserved, balance restored to the NFL.

And a market like Jacksonville is taken out of the equation, mercifully.

[neo_prankster]

But do you really think the potential buyer could successfully move a franchise when 40% of the ownership group would be totally against it?

Absolutely.

It provides the perfect opportunity for such a prospective owner to bring in new partners to buy the other 40%.

In my own perfect world, DeBartolo (who really needs to be back in this league) would buy and relocate the Rams, and Kroenke can take the proceeds to buy and relocate the Jags. The California rivalry is preserved, balance restored to the NFL.

That may be so, but it strikes me as being wrong on a metaphysical level for DeBartolo to own the Rams.

He already owned the Rams in the 1980's, and he did it with the help of Montana, Taylor and Rice. On the other hand, the move to St. Louis broke up their preseason rivalry with San Diego.

[philly97flyer]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=ApAU...o&type=lgns

VERY interesting.

The league needs a dynamic and free-spending owner like Eddie D back in the fold. Wherever he can get a franchise.

Not for nothin, but the NFL doesn't really "need" anything. They already print money as it is.

[averyj]

But if the NFL really wants to move a team to LA (which I really think LA needs a team), why not move a team from somewhere like Jacksonville.

One: Jacksonville doesn't sell out their stadium

Two: I don't see why a smaller state such as Florida needs THREE teams.

LA does need a team, but the Rams shouldn't, and won't, be that team.

1. Neither does St. Louis. And when it does, it is through the charitable kindness of local businesses buying up thousands of tickets, or fans from the opposing team buying up said tickets by the thousands.

2. Florida is the 4th largest state by population, with 18 million. Missouri is the 18th largest, with just under 6 million.

Yes, but it's still Florida...

[FiddySicks]

But do you really think the potential buyer could successfully move a franchise when 40% of the ownership group would be totally against it?

Absolutely.

It provides the perfect opportunity for such a prospective owner to bring in new partners to buy the other 40%.

In my own perfect world, DeBartolo (who really needs to be back in this league) would buy and relocate the Rams, and Kroenke can take the proceeds to buy and relocate the Jags. The California rivalry is preserved, balance restored to the NFL.

And a market like Jacksonville is taken out of the equation, mercifully.

Is Jacksonville really THAT bad of a market? They have a competitive team, a fairly new stadium, and just hosted a Super Bowl a few years ago. Doesn't exactly sound like a dying market to me.

[rams80]

But do you really think the potential buyer could successfully move a franchise when 40% of the ownership group would be totally against it?

Absolutely.

It provides the perfect opportunity for such a prospective owner to bring in new partners to buy the other 40%.

In my own perfect world, DeBartolo (who really needs to be back in this league) would buy and relocate the Rams, and Kroenke can take the proceeds to buy and relocate the Jags. The California rivalry is preserved, balance restored to the NFL.

That may be so, but it strikes me as being wrong on a metaphysical level for DeBartolo to own the Rams.

He already owned the Rams in the 1980's, and he did it with the help of Montana, Taylor and Rice. On the other hand, the move to St. Louis broke up their preseason rivalry with San Diego.

Again...wrong on a metaphysical level. Kind of like Ike wearing 49er colors or Faulk working as a consultant in San Fran or Martz coaching them. Oh wait.....

OK, bring him on.

Oh, and a quick check shows that the Chargers and Rams have had preseason meetings 3 of the last 4 years.

-------------------------------------------------

STLFANATIC....if it takes a Super Bowl run to get the fans to show up, and only that, then the market is not healthy. The fact of the matter is I live smack dab in the middle between Chicago and St. Louis, and Rams merchandise is virtually impossible to find, as are fellow fans (By contrast, we are 40-60 Cardinal to Cub). That is not good.

Now, personally, I think the team will only be on the right track when a Rosenbloom isn't owning it, regardless of whether or not a move comes with the ownership change.

[Brian in Boston]

Is Jacksonville really THAT bad of a market? They have a competitive team, a fairly new stadium, and just hosted a Super Bowl a few years ago. Doesn't exactly sound like a dying market to me.

Which is what Jaguars owner Wayne Weaver believes. He lives in Jacksonville, says that he is committed to keeping the team in the city, and plans on passing the team on to his son (also a Jacksonville resident). Most importantly, Weaver feels that the Jaguars are awfully close to legitimately contending for a Super Bowl title... and that a Super Bowl win would generate increased support for the team in the marketplace, thus cementing its future in Jacksonville.

[pcgd]

St. Louis' problem is that they are so close to "established" fan bases in Chicago and Kansas City. I say "established" because once the Cardinals left, I think you'll find that east of the river they went to the Bears, and West they went to the Chiefs. Sure the fans directly in St. Louis and surrounding areas support the Rams, but even 10 miles away in the Metro East, you'll find quite a few Bears fans. Its hard to sustain a team with a "fan base" of a little over 1 million. Say all you want about the Packers being a small fan base, but for Green Bay, you have the entire state of Wisconsin backing them. The reason the Cardinals (baseball) are able to survive in such a small market is because for so many years they were the only game in town, or in the west for that matter. You have Generations of Cardinals fans in St. Louis, Missouri, Illinois, Arkansas, etc. People travel from Hours away to see the Cardinals play baseball. I doubt you'll find too many people doing that for the Rams and you only have a bit over 10 years of history in the city.

It sucks, because St. Louis is a great city, and a good football city. Had the Cardinals stayed I think they'd be very healthy there, and heck I'd probably be a Cardinals fan and not a Bears fan. It'd be like putting another football team in Chicago. Sure the population can support it, but the fans won't leave the Bears. And I think that's part of the deal. The Rams aren't the REGION's team, and when you have a city the size of St. Louis, you really need the Region behind you, not just the city.

[STL FANATIC]

STLFANATIC....if it takes a Super Bowl run to get the fans to show up, and only that, then the market is not healthy. The fact of the matter is I live smack dab in the middle between Chicago and St. Louis, and Rams merchandise is virtually impossible to find, as are fellow fans (By contrast, we are 40-60 Cardinal to Cub). That is not good.

Now, personally, I think the team will only be on the right track when a Rosenbloom isn't owning it, regardless of whether or not a move comes with the ownership change.

Never said it took a Super Bowl run.

There's been four basic eras to St. Louis Rams football though.

-The beginning, which involved excitement.

-The initial horrendous years, where you couldn't give tickets away.

-The Greatest Show on Turf, which saw two SB appearances including one win

-And then the rapid fall from the top and remaining at the bottom.

They've really never been just competitive contenders. There has never been a chance to judge if fans would show for a team that tries hard and has a chance.

The St. Louis Rams have really only had extremes. (I realize they've had a .500 season or two, but that was as part of the quick, obvious decline).

I think soon we'll have one of those upcoming, works hard, has a chance type of teams. And then we can judge.

Until now, I can only use St. Louis sporting history, and that suggests that fans will come when they see effort from the front office, on the field, and a real chance to compete.

[NJTank]

But if the NFL really wants to move a team to LA (which I really think LA needs a team), why not move a team from somewhere like Jacksonville.

One: Jacksonville doesn't sell out their stadium

Two: I don't see why a smaller state such as Florida needs THREE teams.

LA does need a team, but the Rams shouldn't, and won't, be that team.

How does St. Louis Jaguars sound?

That would be the best move in an ideal world.

Too bad they didnt leave the Rams name in LA in 1994.

[MadmanLA]

But if the NFL really wants to move a team to LA (which I really think LA needs a team), why not move a team from somewhere like Jacksonville.

One: Jacksonville doesn't sell out their stadium

Two: I don't see why a smaller state such as Florida needs THREE teams.

LA does need a team, but the Rams shouldn't, and won't, be that team.

How does St. Louis Jaguars sound?

That would be the best move in an ideal world.

Too bad they didnt leave the Rams name in LA in 1994.

Don't forget that St. Louis and Baltimore were the among finalists for expansion teams that eventually went to Charlotte and Jacksonville back when were awarded in 1993. Of course, the irony is that they (St. Louis and Baltimore) would both get teams via relocation...in Baltimore's case, revisionist history shows the Ravens franchise as "newly-created", and not the continuation of the original Browns franchise.

[mrfab]

As I've bloviated previously here, although I'm personally pining away for an LA NFL team, I don't relish another city & their fans losing their team. Alas, the League shows no expansion inclination. Given that Mr. Roski's offering a PAID FOR state of the art buzzers & whistles potential cash cow REVENUE-GENERATING football stadium, I don't see how there can NOT be a behind the scenes NFL franchise land rush to the potential Industry CA stadium. Even given our present funky economy added to the League's labor questions ahead, it still seems to me that ANY NFL team with stadium & revenue issues would have to worry about & even question their economic futures if they're somehow NOT the 1st team to claim the LA beach head, as it were. Remember, the League has fairly recently, within a few years, noted the reality that the LA market should be able to support TWO teams, with the realization it's still necessary to establish any potential relocation team individually. Right now we're likely wondering who might be the 1ST NFL team to come to LA. What big league football stadium wouldn't want up to 20 or so games a year at their facility? IF, and it's a BIG "if", Mr. Roski's still unrevealed stadium funding mechanism is at all real, then it's a whole new NFL stadium-funding/revenues ballgame, gang. It's currently & most successfully being played by big market teams with the newest "stadium as quasi-theme park/retail mall" facilities either already on the ground or in the pipe line.

This can ALL be just SO much "LA NFL" wishful thinking on my part. However, given the NFL's pre-eminent cultural & more important revenue-generating position, there's a WHOLE new paradigm going on throughout pro football. The Yahoo article is evocative, a real pot-stirrer. If Messrs. DeBartolo, Kronke or whomever can raise the requisite humongous capital to play The NFL Owner Game, then they're in play. The Rosenbloom kids may be well-intended while facing the possibility of a once in a lifetime windfall profit opportunity, same as Buffalo's Mr. Wilson's family. Mr. Weaver might want to leave his son his team, but he may face the same estate tax drawbacks that the Wilsons are in Buffalo. BTW Mr. Weaver bought his FL residence along with his team. Ironically & otherwise, he's from St. Louis where his business is hq'ed.

Given my LA-centric bias & at the risk of gross overstatement, the NFL is becoming something wholly other than what we presently all know and love, given its unprecedented profitability in its' dominance of our sports culture. Hopefully this Brave New NFL will be an even better one. Like it or not, logically or otherwise, I don't see how such an endeavor can continue to NOT be in THE 2nd largest market. End of sports sermon, I JUST wanna tail-gate at an LA NFL game. Is that so WRONG?!?!? Just wanna wear one of them COOL NFL throwbacks leather helmets with a sweet LA NFL logo on it. A guy can dream football dreams, can't he?

[Luigi74]

Why did St. Louis and the Edwards Jones Dome people give the Rams such a short lease, you would think they would have tied them up for at least 30 years.

[STL FANATIC]

Why did St. Louis and the Edwards Jones Dome people give the Rams such a short lease, you would think they would have tied them up for at least 30 years.

They gave the Rams a great deal to get them here.

That said, I don't think it's all that short, if they could fulfill the requirements. And the requirements say that the CVC (people who operate the dome) have to keep the Dome in the top third (I think it's third, maybe quarter) of NFL Stadiums.

In 2012 the Rams and the CVC will exchange plans and try to agree on a way to make it happen. If they can't an arbitrator will. 2014 is would be the year it has to be completed by. If it's not, I believe the lease goes year to year and the Rams would be free to move. If it were to be completed, I think that locks in another amount until whenever the next checkpoint is.

[Brian in Boston]

BTW Mr. Weaver bought his FL residence along with his team. Ironically & otherwise, he's from St. Louis where his business is hq'ed.

Actually, Wayne Weaver was born and raised in Georgia. While he worked for the St. Louis-based Brown Shoe Company early in his career, he left in 1978 to launch his own company. He later owned significant stakes in - and held executive positions with - the Nine West (White Plains, NY) and Shoe Carnival (Evansville, IN) retail chains. He and his wife remain the largest shareholders of Shoe Carnival.